The Ardeer Peninsula is a nationally important natural asset. By far Ayrshire’s largest dune system, it also contains a wealth of other landscape features, including one of North Ayrshire's largest and most biodiverse woods. Despite its national importance, the peninsula's sand dunes are being destroyed. This web page describes the problem and what you can do to help.


North Ayrshire's most important nature conservation site

North Ayrshire Council's most recent survey of the county's Local Nature Conservation Sites ranked the Ardeer Peninsula as the top (i.e. most biodiverse) site in North Ayrshire. It supports the largest assemblage of bees and wasps in Scotland (over 100 species), North Ayrshire's largest colony of Dark Green Fritillary butterflies and a long list of other rare birds and insects, including some species recorded on the Ardeer Peninsula and nowhere else in Scotland.

Environmental destruction

The sand dunes are being destroyed by commercial sand extraction, which ruins this unique landscape and decimates its wildlife. So far, over 20 hectares of sand dunes have been destroyed through sand extraction. That's roughly equivalent to 20 full-size football pitches. Making matters worse, the speed at which the dunes are vanishing is increasing, with more and more sand extraction sites being set-up across the Ardeer Peninsula.


How to help save the site

Many local people as well as non-governmental organisations are extremely concerned about the damage being done to the Ardeer Peninsula and the threats that face it and are actively engaged in trying to protect the site.

If you would like to get involved, do please contact Ruth Mcguire MSP, who has been investigating the issue, and ask that she does all she can to ensure that the 1953 Special Development Order that allows unregulated sand extraction on the Ardeer Peninsula is revoked as soon as possible. Her email is Ruth.Maguire.msp@parliament.scot (note: MSPs can only deal with emails from constituents if a full name, postal address and postcode are provided).


More information

A Scottish Wildlife Trust press release, which was picked-up by The Times, The Herald, The Scotsman and the Daily Express, can be read here:
https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/news/drone-documents-destruction-of-precious-sand-dunes-in-ayrshire/

Contact us at: stevenstonconservation@gmail.com