BOTANICAL SURVEY by Joshua Styles MCIEEM AMRSB

This survey of the North Wirral Foreshore at Hoylake started in February 2020. Further seasonal surveys will be undertaken each year. 

The survey will record species that occur across the full extent of Hoylake beach and will compare and contrast year-on-year species diversity and the number of notable species and should help inform future management and conservation designations for the site.

Some rare species recorded at Hoylake this year, such as Yellow Glasswort (Salicornia fragilis), have not been seen for many years.

Indeed, not only is Whorl-grass (Catabrosa aquatica) Red-list Vulnerable in England, it was last seen on Hoylake beach in 1895, over 120 years ago!

As the beach continues to change, ongoing surveillance could reveal a recovery in these and many other rare species’ populations.

As a further observation, many of the plant species now growing on the Hoylake beach are intolerant of brackish conditions. Marsh Arrowgrass (Triglochin palustre) and Whorl-grass (Catabrosa aquatica) are very intolerant of saline conditions, indicated by very low Ellenberg values for salinity (S=2 and S=1, respectively).

This is in complete contradiction to the existing SSSI citation as it stands, and is a clear indicator of dune development following significant accretion.

Joshua Styles BSc (Hons.) 
MCIEEM AMRSB
NWRPI Project Coordinator and Ecologist

NB This survey has been conducted on a voluntary basis.

North Wirral Foreshore [Hoylake] Botanical Survey

The DAFOR scale represents the relative abundance of each species found:
D = Dominant; A = Abundant, LF = Locally Frequent, F = Frequent, O = Occasional, R = Rare

ELLENBERG salt values are an indicator of whether or not grasses favour fresh, brackish or saltwater environments:
9 = Very salt tolerant; 0 = Salt intolerant

Why this is important

By monitoring these two values together (DAFOR; relative species abundance and ELLENBERG; species salt tolerance), we can calculate relative changes in overall salt levels across the site over time; a useful indicator of habitat change as a consequence of sand accretion (as is happening at Hoylake) or erosion.

It is also an indicator at Hoylake of a shift from dominance of waterborne silt deposition to a dominance of windblown sand deposition.

