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  • Natterjack Breeding Pool - Winterton dunes, Norfolk
    115534.jpg
  • Coastal dunes and dune slacks at Holme Nature Reserve on the Norfolk coast
    154242.jpg
  • Pompilus cinereus attacking Arctosa perita. A spider hunting wasp paralyses a Sand Dune Bear-Spider spider on sand dunes.
    155150.jpg
  • Coastal dunes and dune slacks at Holme Nature Reserve on the Norfolk coast
    154241.jpg
  • Pelecopsis nemoraloides - male. This little money spider is confined to coastal habitats such as dunes and spiins a small sheet web in the litter layer.
    157136.jpg
  • Wild Thyme - Thymus polytrichus (Lamiaceae) Height to 5cm<br />
Creeping and mat-forming perennial with slender, woody runners. The whole plant is faintly aromatic, smelling of culinary thyme. Grows on dry grassland and heaths, and coastal cliffs and dunes. FLOWERS are 3-4mm long and pinkish purple; borne in dense, terminal heads with dark, purplish calyx tubes, on 4-angled stems that are hairy on 2 opposite sides (Jun-Sep). FRUITS are nutlets. LEAVES are ovate, short-stalked and borne in opposite pairs. STATUS-Widespread and common throughout the region.
    156543.jpg
  • Thyme growing on Lundy Island, Devon. Wild Thyme - Thymus polytrichus (Lamiaceae) Height to 5cm<br />
Creeping and mat-forming perennial with slender, woody runners. The whole plant is faintly aromatic, smelling of culinary thyme. Grows on dry grassland and heaths, and coastal cliffs and dunes. FLOWERS are 3-4mm long and pinkish purple; borne in dense, terminal heads with dark, purplish calyx tubes, on 4-angled stems that are hairy on 2 opposite sides (Jun-Sep). FRUITS are nutlets. LEAVES are ovate, short-stalked and borne in opposite pairs. STATUS-Widespread and common throughout the region.
    156517.jpg
  • Natterjack Toad Epidalea calamita Local and scarce, and legally protected in Britain. Has a rather flattened body, short hind legs and greenish yellow iris. Burrows walk and walks rather than hops. Breeds (mainly April-June) in seasonally drying and sometimes slightly saline pools. Adult has diagnostic pale yellowish vertebral stripe. Skin is warty and ground colour can be yellowish brown or greenish brown. Back is usually darker than flanks and marbled with dark spots; underparts are creamy white. Juvenile resembles a tiny, large-headed adult with reddish warts. Male utters a purring croak, often after dark, when courting. Rare in Britain, found mainly on lowland heathlands and coastal dunes, but also on stabilised saltmarshes
    155933.jpg
  • LIZARD ORCHID Himantoglossum hircinum (Orchidaceae) Height to 1m. Extraordinary orchid of scrub, undisturbed grassland and stabilised dunes. Bizarrely, the flowers smell of goats. FLOWERS have a greenish grey hood, adorned on the inside with reddish streaks, and an extremely long and twisted lip (up to 5cm); borne in tall spikes (May-Jul). FRUITS form and swell at the base of the flowers. LEAVES comprise oval basal leaves that soon wither, and smaller stem leaves that persist. STATUS-Regularly seen in E Kent only; very occasionally turns up elsewhere.
    154943.jpg
  • LIZARD ORCHID Himantoglossum hircinum (Orchidaceae) Height to 1m. Extraordinary orchid of scrub, undisturbed grassland and stabilised dunes. Bizarrely, the flowers smell of goats. FLOWERS have a greenish grey hood, adorned on the inside with reddish streaks, and an extremely long and twisted lip (up to 5cm); borne in tall spikes (May-Jul). FRUITS form and swell at the base of the flowers. LEAVES comprise oval basal leaves that soon wither, and smaller stem leaves that persist. STATUS-Regularly seen in E Kent only; very occasionally turns up elsewhere.
    154944.jpg
  • Footpath through the dunes at Holme Nature Reserve on the Norfolk coast
    154243.jpg
  • Boardwalk across the dunes at Holme Nature Reserve, Norfolk
    154246.jpg
  • Dark Green Fritillary Argynnis aglaia Wingspan 60mm. An active, fast-flying butterfly, seen skimming and gliding over open ground and feeding on the flowers of thistles and knapweeds. Adult has orange-brown upperwings; underside of hindwing is suffused with olive-green scaling. Flies July–August. Larva is black with spiky hairs; feeds on violets. Widespread but local on chalk downland and sand dunes in Britain and Ireland; commonest near coasts and in western half of region.
    127424.jpg
  • COMMON CORNSALAD Valerianella locusta (Valerianaceae) Height to 30cm. Branched and almost hairless annual. Grows in dry, grassy and bare places including arable land, old walls and dunes. FLOWERS are 1-2mm across, the corolla pinkish lilac and 5-lobed; borne in flat-topped terminal clusters, 1-2cm across (Apr-Aug). FRUITS are flattened and rather ovate. LEAVES are spoon-shaped towards the base of the plant but oblong higher up. STATUS-Widespread across the region but only locally common.
    143168.jpg
  • COMMON CORNSALAD Valerianella locusta (Valerianaceae) Height to 30cm. Branched and almost hairless annual. Grows in dry, grassy and bare places including arable land, old walls and dunes. FLOWERS are 1-2mm across, the corolla pinkish lilac and 5-lobed; borne in flat-topped terminal clusters, 1-2cm across (Apr-Aug). FRUITS are flattened and rather ovate. LEAVES are spoon-shaped towards the base of the plant but oblong higher up. STATUS-Widespread across the region but only locally common.
