Blast from the past: Sefton's sand dunes in bloom

In this special blog we revisit Spring 1999 of Lapwing, where botanist Phillip H. Smith penned a stunning tribute to one of the North West's most ecologically rich yet often overlooked landscapes - the Sefton Coast sand dunes.

Rediscovering the Sefton Coast's botanical treasures

Stretching for around 30km from Bootle Docks to Southport, this vast coastal system is a haven for wildlife and rare plants, shaped by centuries of wind, water and shifting sands. In his article Wild Flowers of the Sefton Coast, Smith shared just how botanically rich these dunes really are - supporting more than 900 species of vascular plants, including some of the UK's rarest.

"The sand-hills and shores contain some of the most interesting flora in Britain."

Phillip H. Smith

Smith highlights how plants thrive in specialised microhabitats: dry dune ridges, damp slacks, and woodland edges all offering a patchwork of ecological niches.

Among the most-eye catching of the flora are the Pyramidal orchid, Evening primrose, Sea bindweed, and the vivid Wild pansy, each adding a flash of colour through spring and summer. But this landscape is also home to botanical treasures - Dune helleborine, Round-leaved wintergreen, and the Grass of parnassus - plants so rare that they exist in only a handful of British locations.

A close-up of a single white Grass-of-Parnassus flower with five delicate, veined petals and a cluster of yellow-tipped stamens in the centre, set against a blurred green background.

Phillip Precey

A clump of bright yellow Evening Primrose flowers growing among tall dune grasses under a clear blue sky, with sand and distant hills in the background.

Vaughn Matthews

A group of vibrant pink-purple Pyramidal Orchids standing tall in a grassy meadow, their densely packed flowers forming a conical shape.

Vaughn Matthews

A cluster of delicate yellow Dune Pansy flowers with dark markings on their petals, growing low in sandy soil with scattered greenery.

Vaughn Matthews

A fragile floral community

What makes these plants so special isn't just their beauty, but their resilience. Many have adapted to life in shifting dunes and nutrient-poor soils. Others like the Sharp club-rush noted in Smith's piece, are found nowhere else in the British Isles except for this coastline and a single site in Jersey.

Smith also sounded a gentle warning: about a quarter of the dune flora already classed as 'alien' by the late 1990s - species introduced accidentally through soil or horticulture. These can compete with native plants and alter delicate dune dynamics.

Today, that challenge continues. Invasive species like Japanese rose and scrub encroachment are threats we still battle, alongside climate change and coastal erosion.

Conservation in action

Much has changed since this article was written, but the importance of these dune systems has only grown. The Sefton Coast is part of a designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and our work at Lancashire Wildlife Trust, alongside Natural England and other partners, has helped to manage, restore, and protect the area.

This includes:

Removing invasive scrub to allow rare wildflowers to grow.

Monitoring species like Dune helleborine to track population changes.

Engaging local communities through guided walks and conservation volunteering.

Managing water levels in dune slacks to preserve wetland plant habitats.

Thanks to this ongoing work, spring and summer still bring a spectacular display of colour and life to the dunes - a living reminder of the Sefton Coast's irreplaceable natural heritage.

A sandy wooden boardwalk winding through tall grass-covered sand dunes under a bright blue sky with scattered fluffy clouds, with a forest visible in the distance.

"A present-day visitor... can hardly fail to be impressed, and 25 years later, the dunes will continue to inspire."

Phillip H. Smith

The Sefton Coast needs you

These habitats are still under threat - but they're also resilient. With careful stewardship, they can continue to support wildlife long into the future.