Techniques for assessing shingle communities - University of Sussex

3.4 Cuckmere Haven east, top of shingle ridge TV 5193 9764
Date of visit: 22 July 2003.
Surveyors: TY, JS, WM, PD, JM, DV.
Site Description: Area 1.70ha, 90% bare shingle. A large linear site on the east of the
Cuckmere river, running along the top of the shingle ridge, parallel to the mean high water
mark, from the access path below Haven Brow to the river.
Management history: Cuckmere Haven has been extensively managed since medieval
times. Shingle extraction from the beach occurred until around the 1950s and the area was
used as a decoy using World War II. The mouth of the river has been fixed in place since the
early 1900s. No coastal defence management is currently carried out on the east side of the
river and the beach has a relatively natural profile. The site lies within the Seaford to Beachy
Head SSSI, designated in 1953, and the Seven Sisters Country Park. It is managed as a
recreational and educational resource.
Damage/disturbance: Pedestrian traffic is significantly higher on the east side than the west
and there is evidence of significant rabbit grazing.
Habitat description: Secondary pioneer community with T. maritimum and P. media
abundant.
Notable species: B. vulgaris ssp. maritima, E. atherica, S. maritimum, C. maritima, C.
maritimum.
Shingle habitat score: 0.7
Community type:
a) Shingle community: Something like SH27 Tripleurospermum maritimum – Atriplex
prostrata – Rumex crispus pioneer community and/or SH15 Beta vulgaris maritima –
Rumex crispus pioneer community although not a close match.
b) Broad shingle community: No fit
c) NVC: SD1a Rumex crispus – Glaucium flavum shingle community, typical subcommunity
and/or SD1 Rumex crispus – Glaucium flavum shingle community.
d) Habitats Directive Annex I: 1220 Perennial vegetation of stony banks.
Species
Table 15. Vascular plant list and abundance for survey site 3.4.
Common Name
Tripleurospermum maritimum Sea Mayweed
A
Plantago media Hoary Plantain
A
Beta vulgaris ssp.maritima Sea Beet
F
Sedum acre Biting Stonecrop F
Picris echioides Bristly Oxtongue F
Plantago lanceolata Ribwort Plantain F
Juncus gerardii Saltmarsh Rush F
Elytrigia atherica Sea Couch F
Seriphidium maritimum Sea Wormwood F
Dipsacus fullonum Wild Teasel F
Agrimonia eupatoria Agrimony O
Abundance
(DAFOR scale)
Techniques for assessing shingle communities 38