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General Description

This category contains intertidal habitats (see H1), saltmarsh (see H2), shingle and gravel above high tide mark (see H3), boulders and rocks above high tide mark (see H4), strandline vegetation (see H5), sand dune (see H6), and maritime cliff and slope (see H8). Coastal lagoons should be classified as standing water (see G1.6).

H1 Intertidal

Intertidal Description - The codes for Zostera beds (Zo), green algal beds (Ga) or brown algal beds (Ba) should, where appropriate, be superimposed over the relevant Ordnance Survey symbols (mud/sand (see H1.1); shingle/cobbles (see H1.2); boulders/rocks (see H1.3).

• H1.1 Intertidal - mud/sand Description - The codes for Zostera beds (Zo), green algal beds (Ga) or brown algal beds (Ba) should, where appropriate, be superimposed over the relevant Ordnance Survey symbol.
• H1.2 Intertidal - shingle/cobbles Description - The codes for Zostera beds (Zo), green algal beds (Ga) or brown algal beds (Ba) should, where appropriate, be superimposed over the relevant Ordnance Survey symbol.
• H1.3 Intertidal - boulders/rocks Description - The codes for Zostera beds (Zo), green algal beds (Ga) or brown algal beds (Ba) should, where appropriate, be superimposed over the relevant Ordnance Survey symbol.

H2 Saltmarsh

Saltmarsh Description This category is subdivided into saltmarsh/dune interface (see H2.3), scattered plants (see H2.4) and dense continuous saltmarsh (see H2.6).

• H2.3 Saltmarsh/dune interface Description - Vegetation peculiar to this area, characterised by species such as Frankenia laevis or Suaeda fruticosa, should be mapped wherever large enough, and always target noted.
• H2.4 Saltmarsh - scattered plants Description - The dominant species should be coded.
• H2.6 Saltmarsh - dense/continuous Description - Dominant species should be coded, particularly noting Spartina where it is abundant. Areas of inland saltmarsh should be included in this category.

H3 Shingle and gravel above high tide mark

H4 Boulders/rocks above high-tide mark

Boulders/rocks above high-tide mark Description Target note any vascular plants or lichen vegetation that may occur.

H5 Strandline vegetation

Strandline Vegetation Description - This type of vegetation occurs as an open community on the drift line and is characterised by species such as Cakile maritima, Honkenya peploides, Rumex crispus, Salsola kali, Atriplex species and Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima. In contrast to fore dunes, Elymus farctus (Agropyron junceiforme) is characteristically sparse or absent. Target note where feasible, stating whether the substrate is shingle or rock.

H6 Sand dune

Sand Dune Description - This category is subdivided into dune slacks (see H6.4), dune grassland (see H6.5), dune heath (see H6.6), dune scrub (see H6.7), and open dune (see H6.8).

• H6.4 Dune slack Description - Dune slacks are valleys or hollows between dune ridges, where the water table is close to the surface for at least several months in the year, leading to marshy vegetation. Ammophila arenaria is usually absent. Characteristic species are Salix repens, Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Dactylorhiza species and Epipactis palustris. Saline slacks should be classified as saltmarsh (H2).
• H6.5 Dune grassland Description - All grassland occurring on consolidated and flattened dunes should be classified in this category. Generally, little Ammophila arenaria will be present. Machair should be included here.
• H6.6 Dune heath Description - All heathland occurring on consolidated and flattened dunes should be includes in this category. Calluna is usually the dominant ericoid, with Erica cinerea and Erica tetralix also common. Carex arenaria is often present and lichens, particularly Cladonia species, are often abundant. Occasionally, juniper may be present. Use yellow crosses for scattered heath
• H6.7 Dune scrub Description - All scrub occurring on consolidated and flattened dunes should be classified in this category. Hippophae rhamnoides is a characteristic species. Use green crosses for scattered scrub.
• H6.8 Open dune Description - (* This Phase 1 alphanumeric reference code differs from that used in either the 1984 NCC/RSNC classification or the 1982 SSSI mapping system.) - This category comprises the three early successional stages of dune formation, less stable and with lower vegetation cover than H6.4-H6.7.
  • Fore dune: unstable, usually low ridges of sand on the foreshore, often with a very open plant cover. Elymus farctus is strongly characteristic, often dominant, and sometimes the only species present; Honkenya peploides, Atriplex species and Cakile maritima are typical associated species; Ammophila arenaria may be present in small quantities, but should not be dominant.
  • Yellow dune: partially stabilised ridges of sand lying between fore and grey dunes, with a marked but incomplete plant cover, nearly always dominated by Ammophilia arenaria, although Leymus (Elymus) arenarius and/or Elymus farctus may be common; a variety of small herbs may be present.
  • Grey dune: stable ridges of sand, almost completely vegetated. The vegetation is very variable in species composition; Ammophilia arenaria is usually present, but not dominant, mosses and lichens may be frequent. Grey dune can be distinguished from fixed dune by being markedly hilly or undulating, and by the sand not being fully consolidated.

H8 Maritime cliff and slope Maritime cliff and slope

Description - This category is subdivided into maritime hard cliff (see H8.1), maritime soft cliff (see H8.2), crevice and ledge vegetation (see H8.3), coastal grassland (see H8.4) and coastal heathland (see H8.5).

• H8.1 Maritime hard cliff Description - These are cliffs formed of rock (including chalk) with less than 10% vascular plant cover. The type of rock should be target noted. Vegetated cliffs should be mapped using the relevant vegetation code and target noted.
• H8.2 Maritime soft cliff Description - These are cliffs formed of mud or clay with less than 10% vascular plant cover. The type of substrate should be target noted.
• H8.3 Crevice and ledge vegetation Description - (* This Phase 1 alphanumeric reference code differs from that used in either the 1984 NCC/RSNC classification or the 1982 SSSI mapping system.) - This category comprises vegetation, occasionally sparse, but covering at least 10% of the cliff surface, occurring in crevices or on ledges on steep cliffs. The communities present should be described with a target note, taking care to record whether the vegetation is influenced by the use of the cliffs by birds, as may be indicated by species such as Beta vulgaris. Vegetation occurring in the splash zone at the base of cliffs should be included here.
• H8.4 Coastal grassland Description - (* This Phase 1 alphanumeric reference code differs from that used in either the 1984 NCC/RSNC classification or the 1982 SSSI mapping system.) - These are grasslands which include maritime species and which occur on shallow slopes or level areas by the sea, often on cliff types (but see dune grassland - H6.5). Indicator species include Scilla verna, Plantago maritima and Armeria maritima. Festuca rubra is often dominant. Other species may include Hieracium pilosella, Anthyllis vulneraria, Lotus corniculatus, Galium verum and Thymus praecox.
• H8.5 Coastal heathland Description - (* This Phase 1 alphanumeric reference code differs from that used in either the 1984 NCC/RSNC classification or the 1982 SSSI mapping system.) - All heathlands which include maritime species and which occur on shallow slopes, or even level areas, by the sea should be included in this category (but see dune heath - H6.6). Indicator species include Scilla verna, Armeria maritima, Jasione montana, Plantago maritima and Plantago coronopus. Calluna vulgaris is often dominant; Erica cincerea and dwarf Ulex species are frequently present. Coastal heathland often occurs just inland of coastal grassland, and like that category, frequently occurs at the top of cliffs.