RXwildlife Sightings

Although much of the older shingle vegetation at Dungeness is called lichen heath ling Calluna vulgaris is notably restricted in distribution to one corner of Lydd ranges, where it has been putting on a good show this summer.

This part of the shingle beach has a high sand content which the plant presumably requires to survive and is given close attention by rabbits which keep the plants to a low height.  In keeping with many other examples of true heath this bit of the beach also has a pine plantation - funny how our ancestors had this compulsion to turn purple heath dark green and shady!

Posted in Plants | by Brian Banks