The Newest Green Beach at Ainsdale, Sefton Coast – 2022 update

  • Post category:Research

Philip H. Smith, November 2022

Summary

Floristic data were collected each year from 2011 to 2022 on embryo dunes and an associated wetland that began to form on Ainsdale beach in 2008 as a southern extension of Birkdale Green Beach. Named the ‘Newest Green Beach’ and eventually covering 2.4 ha, this feature developed rapidly by accretion of blown sand, initially around Puccinellia maritima (Common Saltmarsh-grass), to form a dune ridge over 4 m in height, protecting a seasonally-flooded primary dune-slack. By 2022, 245 vascular taxa (species subspecies and hybrids) had been recorded for the feature. Annual totals initially showed an almost linear increase in the number of plants over time. The rate of increase in species-richness for the ridge was much lower than for the slack, except in 2021, when a contribution from an exceptionally rich strandline flora added 41 taxa to the year total. After 2019, slack totals declined, following a ‘hump-back’ model that describes a trend of species richness during succession. About 18% of the flora was regionally or nationally notable, reflecting the known conservation value of early successional dune habitats. Only about 14% of the recorded plants were non-native, this low figure being thought due to the harsh maritime conditions and distance from gardens. A trend of falling mean Ellenberg indicator salinity (S) values showed that a slack community adapted to brackish conditions changed, within a few years, to one largely composed of species with little tolerance to salinity. In contrast, there was a much less steep decline in S-values for the ridge, which was dominated by halophytic dune-building grasses. Other interests included breeding Natterjack Toads in some years, together with nationally rare bryophytes and invertebrates.

Introduction

‘Green Beach’ features on the foreshore at Birkdale on the Sefton Coast, north Merseyside, began to form in 1986 around patches of Puccinellia maritima (Common Saltmarsh-grass). These accreted sand, producing an embryo dune ridge with a developing wetland in its lee, the new land-forms extending southwards towards Ainsdale (Smith, 2007). The ‘Newest Green Beach’, north of Ainsdale-on-Sea (National Grid Reference SD299134), originated in about 2008 (Fig. 1). Smith (2011; 2021b) and Smith & Lockwood (2012; 2013; 2014; 2015; 2016, 2017, 2018; 2019; 2021a) reported on its rapid development from an open foreshore that had previously been part of a beach carpark. The feature represents a southwards extension of the existing ‘New Green Beach’ which was established in 2004 (Smith & Lockwood, 2021b). By 2011, the Newest Green Beach ridge was about 270 m long and 24 m wide, with a maximum height of about 1.5 m in the centre. Although its overall dimensions altered little in the next few years, maximum ridge height increased to 2 m in 2012 and 2.5 m in 2013. The seasonally-flooded wetland behind the ridge was about 40 m wide. Following a series of storm surges in the 2013/14 winter, most of the ridge was washed away; it recovered to a maximum height of 2.3 m by autumn 2014 and 4 m five years later.

Fig. 1.  Aerial photograph of the Newest Green Beach in 2021 (Google Earth)

Each year from 2011, several visits were made between spring and autumn to record vascular plants colonizing the newly formed ridge and wetland, the latter becoming increasingly vegetated over time, at first forming a saltmarsh resembling the UK National Vegetation Classification’s (NVC) SM13: Puccinellia maritima saltmarsh (Rodwell, 2000). Twenty-seven vascular taxa were identified in 2011, most being associated with the ridge, only six being in the saltmarsh. Subsequently, the floristics of both habitats changed rapidly, 59 plants being recorded in 2012, increasing to 72 in 2013 and 85 in 2014, then a small decline to 81 in 2015. Subsequent years showed a progressive increase to 193 taxa by 2021, the latter figure including many new taxa associated with exceptionally diverse strandline vegetation (Smith, 2022). At the same time, the wetland, now a primary dune-slack, became much more heavily vegetated. In 2021, ridge (and strandline) plants totalled 122, while the slack supported 116 vascular taxa.

Analysis of Ellenberg salinity values (Hill et al., 2004) from 2012 to 2021 showed a rapid shift, especially in the slack flora, towards plants with less adaptation to saline conditions, the former saltmarsh becoming a freshwater wetland with both dune-slack and swamp characteristics.

2022 survey

Recording visits were made from spring to autumn in 2022, using the same methods as previously to record physical and floristic changes.

Physical changes

By autumn 2022, the main ridge was about 340 m long, its maximum height and width being estimated at 4.5 m and 45 m respectively (Fig. 2). The total area of the feature, including the slack, was about 2.4 ha. Originally described in 2019, extensive growths of Puccinellia maritima on the upper shore to the west of the Newest Green Beach were reduced to scattered patches in 2022, being more extensive in the area opposite the ‘Even Newer Green Beach’ to the south. In contrast to 2020/21, the winter and spring of 2021/22 were excessively dry, so that slack flooding was shallow and transient (Fig 3). Breeding by Natterjack Toads (Epidalea calamita) was therefore not possible.

Floristic changes

 As before, separate plant lists were compiled for the ridge (plus strandline) and the slack (Table 1). A total of 141 vascular taxa was recorded for the two main habitats combined in 2022, compared with 193 the previous year. Ridge and strandline plants totalled 65 as opposed to 122 in 2021, this difference being due to the exceptional richness of the strandline in 2021 (Smith, 2022). The slack count also decreased from 116 to 106 taxa. Overall, seven new plants were recorded in 2022 making a grand total of 245 vascular taxa listed for the site since detailed recording began in 2011 (Table 1). Of these, 44 (18%) are regionally or nationally notable and 35 (14.3%) non-native or introduced native taxa.            