    143165.jpg
  • WILD THYME Thymus polytrichus (Lamiaceae) Height to 5cm<br />
Creeping and mat-forming perennial with slender, woody runners. The whole plant is faintly aromatic, smelling of culinary thyme. Grows on dry grassland and heaths, and coastal cliffs and dunes. FLOWERS are 3-4mm long and pinkish purple; borne in dense, terminal heads with dark, purplish calyx tubes, on 4-angled stems that are hairy on 2 opposite sides (Jun-Sep). FRUITS are nutlets. LEAVES are ovate, short-stalked and borne in opposite pairs. STATUS-Widespread and common throughout the region.
    141594.jpg
  • SAND CAT’S-TAIL Phleum arenarium Height to 20cm<br />
Short perennial of coastal dunes. FLOWERS are borne in dense, cylindrical heads, 1-2cm long (June-July). FRUITS are small, dry nutlets. LEAVES are rough and flat with pointed ligules. STATUS-Widespread but almost exclusively coastal, although absent from north and west Scotland.
    137727.jpg
  • BLUE FLEABANE Erigeron acer (Asteraceae) Height to 30cm<br />
Roughly hairy annual or biennial; stems are stiff and tinged reddish. Grows in dry, grassy places and on coastal shingle and dunes. FLOWERS are borne in heads, 12-18mm across, the bluish purple ray florets mainly concealing the yellow disc florets; in clusters (Jun-Aug). FRUITS are achenes. LEAVES are spoon-shaped and stalked at base of plant; narrow and unstalked on stem. STATUS-Widespread only in England and Wales.
    132220.jpg
  • BLUE FLEABANE Erigeron acer (Asteraceae) Height to 30cm<br />
Roughly hairy annual or biennial; stems are stiff and tinged reddish. Grows in dry, grassy places and on coastal shingle and dunes. FLOWERS are borne in heads, 12-18mm across, the bluish purple ray florets mainly concealing the yellow disc florets; in clusters (Jun-Aug). FRUITS are achenes. LEAVES are spoon-shaped and stalked at base of plant; narrow and unstalked on stem. STATUS-Widespread only in England and Wales.
    131920.jpg
  • BLUE FLEABANE Erigeron acer (Asteraceae) Height to 30cm<br />
Roughly hairy annual or biennial; stems are stiff and tinged reddish. Grows in dry, grassy places and on coastal shingle and dunes. FLOWERS are borne in heads, 12-18mm across, the bluish purple ray florets mainly concealing the yellow disc florets; in clusters (Jun-Aug). FRUITS are achenes. LEAVES are spoon-shaped and stalked at base of plant; narrow and unstalked on stem. STATUS-Widespread only in England and Wales.
    131919.jpg
  • COMMON CENTAURY Centaurium erythraea (Gentianaceae) Height to 25cm. Variable, hairless annual that is found in dry, grassy places, including verges, chalk downland and sand dunes. FLOWERS are 10-15mm across, unstalked and pink with 5 petal-like lobes that open fully only in sunshine; borne in terminal clusters and on side shoots (Jun-Sep). FRUITS are capsules. LEAVES are grey-green and oval, those on the stem narrower than the basal ones (10-20mm across), which form a rosette; all leaves have 3-7 veins. STATUS-Widespread and common, except Scotland. Note-dwarf form var. capitatum (so-called Dumpy Centaury) occurs on coasts of England and Wales.
    131347.jpg
  • LESSER MEADOW-RUE Thalictrum minus (Ranunculaceae) Height to 1m. Variable, often short perennial of dunes, dry grassland and rocky slopes; mainly on basic soils. FLOWERS are yellowish, tinged purple, with prominent dangling stamens; in open clusters, flowers drooping at first then erect (Jun-Aug). FRUITS are dry and papery. LEAVES are pinnately divided 3 or 4 times. STATUS-Widespread but local.
    131340.jpg
  • SHEEP’S-BIT Jasione montana (Campanulaceae) Height to 30cm. Attractive, spreading and downy biennial that grows in dry grassland, and on coastal cliffs, heaths and dunes, favouring acid soils and absent from calcareous locations. FLOWERS are sky blue and borne in rounded heads, 30-35mm across, on slender stalks (May-Sep). Note that the anthers do not project (cf. Devil’s-bit Scabious). FRUITS are dry capsules. LEAVES are wavy-edged and hairy at the base, forming a rosette, but narrow on the stem. STATUS-Widespread but local, and commonest in W and near the sea.
    131162.jpg
  • WILD THYME Thymus polytrichus (Lamiaceae) Height to 5cm<br />
Creeping and mat-forming perennial with slender, woody runners. The whole plant is faintly aromatic, smelling of culinary thyme. Grows on dry grassland and heaths, and coastal cliffs and dunes. FLOWERS are 3-4mm long and pinkish purple; borne in dense, terminal heads with dark, purplish calyx tubes, on 4-angled stems that are hairy on 2 opposite sides (Jun-Sep). FRUITS are nutlets. LEAVES are ovate, short-stalked and borne in opposite pairs. STATUS-Widespread and common throughout the region.
    131135.jpg
  • SAND SEDGE Carex arenaria (Cyperaceae) Height to 35cm<br />
Creeping perennial of sand dunes. Progress of its underground stems can be detected by aerial shoots, which appear in straight lines. FLOWERS comprise pale brown spikes, in a terminal head, male flowers above females (May-Jul). FRUITS are yellowish brown and beaked. LEAVES are wiry. STATUS-Locally common on most suitable coasts.
    130887.jpg
  • MARRAM Ammophila arenaria Height to 1m<br />
Perennial of coastal dunes that colonises and stabilises shifting sands by means of its underground stems. FLOWERS are borne in dense spikes, with 1-flowered, straw-coloured spikelets (Jul-Aug). FRUITS are small, dry nutlets. LEAVES are tough, grey-green, rolled and sharply pointed. STATUS-Widespread and common on suitable coasts.