English nameScientific name16.02.2002.07.2027.09.2031.05.2106.09.2126.03.2215.08.2221.05.23Ellenberg value (salt)Notable speciesComments
Bryum sp.Bryum sp.RRO0
BryumBryum dichotomum agg.R0
Beard-mossDidymodon sp.RRR0
Common LiverwortMarchantia polymorphaRRRRR0
Fern-leaved Hook-mossCratoneuron filicinumRRRRR0
Pointed Spear-mossCalliergonella cuspidataR
Rough-stalked Feather-mossBrachythecium rutabulumRR0
a DandelionTaraxacum sect. CelticaR1
a DandelionTaraxacum sect. HamataRRRR1
a DandelionTaraxacum sect. NaevosaR1
a DandelionTaraxacum sect. RuderaliaRRROOOO1
AlderAlnus glutinosaR0
American WillowherbEpilobium ciliatumRR0
Annual Meadow-grassPoa annuaORROFFFF1
Annual Sea BliteSuaeda maritima RRLFRLF7
Annual Wall-rocketDiplotaxis muralisRRROO1
Atlantic IvyHedera hibernicaR0
Babbington's OracheAtriplex glabriusculaRR3
Barren BromeAnisantha sterilisRRRR0
BeggarticksBidens frondosaRR
Biting StonecropSedum acreR1
Black MedickMedicago lupulinaR0
BorageBorago officinalisR
Branched Bur-reedSparganium erectumR0
Broad-leaved DockRumex obtusifoliusRRRRR0
Broad-leaved WillowherbEpilobium montanumR0
Buck's-horn PlantainPlantago coronopus FLFLFLFOOOO2
BuddlejaBuddleja davidiiRRRR0
Bulbous ButtercupRanunculus bulbosusR0
ButtonweedCotula coronopifoliaLFLFOLFLFLALF4
Canadian FleabaneErigeron canadensisRRRR0
Celery-leaved ButtercupRanunculus sceleratus RRRRORRR2
CharlockSinapsis arvensisRR
CleaversGalium aparineRRRRR0
Clustered DockRumex conglomeratusRR0
Cock's-footDactylis glomerataORRRR0
ColtsfootTussilago farfaraRRRR0
Common Bird's-foot TrefoilLotus corniculatusRR0
Common Cat's-earHypochaeris radicataRR0
Common ChickweedStellaria mediaRRRR0
Common Cord-grassSpartina anglicaRRRRRRRR7
Common CouchElymus repensRR2
Common DaisyBellis perennisRRRR0
Common DuckweedLemna minorRR0
Common GlasswortSalicornia europaeaRRR9
Common Field SpeedwellVeronica persicaR0
Common GroundselSenecio vulgaris ssp. vulgaris RRRFROO0
Common KnotgrassPolygonum aviculare agg. RRLFRLFO0
Common MallowMalva sylvestrisRRR0
Common Mouse-earCerastium fontanumRRR0
Common NettleUrtica dioicaRR0
Common OracheAtriplex patula RRRR2
Common PoppyPapaver rhoeasRRRRRRR0
Common RagwortJacobaea vulgarisRRROO0
Common ReedPhragmites australisRLFROLF2
Common RestharrowOnonis repensR0
Common Saltmarsh-grassPuccinellia maritima FAALALALALAF5
Cornsalad sp.Valerianella sp.R0
Creeping BentAgrostis stoloniferaROOOO1
Creeping ButtercupRanunculus repensRRRR0
Creeping ThistleCirsium arvenseRRRR0
Crested Dog's-tailCynosurus cristatusRRR0
CuckooflowerCardamine pratensisR0
Curled DockRumex crispusOOOFLFLFF2
Cut-leaved DandelionTaraxacum lacistophyllumRRORO1
Danish ScurvygrassCochlearia danicaLFLFLFRLFLFOO4
Dock sp.Rumex sp.O
Dove's-foot Crane's-billGeranium molleRR0
Duke of Argyll's Tea PlantLycium barbarumRR0
Eastern RocketSisymbrium orientaleRR0
English ScurvygrassCochlearia anglica/anglica x officinalisRRRO6
False Fox-sedgeCarex otrubaeRRROO2
False Oat-grassArrhenatherum elatiusR0
Fat-henChenopodium albumRRR1
Field HorsetailEquisetum arvenseRRRR0
FlaxLinum usitatissimumR0
Fleabane sp.Erigeron sp.R0
Floating Sweet-grassGlyceria fluitansLFOOR0
Fool's WatercressApium nodiflorum RR0
Frog RushJuncus ranariusLFLFLFRFF1YESSpecies of Conservation Importance for NW England, listed within the NW Biodiversity Audit (1999) (SCI)
Frosted OracheAtriplex laciniataRR3YESSpecies of Conservation Importance for NW England, listed within the NW Biodiversity Audit (1999) (SCI)
Garden AngelicaAngelica archangelicaRR0
Glasswort sp.Salicornia sp.RRRRRRRR9YESBoth Purple and Long-spiked Glassworts are rare on Wirral peninsula
Goat WillowSalix capreaLFROO0
Grass-leaved OracheAtriplex littoralis RRRORR4
Great WillowherbEpilobium hirsutumROOOO0
Greater PlantainPlantago majorRRRR0
