Editing Formby (section)

==Geography==
[[File:Foredunes at Formby - geograph.org.uk - 205138.jpg|thumb|Formby Beach looking toward Liverpool]]

Formby is a coastal town, with an area of roughly 7 sq miles (17&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>), located in the borough of [[Metropolitan Borough of Sefton|Sefton]]. The town is built upon the west of a large flat area of land called the [[West Lancashire Coastal Plain]]. Formby's highest point is within the [[Dune|sand dunes]] that separate the [[Irish Sea]] from Formby. However, these sand dunes are ever-changing in shape and formation, so there is no fixed point.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Sands of Times, an introduction to the Sand Dunes of the Sefton Coast Line|first=Philip H.|last=Smith|year=1999|publisher= National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside|location=Liverpool|isbn=1-902700-03-1}}</ref> 

The land between Formby and the areas of [[Southport]], [[Ormskirk]] and [[Liverpool]] is [[green belt]] land and is mostly used for [[agronomy|arable]] agricultural purposes. The areas around the urban fringe are drained by [[irrigation]] [[ditches]] and open areas get [[boggy]] in the winter months. Earth in urban areas is well drained, very loose and sandy.
[[File:Formby Sand Dunes.jpg|thumb|Formby Sand Dunes]]
The section of land between Formby and the coast is varied in vegetation, wildlife and [[terrain]]. This area includes [[pine]] forests (both natural and [[Artificial flower|man-made]]), sand dunes, [[marram grass]], [[deciduous]] woodland, seasonal [[pond]]s and lakes. Large areas of this land are protected by the [[National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty|National Trust]]. The southern boundary of the town partially  follows the course of the [[River Alt]] which enters the [[Irish Sea]] just south of Formby at [[Hightown, Sefton|Hightown]].
[[File:River_Alt_south_of_Formby_-_geograph.org.uk_-_4007465.jpg|thumb]]


Formby is in a [[temperate climate]] zone, with mild winters and warm summers. Formby's coastline faces an ongoing threat from water-based erosion, with high tides washing away yards of sand dunes. In an attempt to stem this, in some years discarded Christmas trees are collected and planted by rangers and volunteers to help slow this effect.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.southportvisiter.co.uk/news/southport-news/christmas-tree-recycling-southport--8341894|title=Christmas tree recycling in Southport & Formby – Sefton Council offers free collection service|work=Southport Visiter|date=26 December 2014|first=Andrew|last=Brown|access-date=30 November 2015}}</ref>