    130358.jpg
  • Sea Spurge (Euphorbia paralias) Upright perennial of sandy beaches and dunes. FLOWERS are yellowish with petal-like bracts and horned lobes (petals and sepals are absent); in umbel-like heads (Jun-Oct). FRUITS are smooth. LEAVES are grey-green, fleshy and closely packed up stems.
    101960.jpg
  • Sand Lizard Lacerta agilis Length 16-19cm Bulky lizard. Hibernates Sept-Mar. Females lay eggs. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has relatively large head. Ground colour of back is typically buffish brown but note three rows of white-centred dark spots along length of body. Head and flanks are flushed bright green in spring and summer. Adult female has smaller head and more bulky body than male. Ground colour is pale to rich brown with three longitudinal rows of eyespots. Juvenile recalls a small, slender adult female with eyespots on back and flanks. In Britain (where protected by law), restricted to heathland sites in Dorset and Surrey, and coastal sand dunes in Merseyside.
    118485.jpg
  • Sand Lizard Lacerta agilis Length 16-19cm Bulky lizard. Hibernates Sept-Mar. Females lay eggs. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has relatively large head. Ground colour of back is typically buffish brown but note three rows of white-centred dark spots along length of body. Head and flanks are flushed bright green in spring and summer. Adult female has smaller head and more bulky body than male. Ground colour is pale to rich brown with three longitudinal rows of eyespots. Juvenile recalls a small, slender adult female with eyespots on back and flanks. In Britain (where protected by law), restricted to heathland sites in Dorset and Surrey, and coastal sand dunes in Merseyside.
    119942.jpg
  • Natterjack Toad Epidalea calamita Local and scarce, and legally protected in Britain. Has a rather flattened body, short hind legs and greenish yellow iris. Burrows walk and walks rather than hops. Breeds (mainly April-June) in seasonally drying and sometimes slightly saline pools. Adult has diagnostic pale yellowish vertebral stripe. Skin is warty and ground colour can be yellowish brown or greenish brown. Back is usually darker than flanks and marbled with dark spots; underparts are creamy white. Juvenile resembles a tiny, large-headed adult with reddish warts. Male utters a purring croak, often after dark, when courting. Rare in Britain, found mainly on lowland heathlands and coastal dunes, but also on stabilised saltmarshes
    142327.jpg
  • Natterjack Toad Epidalea calamita Local and scarce, and legally protected in Britain. Has a rather flattened body, short hind legs and greenish yellow iris. Burrows walk and walks rather than hops. Breeds (mainly April-June) in seasonally drying and sometimes slightly saline pools. Adult has diagnostic pale yellowish vertebral stripe. Skin is warty and ground colour can be yellowish brown or greenish brown. Back is usually darker than flanks and marbled with dark spots; underparts are creamy white. Juvenile resembles a tiny, large-headed adult with reddish warts. Male utters a purring croak, often after dark, when courting. Rare in Britain, found mainly on lowland heathlands and coastal dunes, but also on stabilised saltmarshes
    143172.jpg
  • Sand Lizard Lacerta agilis Length 16-19cm Bulky lizard. Hibernates Sept-Mar. Females lay eggs. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has relatively large head. Ground colour of back is typically buffish brown but note three rows of white-centred dark spots along length of body. Head and flanks are flushed bright green in spring and summer. Adult female has smaller head and more bulky body than male. Ground colour is pale to rich brown with three longitudinal rows of eyespots. Juvenile recalls a small, slender adult female with eyespots on back and flanks. In Britain (where protected by law), restricted to heathland sites in Dorset and Surrey, and coastal sand dunes in Merseyside.
    144191.jpg
  • Common Centaury - Centaurium erythraea. Height to 25cm. Variable, hairless annual that is found in dry, grassy places, including verges, chalk downland and sand dunes. FLOWERS are 10-15mm across, unstalked and pink with 5 petal-like lobes that open fully only in sunshine; borne in terminal clusters and on side shoots (Jun-Sep). FRUITS are capsules. LEAVES are grey-green and oval, those on the stem narrower than the basal ones (10-20mm across), which form a rosette; all leaves have 3-7 veins. STATUS-Widespread and common, except Scotland. Note-dwarf form var. capitatum (so-called Dumpy Centaury) occurs on coasts of England and Wales.
    157347.jpg
  • Marpissa nivoyi - female. A jumping spider adapted to hunting on grass stems. It is a rare spider most often occurring amongst Marram Grass on sand dunes.
    156850.jpg
  • Pelecopsis nemoraloides - male. This little money spider is confined to coastal habitats such as dunes and spiins a small sheet web in the litter layer.
    156842.jpg
  • Pelecopsis nemoraloides - male. This little money spider is confined to coastal habitats such as dunes and spiins a small sheet web in the litter layer.
    156841.jpg
  • Trichopterna cito - male. A very rare RDB2 spider that only occurs in a few coastal locations in South East England on dunes and shingle.
    156839.jpg
  • Trichopterna cito - male. A very rare RDB2 spider that only occurs in a few coastal locations in South East England on dunes and shingle.
    156838.jpg
  • Agroeca inopina, Liocranidae. Female. Ground living nocturnal hunting spider. Warm, dry places eg dunes amongst litter.
    155108.jpg
  • Agroeca inopina, Liocranidae. Female. Ground living nocturnal hunting spider. Warm, dry places eg dunes.
    155110.jpg
  • Agroeca inopina, Liocranidae. Female. Ground living nocturnal hunting spider. Warm, dry places eg dunes amongst litter.
