Understanding Habitat

While identifying a single plant is rewarding, a naturalist’s true skill lies in using that plant to understand the environment. Many plants—including trees, grasses, ferns, and mosses—are specialists that thrive only when specific conditions are met.

The "Habitat Mix" Concept

On the Sidmouth Nature website, we use a "Habitat Mix" analysis. Instead of guessing what a habitat is, we look at the vegetative species present to provide a data-driven indication of the environment.

• The Logic: If a plant species is thriving in a certain field, it is likely (though not certain) that the site belongs to that plant's preferred habitat type.

• The Process: We match each identified species to its most likely habitat. The more species from a specific habitat type we find, the more likely that habitat exists on that site.

The Challenges of Plant Analysis

Nature is rarely simple, and analysing a site through plants has several limitations that a learner must keep in mind:

• Habitat Overlap: Some plants are "happy" in more than one environment. A flower found on-site might be associated with both Woodland and Scrub; therefore, its presence alone isn't proof of either.

• The Importance of the "Whole": Because of this overlap, you must consider the complete range of species found, not just a single standout plant.

• "Vagrants" and Micro-habitats: Sometimes a plant finds a tiny "niche" in an otherwise unsuitable area. Human activity also introduces species intentionally or unintentionally. For instance, finding a Corsican Pine doesn't always mean you are in a natural coniferous forest; it might be a man-made plantation.

• Hostile Environments: Some habitats, like shingle beaches, have very few specialist species. If a beach is surrounded by weeds from nearby farmland, the data might suggest it is "waste land" when it is actually a specialised shingle habitat.

Human Influence and History

There are almost no "completely natural" habitats left in the Sidmouth area. Every environment has been influenced by human activity.

However, plants can reveal a site’s history. For example, Ancient Woodland indicator species are often found in modern hedgerows, revealing that the hedge is actually a remnant of a forest that existed hundreds of years ago.

Why This Matters for You

Understanding the "Habitat Mix" of a site helps you identify other wildlife. Since animals are often highly specific about where they live, knowing the habitat profile is the "key" to identifying elusive insects or birds that have several similar-looking cousins.