Fig. 4 shows a curvilinear relationship between species-richness and time for both main habitats combined. The large increase in strandline species in 2021 steepened the trend but lower numbers in 2022 continued the tendency since 2018 for the curve to level off. Separating the data for ridge and slack (Fig. 5) shows that most of the increase since 2013 was attributable to the slack flora, the rise in the number of taxa identified on the ridge being much less steep, until 2021 which was influenced by the high number of species on the strandline (Smith, 2022). Numbers of slack plants reached a peak in 2019, with a downwards trend since then (Fig. 5).

Fig 4. Changes in annual number of vascular plants on the Newest Green Beach, 2011-2022 (fitted line polynomial)

Fig. 5. Changes in the number of vascular plants on the ridge (blue) and slack (red), 2011-2022 (fitted lines polynomials)

Twenty-nine regionally or nationally notable plants were identified in 2022 (20.6% of the year total), this being a larger proportion than the 16.6% recorded the previous year. Two new notable species were recorded: Eleocharis uniglumis (Slender Spike-rush) (Fig. 6) and Pyrola rotundifolia subsp. maritima), both in the slack. First recorded in 2017, Dactylorhiza incarnata subsp. coccinea (Early Marsh-orchid) and Parnassia palustris (Grass-of-Parnassus) (Fig. 7) continued to increase, the latter reaching an estimated 10,000+ flowering plants, especially in the northern section of the slack. D. praetermissa (Southern Marsh-orchid) and Epipactis palustris (Marsh Helleborine)were also well represented. The latter flowered spectacularly in July, also in the northern sector (Fig. 8).

Only 13 non-native or introduced native plants were recorded in 2022 (9.2% of the year total). This is an extremely small proportion, bearing in mind that about 40% of the Sefton Coast flora as a whole is considered alien (Smith, 2015; 2020). Visually, the slack appeared more heavily vegetated than in 2021 (Fig. 9). The original hummocky sward of Puccinellia maritima had completely disappeared; indeed, P. maritima was not recorded for the slack after 2018, while most of the area was dominated by large, coalescing, patches of Agrostis stolonifera (Creeping Bent), Bolboschoenus maritimus (Sea Club-rush), Phragmites australis (Common Reed) and Juncus articulatus (Jointed Rush). These were accompanied by a wide variety of saltmarsh, swamp and dune-slack species, though mainly at low frequencies. As in 2021, Juncus ranarius (Frog Rush), previously a feature of the open brackish marsh community, was not found.

Reference to descriptions and keys in Rodwell (1995) showed that much of the slack vegetation has similarities to the NVC’s S21c: Scirpus (Bolboschoenus) maritimus swamp, Agrostis stolonifera sub-community, a finding that was discussed by Smith & Lockwood (2016). The density of Salix (willows) increased (Fig. 10), nine taxa being recorded, as in 2021. S. cinerea (Grey Willow) and S. repens (Creeping Willow) were the most frequent, especially towards the western fringe of the slack, accompanied by occasional S. caprea (Goat Willow). Bushes of the nationally rare hybrid Salix ×friesiana were also noted, 16 being recorded the previous year (Smith, 2021b). Many willows were attacked by the Brown Willow Beetle (Galerucella lineola), though damage was not as extensive as in 2021.Young Alnus glutinosa (Alder) bushes, seen for the first time in 2017, increased in frequency and height (Fig. 11). As before, any plants of the invasive Hippophae rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) were removed when found.

The ridge was dominated by a dense stand of Ammophila arenaria (Marram) with patches of Leymus arenarius (Lyme-grass) and much Elymus junceiformis (Sand Couch), especially on the seaward side, representing the NVC’s SD4: Elytrigia juncea (=Elymus junceiformis) foredune and SD6: Ammophila arenaria mobile dune community (Rodwell, 2000) (Fig. 2). The transitional zone between the ridge and marsh had a higher species-richness, reflecting a degree of shelter and reduced rain of blown sand, much of which is now intercepted by the ridge.

Salinity values Fig. 11 shows that mean Ellenberg salinity (S) indicator values for the ridge plus strandline plants declined only from about 2 to 1, while slack S values fell much more steeply, from about 3.5 in 2011 to between 0.8 and 0.6 from 2019 onwards. The ridge showed a marked up-tilt in mean S-values in 2021 and 2022; this may have been due to a greater variety of maritime plants with high salinity values associated with the strandline.

Fig. 11. Mean annual Ellenberg salinity values for the ridge + strandline (blue) and slack (red), 2011-2022 (fitted lines polynomials)

Other observations

Previous reports (Smith, 2021b; Smith & Lockwood 2013; 2014; 2015; 2016; 2017; 2018; 2019; 2021a) noted the frequent occurrence of the nationally rare Northern Dune Tiger Beetle (Cicindela hybrida) on the Newest Green Beach dune ridge. This species was again present, though survey data were not collected.

