Site Code
Country: United Kingdom
Central coordinates: 55.67224753o [55o 40' 20" North], -1.80123539o [1o 48' 4" West]
Administrative region: North East (North Northumberland)
Area: 487 ha
Altitude: 1 - 16
Site Description
Lindisfarne is a tidal island off the north-east coast of England.
Tidal mudflats, saltmarshes and sand dunes combine to create an ideal environment for plants, particularly vascular plants. The rare Lindisfarne helleborine, grows here.
Botanical Significance
IPA noted for vascular plant assemblages. Believed to grow only on Lindisfarne, the Lindisfarne helleborine Epipactis sancta is the subject of much debate about whether it is a fully fledged species, or simply a variety of the dune helleborine E. dunensis. The latest research, using modern genetic techniques, suggests that E. sancta is, indeed, a proper species. Off the north east coast of England, the island of Lindisfarne is connected to the mainland by a causeway, only accessible at low tide. The site contains extensive intertidal sand and mudflats, saltmarshes and dunes where a number of rarer plants thrive, including the Lindisfarne helleborine Epipactis sancta, unique to the island. The intertidal areas support extensive beds of narrow-leaved and dwarf eelgrass Zostera angustifolia and Z. noltii and the alga Enteromorpha. Although common cord-grass Spartina anglica has colonised large areas of intertidal mud and lower saltmarsh, the upper marsh remains dominated by common saltmarsh-grass Puccinellia maritima and thrift Armeria maritima. Extensive sand dune systems include older, leached, sands supporting dune heath, with heather Calluna vulgaris and bell heather Erica cinerea, and acid dune grassland in a mosaic unique within North East England. Dune slacks, dominated by creeping willow Salix repens and cross-leaved heath Erica tetralix, are well developed on the island where they support the rare dune helleborine Epipactis dunensis, coralroot orchid Corallorhiza trifida, round-leaved wintergreen Pyrola rotundifolia, curved sedge Carex maritima, seaside centaury Centaurium littorale, and tufted centaury C. capitatum. The liverwort, petalwort Petalophyllum ralfsii has been recorded here. The dune ridges are dominated by marram Ammophila arenaria with a rare hybrid grass, purple marram Ammocalamagrostis baltica, on the most seaward dune crests. An unusual assemblage of lichens is found on shingle which is exposed in places amongst the dunes. The only English populations of Scots lovage Ligusticum scoticum occur on the shore.
Management guidance notes
IPA noted for vascular plant assemblages in component site Lindisfarne (Holy Island).
Notes
None