West Sands Ranger Service Employ Innovative Techniques To Restore Coastline

The West Sands Ranger Service has commenced efforts to combat coast erosion along the shoreline of St Andrews. By restoring the dunes along West Sands, they aim to safeguard the Old Course, which has become increasingly vulnerable to coastal erosion in recent years. West Sands, now an active zone of erosion, is endangered by increasingly turbulent weather, like that witnessed during Storm Eowyn.

The West Sands Ranger Service, established and funded by the St Andrews Links Trust since 2022, has supervised the restoration efforts. Work along the east of the Outhead peninsula and Jubilee Course began in February 2025 and is expected to conclude in April.

The organisation has employed various techniques to reinforce the sand dunes identified as most vulnerable. Methods include working with local St Andrews residents to use Christmas trees to form a protective barrier around at-risk areas, with approximately 6,500 trees being used along the shore. They have also built a 200-metre-long artificial sand dune by relocating material from the beach, an effort which required 28,500 tonnes of sand to be moved.

The Trust is also taking measures to support the grasslands encircling the dunes, which provide an additional layer of defence against flooding. One method has been the introduction of Hebridean sheep, and in doing so cultivating biodiversity and maintaining the health of the area.

In conversation with The Saint, Ranald Strachan, Chief West Sand Ranger, expanded on the importance of the project. The sheep, managed by the Trust since 2013, graze on boarding grassy areas “with the aim to provide a more natural and more species diverse grassland,” as “it is important to address the full width of the coastal fringe.” Contributing to the creation of a more sturdy landscape as a better barrier to erosion, they have been deployed in a joint project with the local shepherd Rob Dewey of Lathocker Lamb. Where possible the West Sand Ranger Service “prefers nature-based solutions.”

Coastal erosion is a threat that poses risks to various local industries, including agriculture and sport. While Strachan explains that it is a natural process, he stated that the Trust “will act to halt or reverse the erosion” when it impacts local infrastructure and habitats. He warned that if left without response, valuable golf courses may be affected by this phenomenon.

In light of this, the West Sand Ranger Service has collaborated with local organisations and golf-governing bodies such as the R&A, the Golf Environment Organisation, and Scottish Golf. In order to meet their targets, Strachan affirms that “working with other local agencies is absolutely critical.”

For the Trust, encouraging the local community in St Andrews to play a role in conservation efforts is a primary objective. “One of the cornerstones of the service is outreach and community engagement,” Strachan stated.

“Most of our community engagement is concerned with our coastal restoration and management. In 2024, we had 630 volunteers give 1,038 hours of time and effort to support our work.”

Strachan also advised on how students and locals can aid the ongoing restoration project. He encourages people to “stay out of the sand dune system,” and not to “light fires anywhere near the dune vegetation.” The organisation also organises beach cleans, and Strachan urges anyone interested to get involved.

Photo by Madeleine Rea