An introduction to Ed the Bear's local Beach

Ed the Bear lives near the coast and his local beach is the Shoreham Beach Local Nature Reserve. It is a special beach because of a rare habitat called vegetated shingle. This habitat is rare in the UK and also globally. Japan and New Zealand are the only other countries vegetated shingle habitat is found in.

The vegetated shingle on Ed's beach at Shoreham is made up of over 90 different plants

The plants are also special because they can survive on the beach growing in the pebbles. These plants grow even though there is very little soil or freshwater. The plants can survive the strong winds, the drying affect of hot sun and wind and they also have a protection against the salty sea spray.

The plants attract lots of animals. Not from the sea, but from the land.

There are lots of insects that visit the plants on the beach. Some, such as bees and butterflies are attracted by the flowers which they visit for nectar and in return pollinate the flowers. 

 

There are also many birds that visit the plants. Some feed on the insects while others feed on some of the shingle plant's seeds. There are also lots of lizards scuttling about amongst the plants where they can find food and shelter.

As you can see it really is a special beach