27/06/2025
If you missed the Sefton Coast column this week, you can read it online here:
"The effects of a drought hit spring were obvious on a recent Green Sefton walk in the dunes at Ainsdale Local Nature reserve recently.
While recent rains have gone some way to freshen up the area, evaporated slacks and pools and dessicated dune vegetation are very much the norm this year.
This dune system is a harsh environment of course, no matter what the weather conditions, and to live here species need to be resilient and adaptable.
Unusual periods of drought like the one we have experienced this year put extra pressure on the flora and fauna and make it harder for them to cope with disturbances.
Please consider this when walking dogs or exploring the protected coastline.
The impact of very low rainfall and long periods of wall-to-wall sunshine in the late winter and spring is most obvious on the incredible dune flora on the Sefton Coast.
Orchids that are normally abundant in favoured areas were conspicuous by their absence, although the guided walk did lead us to an area that boasted five species in a small patch.
Nothing unusual about that in a “normal” year, but this year it was striking.
Bee Orchids are hard to find this summer so far, but this little spot held six fresh flower spikes of this most exotic-looking orchid.
A few feet away a carpet of Marsh Helleborines was blooming – these beautiful orchids usually do not flower until the end of the month, yet this year they have been dazzling visitors since the start of June.
Southern Marsh and Pyramidal Orchids, Common Twayblades and even the maturing stems of Dune Helleborine were also apparent, but only in a restricted area.
Elsewhere on the coastline, other species appear to be flowering very early – I can’t remember encountering large amounts of Grass of Parnassus in flower in early June before and as the walk forged on, a single bloom of Seaside Centaury (usually a July speciality) stood out amongst the Spearwort and Early Marsh Orchids.
Butterflies too were in short supply, with Small Heath and Common Blue tottering above the vegetation and a few Red Admirals sweeping through along the coast.
That said, a good stand of Creeping Thistles attracted my first Dark Green Fritillaries of the season.
Fantastic insects, the largest butterfly that occurs on the Sefton Coast, these big orange beasts race around flowering clumps of thistle (they are attracted to a number of other species, and even Buddleia for those fortunate enough to live close to the coast) until early August.
The best way to get views of this spectacular butterfly is to sit quietly by a clump of thistles and wait for them to arrive, they are skittish but will tolerate your presence if you observe basic fieldcraft and patience".
Sefton Council Natural England National Trust Formby Lancashire Wildlife Trust Butterfly Conservation Merseyside BioBank
