Sidmouth Nature | The Sidmouth Nature Project Website


Seafront: Description The seafront and beach in Sidmouth comprise a significant and dynamic natural area, known for both its challenging environmental conditions and its efforts to support unique biodiversity. One area of the beach supports plant life and, although naturally occurring, this ‘beach garden’ is a designated and lightly managed area on the shoreline and is the main feature of nature interest on the seafront. It was set up in 2013 by volunteers from Sidmouth in Bloom and the Devon Plant Heritage Group. Its primary purpose is to protect and enhance the local beach plant community, including reintroducing specialist plants no longer present. The Sid Valley Biodiversity Group has partnered with Sidmouth in Bloom volunteers, supported by the Town and District Councils, to improve the area. This included an initial clearance of invading plants, primarily involving pulling them up due to the difficulty of digging in shingle. Access The ‘beach garden’ is located at the western end of the esplanade by the Millennium Walkway, near the Belmont Hotel, in a part of the beach where people would not typically sit. Influences The main influence on the area is proximity to the sea and its exposure to the elements. Plant roots struggle as the shingle is constantly moving due to wave action, does not retain rainwater easily and is nutrient-poor. Additionally, high concentrations of salt are toxic to most herbaceous species. Add in the exposure to storms in winter and intense sunlight in summer it is obvious why survival for many plants and animals is just nt possible. The beach garden itself demonstrated the hostility of the environment when most of it was wrecked by a storm in 2014, just a year after its establishment. Volunteers worked hard to restore the feature. More recently, a decline in volunteers since the Covid pandemic has led to the area becoming overgrown. The concept of the beach garden is not universally welcomed, with some perceiving it as a "weed patch", suggesting a need for clear information boards to explain its purpose. Habitat The primary habitat of the seashore is the shingle beach which is a hostile habitat for plants. Despite these difficulties for most plants there are certain halophytes (salt-tolerant species) have adapted to thrive in this environment, with deep roots to hold on in unstable ground and leathery or waxy leaves to reduce water loss. Along the shoreline here are artificial rock groynes and two rock 'islands' just off shore. Whilst uninhabitable for plants they do form resting places and shelter for some bird species, especially in winter. The tarmac esplanade behind the beach also provides a refuge from high tides for some species. Plants The coastal environment supports various adapted floral species: Danish Scurvygrass (Cochlearia danica): low growing and with dense green foliage with tiny white flowers at the bases of many walls near the Esplanade in spring. It is a seaside plant historically used by sailors to counter scurvy. It has spread inland, possibly via vehicle wheels and road salt. Viper’s Bugloss (Echium vulgare): features bright blue, bee-friendly flowers near the Millennium Walkway. It is usually found on dry grasslands, dunes, and cliffs, but also occurs on Sidmouth beach where shingle is thin and sand is near the surface. Sea Beet (Beta vulgaris subsp. maritima): dominates the area by the Belmont Hotel. It is a robust beach dweller and the wild ancestor of many root vegetables. Its leaves are tough and waxy, and its small green flowers exude a pungent nectar that attracts many insects. Sea Kale (Crambe maritima): found in Sidmouth's beach garden. Historically, its blanched shoots were a delicacy, but it is now much scarcer due to excessive harvesting and environmental deterioration. Its flowers appear from June to August. Yellow Horned-Poppy (Glaucium flavum): a striking yellow poppy with elongated, horn-like seed pods and waxy grey-green leaves. It thrives in shingle and is a biennial that provides food for bumblebees. Its stems and leaves contain a toxic yellow latex with the alkaloid Glaucine, which can be purified for medicinal use, though it is a very poisonous plant if consumed. Sea Pink or Thrift (Armeria maritima): A smaller beach dweller whose pink-flowered cushions root in cracks in the walls around Jacob's Ladder. It forms wonderful carpets of pink flowers in June and July, which are very popular with insects. Rock Samphire (Crithmum maritimum): A common plant on the coast, found around shingle beaches, at the foot of cliffs, and along landslips in Sidmouth. It flowers from June to August. Its dense foliage provides shelter and nesting sites for seabirds and insects, and its deep roots help stabilize rocky substrates. Rock Sea-Spurrey (Spergularia rupicola): Found on windswept shores and sandy dunes, helping to stabilize sandy soils and prevent erosion. Tree Mallow (Lavatera arborea): Found on coastal landscapes and sandy shores, with deep roots that help stabilise dunes and cliffs, and provides habitat and food for wildlife. Animals The seafront and beach areas also host various bird species: Turnstone (Arenaria interpres): a flock of about 30 birds spends the winter months on the seafront and often runs around on the Esplanade. They are popular, especially with visitors, and benefit from handouts of fast food. Records show their presence from late August until mid-April. Herring Gull (Larus argentatus): the most common gull species in Sidmouth, frequently seen around the seafront. While often considered a pest due to scavenging human rubbish, their numbers are falling, reflecting the declining health of the seas. Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus): amongst the more common Herring Gull flocks a small number of Greater Back-backed Gulls can be seen. Standing on the beach shingle amongst the Herring Gulls they stand out as much larger birds with black backs. Half or dozen are often present during the winter months. Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus): A striking black and white bird with a long, orange-red bill, found along coastal habitats like sandy beaches. It feeds on bivalve molluscs and crustaceans. A small number overwinter around Sidmouth on East Beach and sometimes on the rock islands. Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo): Cormorant are more numerous in autumn and winter and can be seen fishing off shore or resting on the rock islands at low tide. They also spend time amongst the gulls on east beach. Rock Pipit (Anthus petrosus): A small brown bird with streaked plumage, found flitting among rocks on windswept coastlines and shorelines, foraging for insects and small crustaceans.
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Seafront:

Description

The seafront and beach in Sidmouth comprise a significant and dynamic natural area, known for both its challenging environmental conditions and its efforts to support unique biodiversity. One area of the beach supports plant life and, although naturally occurring, this ‘beach garden’ is a designated and lightly managed area on the shoreline and is the main feature of nature interest on the seafront. It was set up in 2013 by volunteers from Sidmouth in Bloom and the Devon Plant Heritage Group. Its primary purpose is to protect and enhance the local beach plant community, including reintroducing specialist plants no longer present. The Sid Valley Biodiversity Group has partnered with Sidmouth in Bloom volunteers, supported by the Town and District Councils, to improve the area. This included an initial clearance of invading plants, primarily involving pulling them up due to the difficulty of digging in shingle.

