Braunton Burrows

Saunton Sands - Devon, UK. ID IMG_2957

Saunton Sands – Devon, UK. ID IMG_2957

Behind the expanse of Saunton Sands in North Devon are the dunes of Braunton Burrows.  I have fond memories of a school visit to the burrows to study succession.  I cannot believe its so close to my home but I haven’t been back for such a long time.

Succession happens when bare sand is colonised by plants. As you move inland the dunes are older and the number of species increases.  The ground cover stabilises the sand allowing soil to form.  The oldest inland dunes are gradually covered by shrubs and woodland.

The habitats nearest to the beach are very harsh. Facing the sea, plants such as Sea Rocket have to be strong enough to deal with salt water, spray, wind and moving sandy ground.

Sea Rocket (Cakile maritima) - Braunton Burrows, Devon, UK. iD IMG_2945

Sea Rocket (Cakile maritima) – Braunton Burrows, Devon, UK. iD IMG_2945

The first windswept lines of dunes are dominated by marram grass.  Its dense tufts and roots hold on to the sand allowing the dunes to build up.

Braunton Burrows - Devon, UK. ID IMG_2593

Braunton Burrows – Devon, UK. ID IMG_2593

Braunton Burrows - Devon, UK. ID IMG_2496

Braunton Burrows – Devon, UK. ID IMG_2496

Stabilised by the grass the dunes can support colonies of flowering plants.

Braunton Burrows - Devon, UK. ID IMG_2939

Braunton Burrows – Devon, UK. ID IMG_2939

Sea holly is well adapted to growing in sand.  It has deep roots that reach down a metre and the plant easily handles being covered in sand.

Sea Holly (Eryngium maritimum) - Braunton Burrows, Devon, UK. ID IMG_2516

Sea Holly (Eryngium maritimum) – Braunton Burrows, Devon, UK. ID IMG_2516

Sea Holly (Eryngium maritimum) - Braunton Burrows, Devon, UK. ID IMG_2512

Sea Holly (Eryngium maritimum) – Braunton Burrows, Devon, UK. ID IMG_2512

The dunes have long been used by the military.  Following preparations for the Normandy landings Sea Buckthorn was planted to stabilise the damaged dunes.

Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) - Braunton Burrows, Devon, UK. ID IMG_2925

Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) – Braunton Burrows, Devon, UK. ID IMG_2925

Its berries are a favourite with birds.  Stonechats also use the scrub as a vantage point.

Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola) - Braunton Burrows, Devon, UK. ID IMG_2563

Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola) – Braunton Burrows, Devon, UK. ID IMG_2563

Unfortunately the sea buckthorn is a non-native invasive species that is spreading across the reserve crowding out the smaller plants.

Flowers and Butterflies

Walking around the dunes one of the most common flowers is the evening primrose.  It is hard to miss its tall spikes topped with bright yellow flowers.

Common Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis) - Braunton Burrows, Devon, UK. ID IMG_2505

Common Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis) – Braunton Burrows, Devon, UK. ID IMG_2505

One of the prettiest is common centaury.

Common Centaury (Centaurium erythraea) Braunton Burrows, Devon, UK. ID IMG_2768

Common Centaury (Centaurium erythraea) Braunton Burrows, Devon, UK. ID IMG_2768

Ragwort has also spread across the dunes and was popular with the meadow brown butterflies.

Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtinaon) on Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) - Braunton Burrows, Devon, UK. ID IMG_2781

Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtinaon) on Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) – Braunton Burrows, Devon, UK. ID IMG_2781

Many of the ragwort flowers were covered in the caterpillars of the cinnabar moth.

Cinnabar (Tyria jacobaeae) on Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) - Braunton Burrows, Devon, UK. ID IMG_2826

Cinnabar (Tyria jacobaeae) on Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) – Braunton Burrows, Devon, UK. ID IMG_2826

The marbled white butterflies preferred to keep low to the ground – escaping the winds.

Marbled White (Melanargia galathea) - Braunton Burrows, Devon, UK. ID IMG_2763

Marbled White (Melanargia galathea) – Braunton Burrows, Devon, UK. ID IMG_2763

Wind is to be expected on the exposed coastline and many flowers such common restharrow hug the ground.  As they spread across the sand they do their bit to stabilise the sand.

Common Restharrow (Ononis repens) - Braunton Burrows, Devon, UK. ID IMG_2859

Common Restharrow (Ononis repens) – Braunton Burrows, Devon, UK. ID IMG_2859

Every now and again there were collections of snail shells.  Not sure why.

Snails - Braunton Burrows, Devon, UK. ID IMG_2785

Snails – Braunton Burrows, Devon, UK. ID IMG_2785

Today cattle graze the dunes to hold back the encroachment of scrub and keep the habitat open for the hundreds of flowers species that grow here.

Cattle on Braunton Burrows - Devon, UK. ID IMG_2611

Cattle on Braunton Burrows – Devon, UK. ID IMG_2611

And Finally…

We returned to our guest house for the night.  We did not expect such as beautiful sunset across the River Torridge.

River Torridge - Beara, Bideford, Devon, UK. ID IMG_2454

River Torridge – Beara, Bideford, Devon, UK. ID IMG_2454

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