    155109.jpg
  • LIZARD ORCHID Himantoglossum hircinum (Orchidaceae) Height to 1m. Extraordinary orchid of scrub, undisturbed grassland and stabilised dunes. Bizarrely, the flowers smell of goats. FLOWERS have a greenish grey hood, adorned on the inside with reddish streaks, and an extremely long and twisted lip (up to 5cm); borne in tall spikes (May-Jul). FRUITS form and swell at the base of the flowers. LEAVES comprise oval basal leaves that soon wither, and smaller stem leaves that persist. STATUS-Regularly seen in E Kent only; very occasionally turns up elsewhere.
    154945.jpg
  • LIZARD ORCHID Himantoglossum hircinum (Orchidaceae) Height to 1m. Extraordinary orchid of scrub, undisturbed grassland and stabilised dunes. Bizarrely, the flowers smell of goats. FLOWERS have a greenish grey hood, adorned on the inside with reddish streaks, and an extremely long and twisted lip (up to 5cm); borne in tall spikes (May-Jul). FRUITS form and swell at the base of the flowers. LEAVES comprise oval basal leaves that soon wither, and smaller stem leaves that persist. STATUS-Regularly seen in E Kent only; very occasionally turns up elsewhere.
    154946.jpg
  • Winterton Dunes, Norfolk Coast
    115534.jpg
  • Footpath through the dunes at Holme Nature Reserve on the Norfolk coast
    154244.jpg
  • Boardwalk across the dunes at Holme Nature Reserve, Norfolk
    154245.jpg
  • Grayling Hipparchia semele Wingspan 50mm. An active, sun-loving butterfly. Typically rests with its wings folded and angled to sun to cast the least shadow. Adult has well patterned underwings: hindwing is marbled grey and brown while forewing has an orange patch with two eyespots. Forewings are seldom revealed at rest, but are buffish brown with a yellowish submarginal band marked with eyespots. Flies June–August. Larva feeds on grasses. Widespread but only locally common, favouring warm, dry places including sea cliffs, heaths and dunes.
    136160.jpg
  • Dark Green Fritillary Argynnis aglaia Wingspan 60mm. An active, fast-flying butterfly, seen skimming and gliding over open ground and feeding on the flowers of thistles and knapweeds. Adult has orange-brown upperwings; underside of hindwing is suffused with olive-green scaling. Flies July–August. Larva is black with spiky hairs; feeds on violets. Widespread but local on chalk downland and sand dunes in Britain and Ireland; commonest near coasts and in western half of region.
    102305.jpg
  • SEA BINDWEED Calystegia soldanella (Convolvulaceae) Creeping. Prostrate perennial that grows on sand dunes, and occasionally on stabilised shingle. FLOWERS are 3-5cm across, funnel-shaped and pink with 5 white stripes; on slender stalks (Jun-Aug). FRUITS are capsules. LEAVES are kidney-shaped, fleshy, up to 4cm long and long-stalked. STATUS-Widespread on coasts but locally common only in S.
    153684.jpg
  • NARROW-FRUITED CORNSALAD Valerianella dentata (Valerianaceae) Height to 20cm. Branched and almost hairless annual. Grows in dry, grassy and bare places including arable land, old walls and dunes. FLOWERS are 1-2mm across, the corolla pinkish lilac and 5-lobed; borne in flat-topped terminal clusters, 1cm across (Apr-May). FRUITS are flattened and narrowly ovate. LEAVES are spoon-shaped towards the base of the plant but oblong higher up. STATUS-Very rare in southern England.
    141595.jpg
  • WILD THYME Thymus polytrichus (Lamiaceae) Height to 5cm<br />
Creeping and mat-forming perennial with slender, woody runners. The whole plant is faintly aromatic, smelling of culinary thyme. Grows on dry grassland and heaths, and coastal cliffs and dunes. FLOWERS are 3-4mm long and pinkish purple; borne in dense, terminal heads with dark, purplish calyx tubes, on 4-angled stems that are hairy on 2 opposite sides (Jun-Sep). FRUITS are nutlets. LEAVES are ovate, short-stalked and borne in opposite pairs. STATUS-Widespread and common throughout the region.
    141577.jpg
  • SEA RADISH Raphanus raphanistrum maritimus (Brassicaceae) Height to 60cm. Robust, roughly hairy annual. Found on stabilised shingle, sand dunes and coastal grassland. FLOWERS are yellow (May-Jul). FRUITS are pods with up to 5 beaded segments. LEAVES comprise pinnate lower leaves and narrow, entire upper ones. STATUS-Locally common in S and SW only.
    141475.jpg
  • SAND CAT’S-TAIL Phleum arenarium Height to 20cm<br />
Short perennial of coastal dunes. FLOWERS are borne in dense, cylindrical heads, 1-2cm long (June-July). FRUITS are small, dry nutlets. LEAVES are rough and flat with pointed ligules. STATUS-Widespread but almost exclusively coastal, although absent from north and west Scotland.
    137726.jpg
  • SEA-BUCKTHORN Hippophae rhamnoides (Elaeagnaceae) Height to 10m. Branched, dense and thorny shrub. Native to stabilised coastal sand dunes but also widely planted. FLOWERS are tiny and greenish, male and female flowers on separate plants (Mar-Apr). FRUITS are bright orange berries (on female plants only). LEAVES are narrow and greyish green. STATUS-Native to E coast but planted elsewhere.
    133924.jpg
  • AUTUMN LADY’S-TRESSES Spiranthes spiralis (Orchidaceae) Height to 15cm. Charming little orchid that is easy to overlook until you have got your eye in. Grows in short, dry grassland, both inland and on coastal turf and dunes. FLOWERS are pure white and both the petals and sepals are downy; borne in a distinct spiral up the grey-green stem (Aug-Sep). FRUITS are egg-shaped and downy. LEAVES appear as a basal rosette of oval leaves that wither long before the flower stem appears. STATUS-Locally common in S England, Wales and SW Ireland.
