The scars that humans leave
Within Newton Burrows sand dunes there are swathes of ‘empty space’ that have
been created by the gravel quarries that used to be prevalent on the site. Sand and
gravel extraction took place along the entire length of the foredunes from Newton
Burrows to the Ogmore river between 1937 and 1973. This extraction has resulted
in large areas of bare gravel and an extensive system of trackways which are still
apparent and run parallel to the shore behind the foredunes. These scars remind us
of the past. They represent the aftermath of a traumatic event; they are articulations
within the wider power-geometries of space.