The embryo dunes of the Newest Green Beach are recognised as an important habitat for an endemic subspecies of the Sandhill Rustic moth (Luperina nickerlii subsp. gueneei) (Smith & Lockwood, 2018) but monitoring did not take place in 2022 (R. Burkmar, pers. com.). A Mottled Grasshopper (Myrmeleotettix maculata) was recorded at the northern end of the ridge (Fig. 12), while the colourful true bug Corizus hyoscyami was noted on Common Fleabane in the slack. Natterjack Toads did not breed this year.                      Bryophytes recorded in previous years on the fringes of the Newest Green Beach slack include the nationally rare boreal moss Bryum warneum (Sea Bryum) and the thallose liverwort Petalophyllum ralfsii (Petalwort) (Callaghan, 2021). These species are listed as being of principal importance for the conservation of biodiversity in England under Section 41 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006. They were not monitored in 2022 (A. Hampson, pers. com.)

Fig. 12. Mottled Grasshopper female, Newest Green Beach, August 2022

Discussion

As described in earlier reports (Smith, 2011; 2021b; Smith & Lockwood, 2012; 2013; 2014; 2015; 2016; 2017; 2018; 2019; 2021a), the Newest Green Beach is continuing to evolve rapidly. Its plant species-richness is extremely high for an area of only 2.4 ha, with 213 vascular taxa listed since 2011.This accords with the known biodiversity of early successional stage dune-slacks (Ranwell, 1972; Rodwell, 2000). Thus, Smith (2006) identified 213 vascular plants in 26 secondary slacks with a total area of 3.3 ha in the Birkdale frontal dunes, adjacent to the study area. The number of taxa on the Newest Green Beach has mostly increased each year but the rate of addition is now declining, at least in the slack, where the amount of bare ground available for colonisation is now much reduced and the annual number of plants is going down (Fig. 5). This follows the ‘hump-back’ model of the relationship between species-richness and succession described by Isermann (2011), although her 15-year study involved dry dune habitats, rather than wet-slacks.                                                                                                                    

The mosaic nature of the slack vegetation accords with the findings of Blanchard (1952) who observed that different species invade shortly after slack formation, subsequently spreading from their point of origin to form dominant patches with little intermingling.                                                                                                                         

At 9.2% of the total, the number of non-native plants in 2022 continues to be relatively low, compared with about 40% aliens for the dune system as a whole (Smith, 2015). This low percentage is thought to be due to the harsh maritime conditions and distance from the nearest gardens to the Newest Green Beach (0.75 km).                                       

The proportion of regionally and nationally notable plants (20.6%) was higher than in 2021 (16.6%). This may be because many of the new strandline taxa found in 2021 are relatively common, thereby depressing the percentage of notable species in that year. The 2022 figure is a little higher than the 17% notable taxa recorded for the Sefton duneland (Smith, 2015), confirming the high conservation value of these young calcareous habitats in a landscape that has become increasingly overgrown by coarse vegetation and scrub in recent decades.

The rapid invasion of willows and recent appearance of Alder parallels changes noted on older Green Beach sites to the north (Smith & Lockwood, 2021b).The speedy development of swamp communities in the slack may be related to availability of soil nutrients. Thus, in a study of slack soils of known age along Birkdale Green Beach, Page (2018) found that that the concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium all increased over time, though the rate of increase for nitrogen was slow at 0.78g/m2/yr. The rate of succession, especially in the Newest Green Beach slack, seems particularly high and accords with that described by Smith & Lockwood (2021b) on the adjacent New Green Beach.

The trend of mean annual Ellenberg salinity values in the slack shows that, within a few years, a saltmarsh community adapted to saline conditions changed to one dominated by freshwater wetland species with little tolerance of salinity (Hill et al., 2004). In contrast, the decline of mean S values for the ridge vegetation was much slower, presumably because this habitat continued to be dominated by dune-building grasses, which have some degree of salt-tolerance. The changes in the slack are similar to those that took place from 2004 onwards in the older New Green Beach, where halophytes were rapidly replaced by plants adapted to freshwater conditions, as swamp and dune-slack vegetation replaced saltmarsh flora. The composition of the New Green Beach ridge flora also changed relatively little during this period (Smith & Lockwood, 2021b). Together with the older and younger sections of Birkdale Green Beach (Smith, 2007; 2021a; Smith & Lockwood, 2021b) the rapidly developing feature described here provides a time sequence of ecological succession that continues to have considerable scientific and research interest, together with high nature conservation value.


References:

Blanchard, B.1952. An ecological survey of the vegetation of the sand-dune system of the south west Lancashire coast, with special reference to an associated marsh flora. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Liverpool.

Callaghan, D. (2021). Survey of Bryum calophyllum, B. warneum and Petalophyllum ralfsii on the Sefton Coast, Merseyside. Unpublished report to Natural England.

Hill, M.O., Preston, C.D. & Roy, D.B. 2004. PLANTATT. Attributes of British and Irish plants: status, size, life history, geography and habitats. Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Cambridgeshire.

Isermann, M. 2011. Patterns in species diversity during succession of coastal dunes. Journal of Coastal Research 27: 661-671.

Page, J. 2018. The pedology of successional change in dune-slacks at Birkdale Green Beach, North Merseyside. B.Sc. dissertation, University of Lancaster.

Ranwell, D.S. 1972. Ecology of salt marshes and sand dunes. Chapman & Hall, London.

Rodwell, J. S. (ed.) 1995. British plant communities volume 4. Aquatic communities, swamps and tall-herb fens.Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Rodwell, J. S. (ed.) 2000. British plant communities volume 5. Maritime communities and vegetation of open habitats.Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Smith, P.H. 2006. Changes in the floristic composition of sand-dune slacks over a twenty-year period.Watsonia26: 41-49.

