Running for about 27km in a gentle arc between the estuaries of the Mersey and Ribble, the Sefton Coast is arguably the richest wildlife area in north-west England. This applies particularly to its internationally famous sand-dune system, which at 2,100ha is the largest in England. Lying so close to the urban/industrial conurbations of Merseyside and Greater Manchester, its survival is remarkable and owes as much to its value for human activities in the past as to conservationists in the modern era.