Plants such as ivy stop the dunes from shifting, but the movement is vital for other species.

Invasive plants are to be removed from sand dunes to protect the coastline.

The ecological work by Natural England is to be carried out using large machinery on the dunes at Bamburgh, Northumberland, as part of the Life Wader project.

The invasive species are destroying the dunes by interrupting their natural cycle of movement and crowding out native plants and animals.