Smith, P.H. 2007. The Birkdale Green Beach – a sand-dune biodiversity hotspot. British Wildlife 19:11-16.

Smith, P.H. 2011. The Newest Green Beach at Ainsdale on the Sefton Coast. Unpublished report.

Smith, P.H. 2015. A revision of the inventory of vascular plants for the Sefton Coast, north Merseyside (v.c. 59, South Lancashire), with particular reference to the 2014 Red List for England. BSBI News 129: 36-40.

Smith, P.H. 2020. Increasing status of non-native vascular plants in the Sefton Coast sand-dune system, north Merseyside, UK. British & Irish Botany 2: 102-126.

Smith, P.H. 2021a. The ‘Even Newer Green Beach’, Ainsdale-on-Sea, Sefton Coast: 2021 update. Unpublished report.

Smith, P.H. 2021b. The Newest Green Beach at Ainsdale, Sefton Coast – 2021 update. Unpublished report.

Smith, P.H. 2022. Exceptional diversity of strandline plants at Ainsdale-on-Sea, Merseyside. BSBI News 149: 3-10.

Smith, P.H. & Lockwood, P.A. 2012. The Newest Green Beach at Ainsdale – 2012 update.Unpublished report.

Smith, P.H. & Lockwood, P.A. 2013. The Newest Green Beach at Ainsdale – 2013 update.Unpublished report.

Smith, P.H. & Lockwood, P.A. 2014. The Newest Green Beach at Ainsdale, Sefton Coast – 2014 update. Unpublished report.

Smith, P.H. & Lockwood, P.A. 2015. The Newest Green Beach at Ainsdale, Sefton Coast – 2015 update. Unpublished report.

Smith, P.H. & Lockwood, P.A. 2016. The Newest Green Beach at Ainsdale, Sefton Coast – 2016 update. Unpublished report.

Smith, P.H. & Lockwood, P.A. 2017. The Newest Green Beach at Ainsdale, Sefton Coast – 2017 update. Unpublished report.

Smith, P.H. & Lockwood, P.A. 2018. The Newest Green Beach at Ainsdale, Sefton Coast – 2018 update. Unpublished report.

Smith, P.H. & Lockwood, P.A. 2019. The Newest Green Beach at Ainsdale, Sefton Coast – 2019 update. Unpublished report.

Smith, P.H. & Lockwood, P.A. 2021a. The Newest Green Beach at Ainsdale, Sefton Coast – 2020 update. Unpublished report.

Smith, P.H. & Lockwood, P.A. 2021b. Fifteen years of habitat, floristic and vegetation change on a pioneer sand-dune and slack system at Ainsdale, north Merseyside, UK. British & Irish Botany 3: 232-262.


Table 1. Vascular plant list for the ridge and strandline (2012-22)

* = non-native or introduced native; a = abundant; f = frequent; o = occasional; r = rare; l = locally v = very. Stat = conservation status; NR = Nationally Rare; NS = Nationally Scarce; VU = Vulnerable; NT = Near Threatened; Italics = England Red List; SCI = Species of Conservation Importance in North West England.

