At the heart of Marazion’s stunning coastline, a dedicated group of volunteers from the Mounts Bay Marine Group (MBMG) are rolling up their sleeves to protect one of Cornwall’s most fragile natural treasures — its sand dunes.

Supported by Cornwall Wildlife Trust and led by Andy Nelson, the volunteers are part of the Making Space for Sand project, a forward-thinking initiative that’s reimagining how we care for our coastal fringes. Rather than relying on traditional hard defences, the project promotes a more natural, ecosystem-based approach to coastal management — one that allows dunes to shift, grow, and adapt in response to rising seas and changing weather.

The work is hands-on and deeply rewarding. Volunteers, both seasoned and new, have been planting dune-stabilising vegetation, removing invasive species, and helping to expose bare sand to encourage biodiversity. These efforts not only strengthen the dunes’ natural defences against storms and sea level rise, but also create healthier habitats for wildlife.

One of the project’s key goals is to build community understanding around coastal change. As volunteer John Claughton puts it:

“The sand dunes are so important at Marazion. It’s great to come together — not only to support a huge variety of wildlife, but also to remove invasive plants that threaten the dunes’ natural defence system. We all have a great time; we have tea and cake, and the work is rewardingly demanding! It’s amazing to see the difference we can make and to educate locals and holidaymakers about the importance of dune health and the long-term impact of our efforts.”

The impact of Making Space for Sand goes beyond the immediate physical work. It’s helping researchers and conservationists better understand how dunes can “roll back” and become more resilient to climate pressures. It’s also identifying opportunities to boost biodiversity—whether through scrub removal, invasive species control, or creating space for native plants to thrive.
 

This is conservation in action: community-led, nature-based, and future-focused. And it’s happening right here in Cornwall.