Access

The ‘beach garden’ is located at the western end of the esplanade by the Millennium Walkway, near the Belmont Hotel, in a part of the beach where people would not typically sit.

Influences

The main influence on the area is proximity to the sea and its exposure to the elements. Plant roots struggle as the shingle is constantly moving due to wave action, does not retain rainwater easily and is nutrient-poor. Additionally, high concentrations of salt are toxic to most herbaceous species. Add in the exposure to storms in winter and intense sunlight in summer it is obvious why survival for many plants and animals is just nt possible.

The beach garden itself demonstrated the hostility of the environment when most of it was wrecked by a storm in 2014, just a year after its establishment. Volunteers worked hard to restore the feature. More recently, a decline in volunteers since the Covid pandemic has led to the area becoming overgrown. The concept of the beach garden is not universally welcomed, with some perceiving it as a "weed patch", suggesting a need for clear information boards to explain its purpose.

Habitat

The primary habitat of the seashore is the shingle beach which is a hostile habitat for plants. Despite these difficulties for most plants there are certain halophytes (salt-tolerant species) have adapted to thrive in this environment, with deep roots to hold on in unstable ground and leathery or waxy leaves to reduce water loss.

Along the shoreline here are artificial rock groynes and two rock 'islands' just off shore. Whilst uninhabitable for plants they do form resting places and shelter for some bird species, especially in winter. The tarmac esplanade behind the beach also provides a refuge from high tides for some species.

Plants

The coastal environment supports various adapted floral species:

Danish Scurvygrass (Cochlearia danica): low growing and with dense green foliage with tiny white flowers at the bases of many walls near the Esplanade in spring. It is a seaside plant historically used by sailors to counter scurvy. It has spread inland, possibly via vehicle wheels and road salt.
Viper’s Bugloss (Echium vulgare): features bright blue, bee-friendly flowers near the Millennium Walkway. It is usually found on dry grasslands, dunes, and cliffs, but also occurs on Sidmouth beach where shingle is thin and sand is near the surface.
Sea Beet (Beta vulgaris subsp. maritima): dominates the area by the Belmont Hotel. It is a robust beach dweller and the wild ancestor of many root vegetables. Its leaves are tough and waxy, and its small green flowers exude a pungent nectar that attracts many insects.
Sea Kale (Crambe maritima): found in Sidmouth's beach garden. Historically, its blanched shoots were a delicacy, but it is now much scarcer due to excessive harvesting and environmental deterioration. Its flowers appear from June to August.
Yellow Horned-Poppy (Glaucium flavum): a striking yellow poppy with elongated, horn-like seed pods and waxy grey-green leaves. It thrives in shingle and is a biennial that provides food for bumblebees. Its stems and leaves contain a toxic yellow latex with the alkaloid Glaucine, which can be purified for medicinal use, though it is a very poisonous plant if consumed.
Sea Pink or Thrift (Armeria maritima): A smaller beach dweller whose pink-flowered cushions root in cracks in the walls around Jacob's Ladder. It forms wonderful carpets of pink flowers in June and July, which are very popular with insects.
Rock Samphire (Crithmum maritimum): A common plant on the coast, found around shingle beaches, at the foot of cliffs, and along landslips in Sidmouth. It flowers from June to August. Its dense foliage provides shelter and nesting sites for seabirds and insects, and its deep roots help stabilize rocky substrates.
Rock Sea-Spurrey (Spergularia rupicola): Found on windswept shores and sandy dunes, helping to stabilize sandy soils and prevent erosion.
Tree Mallow (Lavatera arborea): Found on coastal landscapes and sandy shores, with deep roots that help stabilise dunes and cliffs, and provides habitat and food for wildlife.

Animals

The seafront and beach areas also host various bird species:

Turnstone (Arenaria interpres): a flock of about 30 birds spends the winter months on the seafront and often runs around on the Esplanade. They are popular, especially with visitors, and benefit from handouts of fast food. Records show their presence from late August until mid-April.
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus): the most common gull species in Sidmouth, frequently seen around the seafront. While often considered a pest due to scavenging human rubbish, their numbers are falling, reflecting the declining health of the seas.
Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus): amongst the more common Herring Gull flocks a small number of Greater Back-backed Gulls can be seen. Standing on the beach shingle amongst the Herring Gulls they stand out as much larger birds with black backs. Half or dozen are often present during the winter months.
Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus): A striking black and white bird with a long, orange-red bill, found along coastal habitats like sandy beaches. It feeds on bivalve molluscs and crustaceans. A small number overwinter around Sidmouth on East Beach and sometimes on the rock islands.
Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo): Cormorant are more numerous in autumn and winter and can be seen fishing off shore or resting on the rock islands at low tide. They also spend time amongst the gulls on east beach.
Rock Pipit (Anthus petrosus): A small brown bird with streaked plumage, found flitting among rocks on windswept coastlines and shorelines, foraging for insects and small crustaceans.

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