Nomenclature follows C.A. Stace’s New Flora 4th edition, 2019, with amendments

Ridge

TaxonEnglish name1213141516171819202122Stat
Agrostis stoloniferaCreeping Bentrrlalalalala  lalflalf 
Aira praecoxEarly Hair-grass          vlf 
Ammophila arenariaMarramlalalaaaaa  aaaa 
Anacamptis pyramidalisPyramidal Orchid         r SCI
Angelica archangelica*Garden Angelia      rr    
Angelica sylvestrisCommon Angelica       r    
Anthyllis vulnerariaKidney Vetch    rvlfvlalalalala 
Apium graveolensWild Celeryr          SCI
Arctium minusLesser Burdock         r  
Arenaria serpyllifoliaThyme-leaved Sandwort     r vlo  vlf 
Arrhenatherum elatiusFalse Oat-grass     rrr    
Artemisia maritimaSea Wormwood         r NT SCI
Artemisia vulgarisMugwort       r r  
Asparagus officinalisGarden Asparagus      rrrr  
Atriplex glabriusculaBabington’s Oracheor       lor 
Atriplex laciniataFrosted Orache o  r  r loloSCI
Atriplex littoralisGrass-leaved Orache  or     rlo 
Atriplex portulacoidesSea-purslaner        r  
Atriplex prostrataSpear-leaved Oracheooooorolf lolf 
Bellis perennisDaisy     r r    
Bidens tripartitaTrifid Bur-marigold         r  
Blackstonia perfoliataYellow-wort          r 
Beta vulgaris ssp. maritimaSea Beetooo  r   lo  
Bolboschoenus maritimusSea Club-rush   vlavlavla  olalo r 
Brassica napusWild Turnip       r r  
Brassica oleraceus*Cabbage         r  
Cakile maritimaSea Rocketoooolfro rlolf 
Carex arenariaSand Sedge  roolflflflflflf 
Carex otrubaeFalse Fox-sedge r       r  
Centaurium erythraeaCommon Centaury          r 
Centaurium pulchellumLesser Centaury        rr SCI
Cerastium diffusumSea Mouse-ear     r lf rlf 
Cerastium fontanumCommon Mouse-earrr r r  rr  
Chenopodium albumFat-henr        lo  
Cirsium arvenseCreeping Thistle rrrrooorr  
Cirsium vulgareSpear Thistle o     r    
Cochlearia danicaDanish Scurvy-grass    vla       
Convolvulus arvensisField Bindweed       r  r 
Crepis capillarisSmooth Hawk’s-beard r    r ooo 
Crepis vesicaria*Beaked Hawk’s-beard     rroooo 
Cynoglossum officinaleHound’s-tonguerrrr       NT, NT, SCI
Dactylis glomerataCock’s-footrr          
Elymus junceiformisSand Couchlalalaaaaalalalala 
Elymus repensCommon Couchoo   o   olf 
Epilobium ciliatum*American Willowherb      r     
Epilobium hirsutumGreat Willowherbr   rrrvlolfr  
Epilobium obscurumShort-fruited Willowherb        r   
Epilobium parviflorumHoary Willowherb r    r lor  
Erigeron acrisBlue Fleabane r    r r r 
Erigeron canadensis*Canadian Fleabane r    ror o 
Erigeron sumatrensis*Guernsey Fleabane      rrr o 
Erodium cicutariumCommon Stork’s-billrr       r  
Eryngium maritimumSea HollyrroooooooooNT SCI
Euphorbia paraliasSea SpurgerrolflfolflalalalfSCI
Fallopia convolvulusBlack Bindweed         r  
Festuca rubraRed Fescuer    rvlavlalflflf 
Galium aparineCleavers         r  
Helianthus annuus*Sunflower  r      lo  
Helosciadium nodiflorumFool’s Water-cress         r  
Heracleum sphondyliumHogweed         r  
Hippophae rhamnoides*Sea Buckthorn      rror  
Holcus lanatusYorkshire-fog o   vlfrorlo  
Honckenya peploidesSea Sandwortrrlo rvlf   olo 
Hordeum vulgare*Barley         r  
Hypochaeris radicataCat’s-earrooooooolflflf 
Impatiens glandulifera*Himalayan Balsam         r  
Iris pseudacorusYellow Iris         rr 
Jacobaea vulgarisCommon Ragwortrooooolfoooo 
Juncus articulatusJointed Rush orrroorrlor 
Juncus bufoniusToad Rush     rr lolf  
Juncus inflexus          r  
Leontodon saxatilisLesser Hawkbit r    looooo 
Leymus arenariusLyme-grasslflflflalalalalalalala 
Lolium perennePerennial Rye-grass     orrrr  
Lotus corniculatusCommon Bird’s-foot-trefoil  r  vlavlavlavlavlavla 
Lycopus europaeusGypsywortrr    orrlo  
Lysimachia maritimaSea Milkwort r rrlovlfvlfvlfrvlo 
Medicago lupulinaBlack Medic         r  
Melilotus alba*White Melilot         r  
Melilotus indicus*Small Melilot         r  
Melilotus officinalis*Common Melilot         r  
Mentha aquaticaWater Mint        r   