    132192.jpg
  • BITING STONECROP Sedum acre (Crassulaceae) Height to 10cm. Distinctive mat-forming perennial. Found on well-drained ground such as sand dunes and old walls. FLOWERS are star-shaped and 10-12mm across, with 5 bright yellow petals (May-Jul). FRUITS are dry and splitting. LEAVES are fleshy, crowded and pressed close to stem; taste hot. STATUS-Widespread and locally common.
    132152.jpg
  • LYME-GRASS Leymus arenarius Height to 1.5m<br />
Blue-grey perennial of sand dunes and sandy beaches. FLOWERS are borne in tall heads of paired, grey-green spikelets (Jun-Aug). FRUITS are small, dry nutlets. LEAVES are up to 15mm wide, with inrolled margins. STATUS-Widespread and common on E coast of Britain; scarce or absent elsewhere.
    131737.jpg
  • LIZARD ORCHID Himantoglossum hircinum (Orchidaceae) Height to 1m. Extraordinary orchid of scrub, undisturbed grassland and stabilised dunes. Bizarrely, the flowers smell of goats. FLOWERS have a greenish grey hood, adorned on the inside with reddish streaks, and an extremely long and twisted lip (up to 5cm); borne in tall spikes (May-Jul). FRUITS form and swell at the base of the flowers. LEAVES comprise oval basal leaves that soon wither, and smaller stem leaves that persist. STATUS-Regularly seen in E Kent only; very occasionally turns up elsewhere.
    131458.jpg
  • LESSER MEADOW-RUE Thalictrum minus (Ranunculaceae) Height to 1m. Variable, often short perennial of dunes, dry grassland and rocky slopes; mainly on basic soils. FLOWERS are yellowish, tinged purple, with prominent dangling stamens; in open clusters, flowers drooping at first then erect (Jun-Aug). FRUITS are dry and papery. LEAVES are pinnately divided 3 or 4 times. STATUS-Widespread but local.
    131306.jpg
  • LESSER MEADOW-RUE Thalictrum minus (Ranunculaceae) Height to 1m. Variable, often short perennial of dunes, dry grassland and rocky slopes; mainly on basic soils. FLOWERS are yellowish, tinged purple, with prominent dangling stamens; in open clusters, flowers drooping at first then erect (Jun-Aug). FRUITS are dry and papery. LEAVES are pinnately divided 3 or 4 times. STATUS-Widespread but local.
    131305.jpg
  • SEA BINDWEED Calystegia soldanella (Convolvulaceae) Creeping. Prostrate perennial that grows on sand dunes, and occasionally on stabilised shingle. FLOWERS are 3-5cm across, funnel-shaped and pink with 5 white stripes; on slender stalks (Jun-Aug). FRUITS are capsules. LEAVES are kidney-shaped, fleshy, up to 4cm long and long-stalked. STATUS-Widespread on coasts but locally common only in S.
    131128.jpg
  • SEA STOCK Matthiola sinuata (Brassicaceae) Height to 80cm<br />
Downy, grey-green perennial, the base of which is not woody. Associated with coastal dunes and sea cliffs. FLOWERS are fragrant and 25-50mm across, with 4 pinkish petals (Jun-Aug). FRUITS are narrow and elongated pods. LEAVES are narrow with toothed or lobed margins. STATUS-Rare, SW England, S Wales, S Ireland and Channel Islands only.
    131127.jpg
  • YELLOW-RATTLE Rhinanthus minor (Scrophulariaceae) Height to 45cm. Variable, upright and almost hairless annual that is semi-parasitic on the roots of other plants. The stems are stiff, 4-angled and often marked with dark spots and streaks. Grows in undisturbed meadows and stabilised dunes. FLOWERS are 10-20mm long, the corolla yellow, 2-lipped and somewhat tubular and straight, the 2 teeth on the upper lip are 1mm long; borne in spikes with triangular, toothed and leaf-like green bracts (May-Sep). FRUITS are inflated capsules inside which the ripe seeds do indeed rattle. LEAVES are oblong with rounded teeth. STATUS-Widespread and common.
    130992.jpg
  • COMMON CORNSALAD Valerianella locusta (Valerianaceae) Height to 30cm. Branched and almost hairless annual. Grows in dry, grassy and bare places including arable land, old walls and dunes. FLOWERS are 1-2mm across, the corolla pinkish lilac and 5-lobed; borne in flat-topped terminal clusters, 1-2cm across (Apr-Aug). FRUITS are flattened and rather ovate. LEAVES are spoon-shaped towards the base of the plant but oblong higher up. STATUS-Widespread across the region but only locally common.
    130759.jpg
  • BURNET ROSE Rosa pimpinellifolia (Rosaceae) Height to 50cm<br />
Clump-forming shrub with suckers and stems that bear numerous straight thorns and stiff bristles. Associated mainly with sand dunes, calcareous grasslands, limestone pavements and heaths. FLOWERS are 3-5cm across with 5 creamy white petals; usually solitary (May-Jul). FRUITS are spherical, 5-6mm across and purplish black when ripe. LEAVES comprise 7-11 oval leaflets.
    103074.jpg
  • YELLOW-RATTLE Rhinanthus minor (Scrophulariaceae) Height to 45cm. Variable, upright and almost hairless annual that is semi-parasitic on the roots of other plants. The stems are stiff, 4-angled and often marked with dark spots and streaks. Grows in undisturbed meadows and stabilised dunes. FLOWERS are 10-20mm long, the corolla yellow, 2-lipped and somewhat tubular and straight, the 2 teeth on the upper lip are 1mm long; borne in spikes with triangular, toothed and leaf-like green bracts (May-Sep). FRUITS are inflated capsules inside which the ripe seeds do indeed rattle. LEAVES are oblong with rounded teeth. STATUS-Widespread and common.
