Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes and Gibraltar Point

General site character

• Salt marshes, Salt pastures, Salt steppes (35%)
  
• Coastal sand dunes, Sand beaches, Machair (63%)
  
• Bogs, Marshes, Water fringed vegetation, Fens (2%)
  

Annex I habitats that are a primary reason for selection of this site

• 2120 "Shifting dunes along the shoreline with Ammophila arenaria (""white dunes"")"

  The dune system on the composite site Saltfleetby–Theddlethorpe Dunes and Gibraltar Point contains good examples of Shifting dunes within a complex site that exhibits a range of dune types. At this site the Ammophila-dominated dunes are associated with lyme-grass Leymus arenarius and sand sedge Carex arenaria. These shifting dunes are part of a successional transition with 2130 Fixed dunes with herbaceous vegetation and 2160 Dunes with Hippophae rhamnoides.

• 2130 "Fixed coastal dunes with herbaceous vegetation (""grey dunes"")"  * Priority feature

  Within this dune complex on the east coast of England there are extensive areas of fixed dune vegetation within largely intact geomorphologically-active systems, with representation of early successional stages on the seaward side, and more stable areas. The lime-rich dunes support a rich and diverse flora, dominated in places by red fescue Festuca rubra and with unusual species including pyramidal orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis, bee orchid Orchis apifera, sea-holly Eryngium maritimum, lesser meadow-rue Thalictrum minus and sea campion Silene maritima. The fixed dunes are part of a successional transition, and the rapidly-accreting dunes on the seaward sand bars and shingle banks make this an important site for research into the processes of coastal development.

• 2160 Dunes with Hippopha rhamnoides

  This site supports a good example of Dunes with Hippophae rhamnoides in the main part of its natural range in the UK. This habitat develops on dune areas and is present in a range of successional stages from early colonisation to mature scrub associated with other species such as elder Sambucus nigra, hawthorn Crataegus monogyna and ivy Hedera helix, typically associated with an understorey of ruderal species. These stands of scrub are important for both migratory and breeding birds.

• 2190 Humid dune slacks

  The Humid dune slacks at this site are part of a successional transition between a range of dune features, and some have developed from saltmarsh to freshwater habitats after becoming isolated from tidal inundation by sand deposition. There is a range of different communities present, many of which are species-rich. The species present depend on the wetness of the slack, its location within the system and the management history. Some of the drier slacks support a very wide range of species; this has been encouraged by management. The wetter slacks often have more permanent standing water and are composed of stands of sedges and rushes.

Annex I habitats present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for selection of this site

• 2110 Embryonic shifting dunes

Annex II species that are a primary reason for selection of this site

• Not Applicable

Annex II species present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for site selection

• Not Applicable