Myosotis laxaTufted Forget-me-not         r  
Nasturtium officinaleWater-cress         lo  
Oenanthe crocataHemlock Water-dropwort     rrr r  
Oenothera glazioviana*Large-flowered Evening-primrose          r 
Oenothera × fallax.*Evening-primroserrrr roorolo 
Ononis repensCommon Restharrow  r   rrr   
Oxybasis rubraRed Goosefoot o  r  r lo SCI
Panicum miliaceum*Common Milletr           
Pastinaca sativaWild Parsnip       rrrr 
Persicaria hydropiperWater-pepper         r  
Persicaria lapathifoliaPale Persicaria         r  
Persicaria maculosaRedshank         lo  
Phalaris arundinaceaReed Canary-grass         rr 
Phleum arenariumSand Cat’s-tail r     r vlfvlfSCI
Phragmites australisCommon Reed  rvlfvlfvlfvlfvlfvlfvlfvlf 
Plantago coronopusBuck’s-horn Plantain r   rr     
Plantago lanceolataRibwort Plantain     rr  r  
Plantago majorGreat Plantainrr   rr  lo  
Plantago maritimaSea Plantainrrr   r  rr 
Poa annuaAnnual Meadow-grass    r r  lo  
Poa pratensisSmooth Meadow-grass       r    
Poa trivialisRough Meadow-grass     vlf      
Polygala vulgarisCommon Milkwort     r      
Polygonum depressumEqual-leaved Knotgrass         lolf 
Polygonum oxyspermum ssp. raiiRay’s Knotgrassolfroorrvlo loloSCI
Potentilla anserina          rr 
Puccinellia maritimaCommon Salt-marsh Grassaalavlf     la  
Pulicaria dysentericaCommon Fleabane        r   
Ranunculus bulbosusBulbous Buttercup          r 
Ranunculus flammulaLesser Spearwort      rrr  VU
Ranunculus repensCreeping Buttercup         r  
Ranunculus sceleratusCelery-leaved Buttercup     r   lo  
Raphanus raphanistrum ssp. maritimumSea Radishr rr  rorrrSCI
Rosa rugosa*Japanese Rose      r   r 
Rubus caesiusDewberryrr   r      
Rumex acetosellaSheep’s Sorrel         lf  
Rumex conglomeratusClustered Dock   rrrr  r  
Rumex crispusCurled Dockrooooorrrlolo 
Rumex obtusifoliusBroad-leaved Dock   rrr r lolo 
Sagina maritimaSea Pearlwort       vlfvlf   
Sagina nodosaKnotted Pearlwort      rlfvlolf VU
Salicornia dolichostachyaLong-stalked Glasswort         r  
Salicornia europaeaCommon Glasswort         lo  
Salicornia ramosissimaPurple Glasswort         lor 
Salix × fragilis*Hybrid Crack-willowr      rrrr 
Salix × smithiana (?)        r    
Salix capreaGoat Willow         lo  
Salix cinereaGrey Willow         lo  
Salix repensCreeping Willow         r NT
Salix viminalisOsier       r r  
Salsola kaliPrickly Saltwortooorrr   rloVU SCI
Schoenoplectus tabernaemontaniGrey Club-rush         r SCI
Scorzoneroides autumnalisAutumn Hawkbit r          
Sedum acreBiting Stonecrop  r         
Senecio squalidus*Oxford Ragwort      r     
Senecio vulgaris subsp. denticulatusGroundsel     o lf  lfNS
Senecio vulgaris subsp. vulgarisGroundseloo rrrrorlolf 
Silene sp.Campion         r  
Sinapis arvensisCharlock         r  
Sisymbrium officinaleHedge Mustard    r       
Solanum lycopersicum*Tomato         r  
Sonchus arvensisPerennial Sowthistle rrrrooooovlo 
Sonchus asperPrickly Sowthistlerorrrroooo  
Sonchus oleraceusSmooth Sowthistlerr  roooooo 
Stellaria mediaCommon Chickweedr   r    r  
Suaeda maritimaAnnual Sea-bliterr       lor 
Symphyotrichum sp.*Michaelmas-daisy      r  o  
Taraxacum agg.Dandelionoooooooooo  
Tragopogon pratensisGoat’s-beard r          
Trifolium dubiumLesser Trefoil    r  vla  vla 
Trifolium fragiferumStrawberry Clover        lolovla 
Trifolium hybridum*Alsike Cloverr        r  
Trifolium repensWhite Clover    rvlavlavlalflfvlf 
Triglochin maritimaSea Arrow-grass r       lo  
Tripleurospermum maritimumSea Mayweedooorrrrlfoo  
Tripolium pannonicumSea Aster rrrr  rrlolo 
Triticum aestivum*Bread Wheat    r       
Tussilago farfaraColt’s-footrrolflflolololflflf 
Urtica dioicaCommon Nettle   rrr   r  
Valeriana officinalisCommon Valerian       r vlo  
Verbena officinalis*Vervain         r SCI
Veronica catenataPink Water-speedwell            
Vulpia fasciculataDune Fescue         vlavlaNS SCI
Total 165 taxa (24 non-native) 4454353542536266571226520