    143564.jpg
  • MARRAM Ammophila arenaria Height to 1m<br />
Perennial of coastal dunes that colonises and stabilises shifting sands by means of its underground stems. FLOWERS are borne in dense spikes, with 1-flowered, straw-coloured spikelets (Jul-Aug). FRUITS are small, dry nutlets. LEAVES are tough, grey-green, rolled and sharply pointed. STATUS-Widespread and common on suitable coasts.
    144552.jpg
  • Sand Lizard Lacerta agilis Length 16-19cm Bulky lizard. Hibernates Sept-Mar. Females lay eggs. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has relatively large head. Ground colour of back is typically buffish brown but note three rows of white-centred dark spots along length of body. Head and flanks are flushed bright green in spring and summer. Adult female has smaller head and more bulky body than male. Ground colour is pale to rich brown with three longitudinal rows of eyespots. Juvenile recalls a small, slender adult female with eyespots on back and flanks. In Britain (where protected by law), restricted to heathland sites in Dorset and Surrey, and coastal sand dunes in Merseyside.
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  • Natterjack Toad Epidalea calamita Local and scarce, and legally protected in Britain. Has a rather flattened body, short hind legs and greenish yellow iris. Burrows walk and walks rather than hops. Breeds (mainly April-June) in seasonally drying and sometimes slightly saline pools. Adult has diagnostic pale yellowish vertebral stripe. Skin is warty and ground colour can be yellowish brown or greenish brown. Back is usually darker than flanks and marbled with dark spots; underparts are creamy white. Juvenile resembles a tiny, large-headed adult with reddish warts. Male utters a purring croak, often after dark, when courting. Rare in Britain, found mainly on lowland heathlands and coastal dunes, but also on stabilised saltmarshes
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  • Sand Lizard Lacerta agilis Length 16-19cm Bulky lizard. Hibernates Sept-Mar. Females lay eggs. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has relatively large head. Ground colour of back is typically buffish brown but note three rows of white-centred dark spots along length of body. Head and flanks are flushed bright green in spring and summer. Adult female has smaller head and more bulky body than male. Ground colour is pale to rich brown with three longitudinal rows of eyespots. Juvenile recalls a small, slender adult female with eyespots on back and flanks. In Britain (where protected by law), restricted to heathland sites in Dorset and Surrey, and coastal sand dunes in Merseyside.
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  • Natterjack Toad Epidalea calamita Local and scarce, and legally protected in Britain. Has a rather flattened body, short hind legs and greenish yellow iris. Burrows walk and walks rather than hops. Breeds (mainly April-June) in seasonally drying and sometimes slightly saline pools. Adult has diagnostic pale yellowish vertebral stripe. Skin is warty and ground colour can be yellowish brown or greenish brown. Back is usually darker than flanks and marbled with dark spots; underparts are creamy white. Juvenile resembles a tiny, large-headed adult with reddish warts. Male utters a purring croak, often after dark, when courting. Rare in Britain, found mainly on lowland heathlands and coastal dunes, but also on stabilised saltmarshes
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  • Natterjack Toad Epidalea calamita Local and scarce, and legally protected in Britain. Has a rather flattened body, short hind legs and greenish yellow iris. Burrows walk and walks rather than hops. Breeds (mainly April-June) in seasonally drying and sometimes slightly saline pools. Adult has diagnostic pale yellowish vertebral stripe. Skin is warty and ground colour can be yellowish brown or greenish brown. Back is usually darker than flanks and marbled with dark spots; underparts are creamy white. Juvenile resembles a tiny, large-headed adult with reddish warts. Male utters a purring croak, often after dark, when courting. Rare in Britain, found mainly on lowland heathlands and coastal dunes, but also on stabilised saltmarshes
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  • Natterjack Toad Epidalea calamita Local and scarce, and legally protected in Britain. Has a rather flattened body, short hind legs and greenish yellow iris. Burrows walk and walks rather than hops. Breeds (mainly April-June) in seasonally drying and sometimes slightly saline pools. Adult has diagnostic pale yellowish vertebral stripe. Skin is warty and ground colour can be yellowish brown or greenish brown. Back is usually darker than flanks and marbled with dark spots; underparts are creamy white. Juvenile resembles a tiny, large-headed adult with reddish warts. Male utters a purring croak, often after dark, when courting. Rare in Britain, found mainly on lowland heathlands and coastal dunes, but also on stabilised saltmarshes
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  • Natterjack Toad Epidalea calamita Local and scarce, and legally protected in Britain. Has a rather flattened body, short hind legs and greenish yellow iris. Burrows walk and walks rather than hops. Breeds (mainly April-June) in seasonally drying and sometimes slightly saline pools. Adult has diagnostic pale yellowish vertebral stripe. Skin is warty and ground colour can be yellowish brown or greenish brown. Back is usually darker than flanks and marbled with dark spots; underparts are creamy white. Juvenile resembles a tiny, large-headed adult with reddish warts. Male utters a purring croak, often after dark, when courting. Rare in Britain, found mainly on lowland heathlands and coastal dunes, but also on stabilised saltmarshes
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  • Grayling - Hipparchia semele - male (top) - female (bottom). Wingspan 50mm. An active, sun-loving butterfly. Typically rests with its wings folded and angled to sun to cast the least shadow. Adult has well patterned underwings: hindwing is marbled grey and brown while forewing has an orange patch with two eyespots. Forewings are seldom revealed at rest, but are buffish brown with a yellowish submarginal band marked with eyespots. Flies June–August. Larva feeds on grasses. Widespread but only locally common, favouring warm, dry places including sea cliffs, heaths and dunes.
