SD18 Hippophae rhamnoides (sea buckthorn) dune scrub.

Sea buckthorn is capable of colonising all but the most mobile dunes.  Once established, outward growth may be vigorous via suckers.  The species is dioecious, with female stands producing a mass of orange berries during the autumn.  This scrub is important for wintering, passage and breeding birds.  The diversity of the associated ground flora is low and characterised by ‘weedy’ species.  The scrub community includes elder Sambucus niger, which colonises at a quite early stage and may become co- dominant and later, privet Ligustrum vulgare, dog rose Rosa canina and hawthorn Crataegus monogyna appear.  At Gibraltar Point succession into maritime woodland is demonstrated in small areas by sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus growth on the fixed dune and sallow Salix caprea in the dune slack.

Where all age classes of Hippophae scrub growth are represented in appropriate proportions within the mosaic of grassland types.