Galway’s Grattan Beach is to become a “living lab” for the city this month, as part of a pilot project.

Sand fencing is to be installed during the month of June as part of research on “nature-based solutions” for managing the beach and sand dunes.

The project involves Galway City Council, along with the University of Galway and the Atlantic Seaboard North Climate Action Regional Office (CARO).

Sand fencing at Galway’s Grattan beach Photo: Dr. Kevin Lynch

A ‘living lab’ is where scientists move from the laboratory to the real world to find solutions to problems, working with other experts and the public, the city council says.

“This project extends the work of the community-led “I Like Beaches'” project, where local groups have been contributing their ideas to develop a “living lab that would make space for nature and visitors on Grattan,” it says.

The “I Like Beaches” project has been running since 2012.