Slack

TaxonEnglish name1213141516171819202122Stat
Aira praecoxEarly Hair-grass        vlf   
Agrostis stoloniferaCreeping Bentrofaaaaaaaa 
Alisma plantago-aquaticaWater Plantain    r       
Alnus cordata*Italian Alder          r 
Alnus glutinosaAlder     rroooo 
Alopecurus geniculatusMarsh Fox-tail    r       
Ammophila arenariaMarram   r lolololololo 
Anacamptis pyramidalisPyramidal Orchid         r SCI
Angelica archangelica*Garden Angelica     rrrrrr 
Angelica sylvestrisWild Angelica     rrlflololo 
Anthoxanthum odoratumSweet Vernal-grass      rr rr 
Anthyllis vulnerariaKidney-vetch       vlolo lf 
Apium graveolensWild Celeryr          SCI
Arenaria serpyllifoliaThyme-leaved Sandwort    rr      
Arrhenatherum elatiusFalse Oat-grass       vlfr   
Artemisia vulgarisMugwort       r    
Asparagus officinalis*Garden Asparagus       r    
Atriplex laciniataFrosted Orache    r      SCI
Atriplex littoralisGrass-leaved Orache  lo         
Atriplex prostrataSpear-leaved Orache olforrlf     
Avena sativa*Oat  r         
Bellis perennisDaisy r  rooololflf 
Berula erectaLesser Water-parsnip    rvlfvlfvlflalala 
Beta vulgaris ssp. maritimaSea Beetroo rr      
Betula pubescensDowny Birch          r 
Blackstonia perfoliataYellow-wort     oooooo 
Bolboschoenus maritimusSea Club-rushoolflalalalalaaaa 
Brassica napusWild Turnip       or   
Bromus hordeaceusSoft Brome    rr vlf    
Cakile maritimaSea Rocket o rrro r   
Cardamine pratensisCuckoo-flower       r ro 
Carex arenariaSand Sedgerrlooolalalalalala 
Carex distansDistant Sedge     rrrrrr 
Carex extensaLong-bracted Sedge   rooooooo 
Carex flaccaGlaucous Sedge     oolalalala 
Carex otrubaeFalse Fox-sedge r rrrorooo 
Carex viridulaSmall-fruited Yellow-sedge     lolololololoSCI
Centaurium erythraeaCommon Centaury     lololololflf 
Centaurium littoraleSeaside Centaury      rrr  NS SCI
Centaurium pulchellumLesser Centaury     vlflflflfooSCI
Cerastium diffusumSea Mouse-ear    oo o    
Cerastium fontanumCommon Mouse-ear    rrooooo 
Cirsium arvenseCreeping Thistle  orrrloooovlf 
Cirsium vulgareSpear Thistle  rrrooo r  
Cochlearia anglicaEnglish Scurvy-grass  r rr      
Cochlearia danicaDanish Scurvy-grass     rr     
Crepis capillarisSmooth Hawk’s-beard    roorror 
Crepis vesicaria*Beaked Hawk’s-beard    ooooooo 
Dactylis glomerataCock’s-foot   rr   r r 
Dactylorhiza fuchsiiCommon Spotted-orchid        r   
Dactylorhiza incarnata ssp. coccineaEarly Marsh-orchid     rooolflfNS NT  SCI
Dactylorhiza incarnata ssp. incarnataEarly Marsh-orchid        rrrSCI
Dactylorhiza praetermissaSouthern Marsh-orchid      roroo 
Dactylorhiza purpurellaNorthern Marsh-orchid      r    SCI
Eleocharis palustrisCommon Spike-rush r  vlalalalalalala 
Eleocharis quinquefloraFew-flowered Spike-rush    vlovlalalalalalaSCI
Eleocharis uniglumisSlender Spike-rush          vlfSCI
Elymus junceiformisSand Couch  loolalala     
Elymus repensCommon Couch  rrrrlflor   
Epilobium ciliatum*American Willowherb    rooooo  
Epilobium hirsutumGreat Willowherb rrrroooooo 
Epilobium montanumBroad-leaved Willowherb    orr     
Epilobium obscurumShort-fruited Willowherb    rr rrr  
Epilobium palustreMarsh Willowherb    oroooolf 
Epilobium parviflorumHoary Willowherb  r olflflflflflf 
Epipactis palustrisMarsh Helleborine      oooooNT SCI
Equisetum variegatumVariegated Horsetail        vlavlavlaSCI
Erigeron acrisBlue Fleabane     rr r   
Erigeron canadensis*Canadian Fleabane    rooo    
Erigeron sumatrensis*Guernsey Fleabane    rrvlorlor  
Eryngium maritimumSea Holly   rrrr rr SCI
Eupatorium cannabinumHemp-agrimony      rrrr  
Euphorbia paraliasSea Spurge  r rrrrr  SCI
Euphrasia confusaConfused Eyebright       lolololoVU
Euphrasia nemorosaCommon Eyebright     rrlolololoNT NT
Festuca ovinaSheep’s Fescue          r 
Festuca rubraRed Fescue  rrooooooo 
Filipendula ulmariaMeadow-sweet      rr rvlf 
Galium palustreMarsh Bedstraw     oo ooo 
Glyceria maximaReed Sweet-grass  rrrrr  vla  
Helosciadium nodiflorusFool’s Water-cress  r  r    r 
Hieracium sp.Hawkweed      r     
Hieracium umbellatumUmbellate Hawkweed       r    
Hippophae rhamnoides*Sea Buckthorn  rroooorrr 
Holcus lanatusYorkshire-fog oooooooooo 
Hydrocotyle vulgarisMarsh Pennywort  r  vlfvlfvlflflflf 
Hypochaeris radicataCat’s-ear  roroooooo 
Impatiens glandulifera*Himalayan Balsam    rr      
Iris pseudacorusYellow Irisr rrroooooo 
Isolepis setaceaBristle Club-rush    rr rrr  
Jacobaea vulgarisCommon Ragwort  oooo  olfoor 
Juncus articulatusJointed Rushoooflalaaaaaa 
Juncus bufoniusToad Rushrroorolfla la  
Juncus gerardiiSaltmarsh Rush   rrrrrvlavla  
Juncus maritimusSea Rush    r rrrrrSCI
Juncus ranariusFrog Rusholalffololfvlo   SCI
Leontodon saxatilisLesser Hawkbit  rrroooooo 
Leymus arenariusLyme-grass  r rrrr    
Lolium perennePerennial Rye-grass rroooooooo 
Lotus corniculatusCommon Bird’s-foot-trefoil  rrrr vlfvlfvlfvlf 
Lotus pedunculatusGreat Bird’s-foot-trefoil      rvla    
Lycopus europaeusGypsywort rooroooffo 
Lysimachia maritimaSea Milkwortooolflflalalalalala 