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  • Dark Green Fritillary - Argynnis aglaia - male (top) - female (bottom). Wingspan 60mm. An active, fast-flying butterfly, seen skimming and gliding over open ground and feeding on the flowers of thistles and knapweeds. Adult has orange-brown upperwings; underside of hindwing is suffused with olive-green scaling. Flies July–August. Larva is black with spiky hairs; feeds on violets. Widespread but local on chalk downland and sand dunes in Britain and Ireland; commonest near coasts and in western half of region.
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  • Wild Thyme - Thymus polytrichus (Lamiaceae) Height to 5cm<br />
Creeping and mat-forming perennial with slender, woody runners. The whole plant is faintly aromatic, smelling of culinary thyme. Grows on dry grassland and heaths, and coastal cliffs and dunes. FLOWERS are 3-4mm long and pinkish purple; borne in dense, terminal heads with dark, purplish calyx tubes, on 4-angled stems that are hairy on 2 opposite sides (Jun-Sep). FRUITS are nutlets. LEAVES are ovate, short-stalked and borne in opposite pairs. STATUS-Widespread and common throughout the region.
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  • LIZARD ORCHID Himantoglossum hircinum (Orchidaceae) Height to 1m. Extraordinary orchid of scrub, undisturbed grassland and stabilised dunes. Bizarrely, the flowers smell of goats. FLOWERS have a greenish grey hood, adorned on the inside with reddish streaks, and an extremely long and twisted lip (up to 5cm); borne in tall spikes (May-Jul). FRUITS form and swell at the base of the flowers. LEAVES comprise oval basal leaves that soon wither, and smaller stem leaves that persist. STATUS-Regularly seen in E Kent only; very occasionally turns up elsewhere.
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  • Grayling Hipparchia semele Wingspan 50mm. An active, sun-loving butterfly. Typically rests with its wings folded and angled to sun to cast the least shadow. Adult has well patterned underwings: hindwing is marbled grey and brown while forewing has an orange patch with two eyespots. Forewings are seldom revealed at rest, but are buffish brown with a yellowish submarginal band marked with eyespots. Flies June–August. Larva feeds on grasses. Widespread but only locally common, favouring warm, dry places including sea cliffs, heaths and dunes.
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  • Dark Green Fritillary Argynnis aglaia Wingspan 60mm. An active, fast-flying butterfly, seen skimming and gliding over open ground and feeding on the flowers of thistles and knapweeds. Adult has orange-brown upperwings; underside of hindwing is suffused with olive-green scaling. Flies July–August. Larva is black with spiky hairs; feeds on violets. Widespread but local on chalk downland and sand dunes in Britain and Ireland; commonest near coasts and in western half of region.
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  • COMMON CORNSALAD Valerianella locusta (Valerianaceae) Height to 30cm. Branched and almost hairless annual. Grows in dry, grassy and bare places including arable land, old walls and dunes. FLOWERS are 1-2mm across, the corolla pinkish lilac and 5-lobed; borne in flat-topped terminal clusters, 1-2cm across (Apr-Aug). FRUITS are flattened and rather ovate. LEAVES are spoon-shaped towards the base of the plant but oblong higher up. STATUS-Widespread across the region but only locally common.
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  • COMMON CORNSALAD Valerianella locusta (Valerianaceae) Height to 30cm. Branched and almost hairless annual. Grows in dry, grassy and bare places including arable land, old walls and dunes. FLOWERS are 1-2mm across, the corolla pinkish lilac and 5-lobed; borne in flat-topped terminal clusters, 1-2cm across (Apr-Aug). FRUITS are flattened and rather ovate. LEAVES are spoon-shaped towards the base of the plant but oblong higher up. STATUS-Widespread across the region but only locally common.
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  • SHARP RUSH Juncus acutus. Similar to Sea Rush J. maritimus but larger (to 1.5m) with spine-tipped bracts and leaves. Rare in coastal dunes in south-west.
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  • LIZARD ORCHID Himantoglossum hircinum (Orchidaceae) Height to 1m. Extraordinary orchid of scrub, undisturbed grassland and stabilised dunes. Bizarrely, the flowers smell of goats. FLOWERS have a greenish grey hood, adorned on the inside with reddish streaks, and an extremely long and twisted lip (up to 5cm); borne in tall spikes (May-Jul). FRUITS form and swell at the base of the flowers. LEAVES comprise oval basal leaves that soon wither, and smaller stem leaves that persist. STATUS-Regularly seen in E Kent only; very occasionally turns up elsewhere.
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  • COMMON CENTAURY Centaurium erythraea (Gentianaceae) Height to 25cm. Variable, hairless annual that is found in dry, grassy places, including verges, chalk downland and sand dunes. FLOWERS are 10-15mm across, unstalked and pink with 5 petal-like lobes that open fully only in sunshine; borne in terminal clusters and on side shoots (Jun-Sep). FRUITS are capsules. LEAVES are grey-green and oval, those on the stem narrower than the basal ones (10-20mm across), which form a rosette; all leaves have 3-7 veins. STATUS-Widespread and common, except Scotland. Note-dwarf form var. capitatum (so-called Dumpy Centaury) occurs on coasts of England and Wales.
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  • JERSEY THRIFT Armeria arenaria (Height to 30cm) is similar to Thrift but has far fewer leaves and the pink flower heads are borne on more slender stalks (May-Jul). It grows on dry ground and, in our region, is entirely restricted to coastal dunes on Jersey.
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  • BEDSTRAW BROOMRAPE Orobanche caryophyllacea (Orobanchaceae) Height to 30cm. A distinctive plant, as broomrapes go. Its flowers are pinkish white or creamy yellow, clove-scented, and borne in spikes (June-July). As its name suggests, the plant is a parasite of bedstraws and grows in grassland, mainly on dunes but rarely also on downland. It is easiest to locate at Sandwich Bay in Kent.
