The Sidmouth coastline is more than just shingle. Behind the beach lies a secondary line of defence: towering red sandstone cliffs and an array of man-made structures designed to combat erosion. For plants, these vertical habitats are just as challenging as the shifting stones of the shoreline.

1. The Survival Strategy: Finding a Grip

Unlike the "shingle dwellers" that use deep taproots for stability, plants in these vertical habitats have adapted differently:

• Clustered Roots: Most species here have short, clustered root systems designed to squeeze into tiny niches and ledges.

• Resource Scarcity: These plants must survive with almost no soil, poor nutrients, and a constant lack of fresh water.

• Extreme Exposure: Inhabitants face scorching sun, lashing storms, and high salt concentrations.

2. The Red Sandstone Cliffs

The natural cliff faces are perhaps the most hostile environment in Sidmouth.

• Barren Faces: Most of the cliff surface is devoid of vegetation because the sandstone is too smooth for plants to resist the abrasive force of sea breezes and storms.

• Constant Erosion: The outer surfaces are perpetually crumbling. Occasionally, this leads to dramatic landslips where large sections of rock fall to the beach.

• Opportunities in Ruin: Plants often establish themselves at the foot of the cliffs among fallen rocks. Sometimes, these are "clifftop castaways"—plants that were originally growing at the summit and fell during a landslide.

3. Man-Made Habitats: Defences and Walls

Human engineering has unintentionally created new homes for specialised life.

The Sea Defences

The granite rocks used for sea defences are relatively new and constantly battered by waves.

• The Pioneer: While no land-based plants can survive here, certain lichens can.

• Black Tar Lichen: Look for Verrucaria maura, a black, tar-like species that coats the rocks.

Walls and Buildings

The mortar between bricks and small ledges on buildings provides a "rocky" substitute for natural cliffs.

• The Specialists: Species like Rock Samphire and Rock Sea-spurrey manage to eke out a living in these cracks.

• The "Alpines": Many dominant plants here are actually imported garden varieties, such as the Wall Daisy (Mexican Fleabane) and Ivy-leaved Toadflax. These thrive on seafront walls, provided they are sheltered from direct salt water.

4. Roadside Resilience

Even the pavements and roads between the sea and the cliffs serve as a habitat.

• Urban Survivors: Small amounts of soil and rainwater collect in cracks, supporting Danish Scurvy-grass, dandelions, and other hardy weeds.

• Compact Soil: In areas of bare, hard-packed earth, you can find Sea Thrift and Buck’s-horn Plantain.