Matricaria discoidea*Pineapple-weed r          
Mentha aquaticaWater Mint   r rloloooo 
Myosotis laxaTufted Forget-me-not  rr rorroo 
Myosotis ramosissimaEarly Forget-me-not       r   SCI
Nasturtium officinaleWatercress    rr  ro    
Odontites vernus  Red Bartsia  rr r rr lf 
Oenanthe crocataHemlock Water-dropwort  rrooooooo 
Oenanthe lachenaliiParsley Water-dropwort   orooolfooSCI
Oenothera biennis*Common Evening-primrose         r  
Oenothera x fallax*Intermediate Evening-primrose  rr r ror  
Ononis repensCommon Restharrow  rrr rrlflf  
Ophrys apiferaBee Orchid       vlorrlo 
Oxybasis rubraRed Goosefootroor r     SCI
Parapholis strigosaHard-grass     lalalalalala 
Parnassia palustrisGrass-of-Parnassus     rolflflflfVU SCI
Pastinaca sativaWild Parsnip         r  
Persicaria hydropiperWater-pepper  r         
Persicaria maculosaRedshank    r r     
Phalaris arundinaceaReed Canary-grass  rrrr      
Phleum arenariumSand Cat’s-tail        vlflf NT SCI
Phragmites australisCommon Reed  rrrvlfvlflflflfla 
Pilosella officinarumMouse-ear Hawkweed    r       
Plantago coronopusBuck’s-horn Plantain rroolfoooo  
Plantago lanceolataRibwort Plantain  rrrrro  r 
Plantago majorGreat Plantainr rrrrooooo 
Plantago maritimaSea Plantainoo rrrrrrrr 
Poa annuaAnnual Meadow-grassolfolflflforlololo 
Poa pratensisSmooth Meadow-grass  r    rrvlfr 
Poa trivialisRough Meadow-grass     rrlar   
Polygonum oxyspermum ssp. raiiRay’s Knotgrassolfooolflfr   SCI
Populus x canadensis*Hybrid Black-poplar          r 
Potentilla anserinaSilver-weed   rrololfooo 
Potentilla reptansCreeping Cinquefoil    r       
Prunella vulgarisSelfheal       lalolo  
Puccinellia maritimaCommon Salt-marsh Grassaaaalavlf      
Pulicaria dysentericaCommon Fleabane      ooooo 
Pyrola rotundifoliaRound-leaved Wintergreen          rNS SCI
Ranunculus acrisMeadow Buttercup      rr  r 
Ranunculus bulbosusBulbous Buttercup    rr r    
Ranunculus flammulaLesser Spearwort    rooolflalaVU
Ranunculus repensCreeping Buttercup     rrla  lo 
Ranunculus sceleratusCelery-leaved Buttercupoooolfoor    
Raphanus raphanistrum ssp. maritimusSea Radish   r   rr  SCI
Reynoutria japonica*Japanese Knotweed    r       
Rosa rugosa*Japanese Rose    rrrrr   
Rubus caesiusDewberry  rrrrororr 
Rumex conglomeratusClustered Dock rooorrrrr  
Rumex crispusCurled Dockrroolflflooooo 
Rumex obtusifoliusBroad-leaved Dock    rrr r   
Sagina apetalaAnnual Pearlwort  r  rvla     
Sagina filicaulisSlender Pearlwort         r  
Sagina maritimaSea Pearlwort       vlaoo  
Sagina nodosaKnotted Pearlwort  rrroolflflflaVU
Sagina procumbensProcumbent Pearlwort     vlor vla   
Salicornia europaeaCommon Glasswortorr r       
Salicornia ramosissimaPurple Glasswortorr         
Salix ×donianaDon’s Willow     rrr   NR
Salix ×fragilis*Hybrid Crack-willow    rrooooo 
Salix ×fragilis forma basfordiana*Hybrid Crack-willow        rrr 
Salix ×friesianaHybrid Willow     roooooNR
Salix ×holosericeaSilky-leaved Osier      r r   
Salix ×smithianaBroad-leaved Osier       rrrr 
Salix albaWhite Willow     rrroor 
Salix capreaGoat Willow     oooooo 
Salix cinerea subsp. cinereaGrey Willow       rr   
Salix cinerea subsp. oleifoliaGrey Willow  rroooooflf 
Salix repensCreeping WillowrorroooooooNT
Salix viminalisOsier    rroooor 
Salsola kaliPrickly Saltwort    rr     VU SCI
Samolus valerandiBrookweed  rrolflalaolflaSCI
Schedonorus arundinaceusTall Fescue       rr   
Schoenoplectus tabernaemontaniGrey Club-rushrooorvlalfvlavlfvlf SCI
Scrophularia auriculataWater Figwort       r    
Senecio squalidusOxford Ragwort       r    
Senecio vulgaris subsp. denticulatusGroundsel     o or  NS
Senecio vulgaris subsp. vulgarisGroundsel lorrro o    
Silene dioicaRed Campion     r      
Sinapis arvensisCharlock       r    
Sisyrinchium californicum*Yellow-eyed-grass r     rvlfvlfvlf 
Solanum dulcamaraBittersweet    r       
Sonchus arvensisPerennial Sowthistle    ovlfooooo 
Sonchus asperPrickly Sowthistlerrorooooo   
Sonchus oleraceusSmooth Sow-thistle  orroooo   
Spartina anglica*Common Cord-grass rroor      
Spergularia marina.Lesser Sea-spurreyrr  r       
Suaeda maritimaAnnual Sea-blite ro      r  
Symphyotrichum sp.*Michaelmas-daisy      rrrvlfvlf 
Taraxacum agg.Dandelion   rooooooo 
Thalictrum flavumCommon Meadow-rue    r      SCI
Trifolium dubiumLesser Trefoil      rrrvlavla 
Trifolium fragiferumStrawberry Clover   ovlavlalalalalalaSCI
Trifolium hybridum*Alsike Clover  r         
Trifolium pratenseRed Clover     rooolala 
Trifolium repensWhite Clover   rvlavlavlavlavlalala 
Triglochin maritimaSea Arrow-grass oroooooooo 
Triglochin palustreMarsh Arrow-grass  rvlfvlfvlfvlfr   SCI, NT
Tripleurospermum maritimumSea Mayweedolflooooolfooo 
Tripolium pannonicumSea Asterooooooo rlo  
Tussilago farfaraColt’s-foot r rrooooolf 
Typha latifoliaBulrushrrooooooooo 
Valeriana officinalisCommon Valerian       rrlovlf 
Veronica catenataPink Water-speedwell    r       
Vulpia fasciculataDune Fescue      vlalalalavlaNS SCI
Total  = 206; 22 alien 2742727211013312714212911310640