Greater BulrushTypha latifoliaRRRO0
Greater Sea SpurreySpergularia media OORRR5
Grey Club-rushSchoenoplectus tabernaimontaniRRR3YESSpecies of Conservation Importance for NW England, listed within the NW Biodiversity Audit (1999) (SCI). Very rare on Wirral and on Cheshire's Rare Plant Register
Grey WillowSalix cinereaO0
GypsywortLycopus europaeusORRO0
Hairy Bitter-cressCardamine hirsutaRRRR0
Hard-grassParapholis strigosaLFLFOOFF5
Hard RushJuncus inflexusR1
Hedge BindweedCalystegia sepiumR1
Hedge MustardSisymbrium officinaleR0
Hemlock Water-dropwortOenanthe crocata RORRO1
Herb-RobertGeranium robertianumRRR0
Hoary MustardHirschfeldia incanaRRR0
Hoary WillowherbEpilobium parviflorumRRRR0
Hybrid DockRumex x pratensisR
Hybrid OracheA. x hulmeanaR2
Hybrid OracheAtriplex x gustafssonianaO2
Hybrid SedgeCarex x pseudoaxillarisRYESNationally scarce
Hybrid WillowSalix x reichardtiiR0
Hybrid WillowSalix x fragilisR0
Ivy-leaved SpeedwellVeronica hederifoliaR0
Ivy-leaved ToadflaxCymbalaria muralisR0
Japanese RoseRosa rugosaR2
Jointed RushJuncus articulatusRRRRO1
Kidney VetchAnthyllis vulnerariaR0
Lesser ChickweedStellaria pallida RRRORR0YESRare in Cheshire Vice County
Lesser HawkbitLeontodon saxatilisRRO0
Lesser Mouse-earCerastium semidecandrumRR0
Lesser Sea-spurreySpergularia marinaORR5
Lesser TrefoilTrifolium dubiumRR0
Lesser Water-parnsipBerula erectaRR0YESSpecies of Conservation Importance for NW England, listed within the NW Biodiversity Audit (1999) (SCI)
Long-bracted SedgeCarex extensaRRRROOLF4
Long-headed PoppyPapaver dubiumRR0
Long-spiked GlasswortSalicornia dolichostachyaR9YESBoth Purple and Long-spiked Glassworts are rare on Wirral peninsula
Long-stalked OracheAtriplex longipesR4YESNew to both Wirral and the Vice County. Very rare in the region and nationally scarce.
Lyme-grassLeymus arenariusRRLFLFFF3
MarramAmmophila arenariaRRRROR3
Marsh ArrowgrassTriglochin palustre LFLFFLALALALA2YESNear-Threatened in England
Marsh FoxtailAlopecurus geniculatusRRRRO1
Marsh Yellow-cressRorippa palustrisR0
Mind-your-own-businessSoleirolia soleiroliiR0
MugwortArtemisia vulgarisRR0
Narrow-fruited WatercressNasturtium cf. microphyllumO0
Nodding Bur-marigoldBidens cernuaRR0
Night-scented StockMatthiola longipetalaRRRRR1
OatAvena sativaR0
Orange BalsamImpatiens capensisRR0
Orache sp.Atriplex sp.R
OsierSalix viminalisRRR0
Pale PersicariaPersicaria lapathifoliaR0
Parsley Water-dropwortOenanthe lachenaliiRO3YESNear-Threatened in England and Species of Conservation Importance for NW England, listed within the NW Biodiversity Audit (1999) (SCI)
Pellitory-of-the-wallParietaria judaica RRRRORRR1
Pendulous SedgeCarex pendulaRR0
Perennial Rye-grassLolium perenneOOOLFLFLFLF0
Perennial Sow-thistleSonchus arvensisRRO1
Petty SpurgeEuphorbia peplusR0
PineappleweedMatricaria discoideaRRRORRR0
Poplar sp.Populus sp.R0
Prickly SaltwortSalsola kaliRR3YESRed-list Vulnerable in Great Britain, rare in Cheshire Vice County, SCI
Prickly Sow-thistleSonchus asperRRRRRR0
Procumbent PearlwortSagina procumbens RRRRRRRR1
Purple ToadflaxLinaria purpureaRRRR0
Purple GlasswortSalicornia ramosissimaRRR9YESBoth Purple and Long-spiked Glassworts are rare on Wirral peninsula
RapeBrassica napusRRR0
Ray's KnotgrassPolygonum oxyspermum ssp. raiiRRRFRFLF3YESNationally Scarce
RedshankPersicaria maculosaRRR0
Red BartsiaOdontites vernusRR3
Red GoosefootChenopodium rubrumR1YESSpecies of Conservation Importance for NW England, listed within the NW Biodiversity Audit (1999) (SCI)
Red FescueFestuca rubra RRROROO2
Red ValerianCentranthus ruberRRRRR1
Remote SedgeCarex remotaR0
Reed Canary-grassPhalaris arundinaceaRRRRRR1
Reflexed Saltmarsh-grassPuccinellia distansOOOFOOR4YESSpecies of Conservation Importance for NW England, listed within the NW Biodiversity Audit (1999) (SCI)
