Pioneer plants grow closest to the sea and can withstand high salt concentrations. These include sand couch grass, saltwort, sea sandwort and sea rocket. The strandline is very important for invertebrates where it forms a damp refuge from the heat of the mid-day sun. Look out for sand hoppers and beetles. Sand dunes defy gravity! They are formed when dry sand is blown up the beach and becomes trapped by pioneer plants. Marram grass is found on the larger dunes. The grassland is a blaze of colour in spring. Look out for cat's-ear, autumn hawkbit and smooth hawk's-beard all with the characteristic yellow daisy-like flowers. The distinctive sea holly, sea spurge and the elusive yellow-horned poppy also occur here. The pink sea bindweed grows trailing along the ground. Look out for over wintering birds such as pintail, redshank, dunlin and curlew. The area is also a popular hight-tide roost for gulls, waders and ducks. Characterisitc plants of the saltmarsh include sea purslane which fills the mid salt marsh. Sea couch grass is found right at the top of the saltmarsh by the path. Look out for the small blue butterfly which occurs along with its only food plant the kidney vetch. The rare marbled white butterfly whose food plant includes the grass red fescue now has its stronghold in dune grassland. Flowers adorn the sheltered bank such as the locally common sea campion, the intensely yellow bird's-foot trefoil and the uncommon greater knapweed. Butterflies include common blue, red admiral and large white.

Grid Reference: SS497995

Phone: Reserves Ranger on 01554 772368