Sand dunes are special landscapes found around the coast of the UK. They support a range of unique species such as sand lizards, several species of orchids, birds such as the stonechat and the grayling butterfly.
These towering mounds of sand need particular conditions to form on a beach. They need a ready supply of sand, wind blowing onshore and an obstacle (such as driftwood or seaweed) to trap the sand and begin their development. Over time, these small areas of trapped sand begin to provide the conditions for certain vegetation to grow, such as sand couch. Once plants are established, their growth and decomposition change the make up of the soil and different species of plants can grow, such as marram grass. If there are no disturbances, this process will continue and over time sand dunes grow and can host small trees such as willow. This is called sand dune succession (see Figure 1).
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