Kilmuckridge-Tinnaberna Sandhills facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kilmuckridge-Tinnaberna Sandhills
Kilmuckridge-Tinnaberna Sandhills Location in Ireland
Location	County Wexford, Ireland
Nearest city	Kilmuckridge

The Kilmuckridge-Tinnaberna Sandhills are a special natural area in County Wexford, Ireland. This place has many different parts. You can find tall clay cliffs, sandy dunes, and even wet woodlands here. There are also gentle hills made of sand, called "fixed dunes" or "sand hills."

Experts studied this area in the 1990s. Because it is so important, it was named a Special Area of Conservation. This means it is a protected place where nature can thrive. The sandhills here are known for having many different types of lichen, which are tiny plant-like growths.

Protecting the Sandhills

This picture from March 2011 shows an area that was damaged. You can see some work has started to fix it.

In 2011, the National Parks and Wildlife Service worked to repair a large part of the Kilmuckridge-Tinnaberna Sandhills. About 11 hectares (which is like 11 football fields) of land had been harmed.

What Caused the Damage?

The damage was caused by two main things:

• Overgrazing: This happens when too many animals eat plants in one area. It can stop new plants from growing.
• Bulldozing: This is when large machines push earth and sand around. This can destroy natural habitats.

People first told the authorities about the damage in 2002. The problems continued for eight more years. Then, the government ordered that the area must be fixed. This order was given under Irish laws to make sure the land was returned to its natural state.