Ribwort PlantainPlantago lanceolataR0
Rock SamphireCrithmum maritimumRR5YESSpecies of Conservation Importance for NW England, listed within the NW Biodiversity Audit (1999) (SCI)
Rosebay WillowherbChamaenerion angustifoliumRR0
Rough Meadow-grassPoa trivialisRORR0
Saltmarsh RushJuncus gerardiiRRRR3
Sand CouchElymus junceiformisRRROOOOO0
Sand SedgeCarex arenariaRRR1
Scentless MayweedTripleurospermum inodorumR0
Sea / Lesser Mouse-earCerastium diffusum / semidecandrum RRRRRR1
Sea ArrowgrassTriglochin maritima FFFFFFF4
Sea AsterAster tripolium LFLFLFOOOOO5
Sea BeetBeta vulgaris subsp. maritimaRRRRORRR3
Sea CampionSilene unifloraR3YESSpecies of Conservation Importance for NW England, listed within the NW Biodiversity Audit (1999) (SCI) and Rare Plant Register species
Sea ClubrushBolboschoenus maritimus OOOFLFFF4
Sea CouchElymus athericusRRRORR4
Sea Fern-grassCatapodium marinumRRR1
Sea-hollyEryngium maritimumRRR3YESNear-Threatened in England.
Sea KaleCrambe maritimaR3YESRare Plant Register species
Sea MayweedTripleurospermum maritimum OOOFLFLF1
Sea MilkwortLysimachia maritimaLFLFOOOLFLF4
Sea PearlwortSagina maritimaRRRR4
Sea PlantainPlantago maritima OOOORRRR3
Sea PurslaneAtriplex portulacoidesRRRRRR6
Sea RaddishRaphanus raphanistrum ssp. maritimusRRRRRRR0YESSpecies of Conservation Importance for NW England. Listed within the NW Biodiversity Audit (1999) (SCI)
Sea RocketCakile maritima RRROROO3
Sea RushJuncus maritimusRRRR5
Sea SandwortHonckenya peploidesR3
Sea SpurgeEuphorbia paraliasR3YESSpecies of Conservation Importance for NW England. Listed within the NW Biodiversity Audit (1999) (SCI)
Seaside DaisyErigeron glaucusRRR0
Sedge sp.Carex sp.R
SelfhealPrunella vulgarisR0
Shepherd's PurseCapsella bursa-pastorisRRRRR0
Short Fruited WillowherbEpilobium obscurumR0
SilverweedArgentina anserinaRR2
Smooth Hawk's-beardCrepis capillarisRR0
Smooth Sow-thistleSonchus oleraceus RRROOOOR0
Soft BromeBromus hordeaceusRRR0
Soft RushJuncus effususR0
Spear-leaved OracheAtriplex prostrataRROFF2
Spear ThistleCirsium vulgareRRR0
Spreading Meadow-grassPoa humilisR2
Sticky Mouse-earCerastium glomeratumRRRR0
Strawberry CloverTrifolium fragiferumRR2YESVulnerable in England and Species of Conservation Importance for NW England. Listed within the NW Biodiversity Audit (1999) (SCI)
SunflowerHelianthus annuusRRRRR0
Sweet AlisonLobularia maritimaRR3
SycamoreAcer pseudoplatanusR0
Tall Ramping-fumitoryFumaria bastardiiR0YESSpecies of Conservation Importance for NW England. Listed within the NW Biodiversity Audit (1999) (SCI)
ThriftArmeria maritimaRRRRO3YESRare at Vice County level -
TimothyPhleum pratenseR0
Toad RushJuncus bufonius OOOFRRO1
TomatoSolanum lycopersicumR0
Trailing BellflowerCampanula poscharskyanaR0
Tree MallowMalva arboreaRRR3
Trifid Bur-marigoldBidens tripartitaRLFLFO0
Tufted Forget-me-notMyosotis cf. laxaRR0
Wall BarleyHordeum murinum RRRRRRR0
Water BentPolypogon viridis RRRORRR
Water Forget-me-notMyosotis scorpioidesR0
Water PepperPersicaria hydropiperR0
Watercress agg.Nasturtium officinale agg. ORRORORR0
WheatTriticum aestivumR0
White CloverTrifolium repensRRR0
White ComfreySymphytum orientaleRR0
White WillowSalix albaRRR0
White StonecropSedum albumRRRR0
Whorl-grassCatabrosa aquatica subsp. minor FFFFFLFLF1YESRed-list Vulnerable in England. Rare in Cheshire Vice County SCI. 2nd record for Wirral. Last recorded for Hoylake in 1895. Second English extant site.
Wild Turnip/RapeBrassica sp.RR0
Willow sp.Salix sp.RRR0
Willowherb sp.Epilobium sp.RRRRRLF0
Wood DockRumex sanguineusR0
Woody NightshadeSolanum dulcamaraR0
YarrowAchillea millefoliumR0
Yellow GlasswortSalicornia fragilisR9YESNationally scarce. Last recorded for Hoylake pre-2000
Yellow IrisIris pseudacorusRROO1
Yorkshire-fogHolcus lanatusR0