Around the Town 

The variety of plant life in Sidmouth is a direct reflection of its diverse habitats. While much of the town is developed, the specific conditions of the shoreline and managed gardens allow specialized species to survive that are rare elsewhere.

Habitat Specialists and Urban Survivors

The "brownfield" sites in the town center host a surprising percentage of the region's total habitat-specific species:

Habitat Type % of Total Surveyed Species Found in Town Ecological Context

Shingle (Above High Water) 100% All 11 species associated with this habitat in the area are found here.

Sand Dune 88.2% Found along the shoreline despite windswept, dry conditions.

Built-up Areas 85.1% Species adapted to walls and pavement cracks.

Parkland & Scattered Trees 67.6% Reflects the high concentration of managed town parks.

Cultivated & Disturbed Land 56.5% Species that thrive in gardens and regularly turned soil.

The "Ghost" of the Ancient Forest

While Sidmouth is now an urban centre, some plants act as biological time capsules:

• Woodland Indicators: Species such as Wood Anemone and Bugle found at Powys House suggest the area was once a wooded valley, likely until about 200 years ago.

• Refuges: Remnants of this woodland and scrub can still be found in the quiet corners of Glen Goyle and the Powys House grounds.

Strategies for Survival in the Town

Plants in Sidmouth’s brownfield sites use different strategies to survive human presence:

• The Escapees: Many species associated with built-up areas were originally garden plants that "escaped" into the wild, such as Ivy-leaved Toadflax.

• The Opportunists: "Weedy" species like Hairy Bittercress survive by growing and setting seed rapidly before they can be removed by gardeners.

• The Specialists: Plants like Sea Kale are specifically adapted to the harsh, salty conditions of the shoreline where other plants would perish.