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  • MARRAM Ammophila arenaria Height to 1m<br />
Perennial of coastal dunes that colonises and stabilises shifting sands by means of its underground stems. FLOWERS are borne in dense spikes, with 1-flowered, straw-coloured spikelets (Jul-Aug). FRUITS are small, dry nutlets. LEAVES are tough, grey-green, rolled and sharply pointed. STATUS-Widespread and common on suitable coasts.
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  • Natterjack Toad Epidalea calamita Local and scarce, and legally protected in Britain. Has a rather flattened body, short hind legs and greenish yellow iris. Burrows walk and walks rather than hops. Breeds (mainly April-June) in seasonally drying and sometimes slightly saline pools. Adult has diagnostic pale yellowish vertebral stripe. Skin is warty and ground colour can be yellowish brown or greenish brown. Back is usually darker than flanks and marbled with dark spots; underparts are creamy white. Juvenile resembles a tiny, large-headed adult with reddish warts. Male utters a purring croak, often after dark, when courting. Rare in Britain, found mainly on lowland heathlands and coastal dunes, but also on stabilised saltmarshes
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  • Natterjack Toad Epidalea calamita Local and scarce, and legally protected in Britain. Has a rather flattened body, short hind legs and greenish yellow iris. Burrows walk and walks rather than hops. Breeds (mainly April-June) in seasonally drying and sometimes slightly saline pools. Adult has diagnostic pale yellowish vertebral stripe. Skin is warty and ground colour can be yellowish brown or greenish brown. Back is usually darker than flanks and marbled with dark spots; underparts are creamy white. Juvenile resembles a tiny, large-headed adult with reddish warts. Male utters a purring croak, often after dark, when courting. Rare in Britain, found mainly on lowland heathlands and coastal dunes, but also on stabilised saltmarshes
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  • Natterjack Toad Epidalea calamita Local and scarce, and legally protected in Britain. Has a rather flattened body, short hind legs and greenish yellow iris. Burrows walk and walks rather than hops. Breeds (mainly April-June) in seasonally drying and sometimes slightly saline pools. Adult has diagnostic pale yellowish vertebral stripe. Skin is warty and ground colour can be yellowish brown or greenish brown. Back is usually darker than flanks and marbled with dark spots; underparts are creamy white. Juvenile resembles a tiny, large-headed adult with reddish warts. Male utters a purring croak, often after dark, when courting. Rare in Britain, found mainly on lowland heathlands and coastal dunes, but also on stabilised saltmarshes
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  • Natterjack Toad Epidalea calamita Local and scarce, and legally protected in Britain. Has a rather flattened body, short hind legs and greenish yellow iris. Burrows walk and walks rather than hops. Breeds (mainly April-June) in seasonally drying and sometimes slightly saline pools. Adult has diagnostic pale yellowish vertebral stripe. Skin is warty and ground colour can be yellowish brown or greenish brown. Back is usually darker than flanks and marbled with dark spots; underparts are creamy white. Juvenile resembles a tiny, large-headed adult with reddish warts. Male utters a purring croak, often after dark, when courting. Rare in Britain, found mainly on lowland heathlands and coastal dunes, but also on stabilised saltmarshes
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  • Sand Dunes, Holme Norfolk
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  • Arctosa perita - female. A specialist burrowing wolf spider found on sand dunes and other sandy habitats such as heaths and even spoil heaps. It is superbly camouflaged to match the open sand in its habitat.
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  • BURNET ROSE Rosa pimpinellifolia (Rosaceae) Height to 50cm. Clump-forming shrub with suckers and stems that bear numerous straight thorns and stiff bristles. Associated mainly with sand dunes, calcareous grasslands, limestone pavements and heaths. FLOWERS are 3-5cm across with 5 creamy white petals; usually solitary (May-Jul). FRUITS are spherical, 5-6mm across and purplish black when ripe. LEAVES comprise 7-11 oval leaflets. STATUS-Widespread but only locally common.
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  • BURNET ROSE Rosa pimpinellifolia (Rosaceae) Height to 50cm. Clump-forming shrub with suckers and stems that bear numerous straight thorns and stiff bristles. Associated mainly with sand dunes, calcareous grasslands, limestone pavements and heaths. FLOWERS are 3-5cm across with 5 creamy white petals; usually solitary (May-Jul). FRUITS are spherical, 5-6mm across and purplish black when ripe. LEAVES comprise 7-11 oval leaflets. STATUS-Widespread but only locally common.
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  • SEA CARROT Daucus carota maritima. Height to 75cm. Similar to Wild Carrot but with more fleshy leaves and umbels that are flat or convex (not concave) in fruit. Flowers structurally similar to Wild Carrot (June-Sept). Fruits oval, with spiny ridges; fruiting umbels flat or convex. Leaves 2 or 3 times pinnate, with narrow leaflets. More fleshy than Wild Carrot. Status found on cliffs, rocky slopes and dunes by the sea, mainly in the south-west.
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  • AUTUMN GENTIAN Gentianella amarella (Gentianaceae) Height to 25cm. Variable and hairless biennial that is often tinged purple. Found in grassy areas, mostly on calcareous soil and sand dunes. FLOWERS are 1cm across and purple, with 4 or 5 corolla lobes and equal calyx lobes; borne in upright spikes (Jul-Oct). FRUITS are capsules. LEAVES form a basal rosette in the first year but wither before the flower stem appears in the second year.
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  • Dune slack pool and coastal dune system at Kenfig Nature Reserve
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  • Dune slack pool and coastal dune system at Kenfig Nature Reserve
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