Plant communities on coastal vegetated shingle

The classification of coastal vegetated shingle derives from several sources. At the international level the European Union Natura 2000 classification is limited to only two types relevant to Great Britain. These relate to "Annual vegetation of driftlines and communities of "Perennial vegetation of stony banks". Similarly the National Vegetation Classification is limited in its coverage with the earlier stages of plant establishment on essential unstable surfaces being included. These are considered in the section on sand dunes, being SD 1-3 (Rodwell 2000).

The much more detailed work associated with the vegetated shingle survey of Great Britain (Sneddon & Randall 1993a, Main Report) identifies many more. Included within the classification are communities associated with:

• foreshores, where stability is a key factor in development;
• Organic rich foreshores;
• semi-stable slopes;
• semi-water-logged areas;
• stable shingle, including highly maritime largely undisturbed lichen-rich sites.

The geographical distribution of the main types provides a useful basis to consider management.

References

Rodwell, J.S. 2000. British Plant Communities. Volume 5 Maritime Communities and Vegetation of Open Habitats. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 512 pp.

Sneddon, P. & Randall, R.E. 1993a. Coastal Vegetated Shingle Structures of Great Britain: Main Report. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough.