Cute Young Blonde Girl With Tan Lines Posing With A Blue Scarf On The Beach Grasses At The Sea

The ability of marram grass to grow on and bind sand makes it a useful plant in the stabilization of coastal dunes and artificial defences on sandy coasts. The usefulness was recognized in the late 18th century. On the North Sea coast of Jutland, Denmark, marram grass was traditionally much used for fuel, thatch, cattle fodder (after frost) etc. The use led to sand drift and loss of arable land. Hence, legislation promoting dune stabilization came into force in 1779 and 1792, successively leading to system of state-supported dune planters overlooked by dune bailifs. Marram grass was - and still is - propagated by root and shoot cuttings dug up locally and planted into the naked sand in periods of relatively calm and moist weather.
Newborough women once used marram grass in the manufacture of mats, haystack covers and brushes for whitewashing.
Marram grass has been widely used for thatch in many areas of the British isles close to the sea. The harvesting of marram grass for thatch was so widespread during the 17th century that it had the effect of destabilizing dunes, resulting in the burial of many villages, estates and farms. In 1695 the practice was banned by an Act of the Scottish Parliament:
Considering that many lands, meadowes and pasturages lying on sea coasts have been ruined and overspread in many places in this kingdom by sand driven from adjacent sand hills .... His Majesty does strictly prohibit and discharge the pulling of bent, broom or juniper off the sand hills for hereafter.