Havens for plants that struggle to compete with more vigorous species, this is one of the main reasons for the SSSI designations. These plant communities create a habitat for multiple invertebrates some of which are rare. Kidney vetch, wild carrot, buckshorn plantain, scurvy grass and thrift along with several species of fine grass cling to the fragile rocks, taking root in extremely poor soil. These habitats can be saturated with water where it flows through the rock strata (liverworts, moss and cyanobacteria colonies dominate) or very dry pockets where the plants require drought resistant properties such as fleshy waxy leaves or hairy surfaces. Peregrine falcons, ravens, pipits, kestrels, voles, mice and a host of other birds and mammals find the inaccessibility by humans to their advantage. Fulmars and other cliff-nesting birds sometimes establish nests but the fragile nature of the sand and mudstone combined with the water flowing through the rock and pounding waves makes this difficult. Cliff falls are frequent even in summer. The cliff also houses the same invertebrates often found in the man-made structures, these are their true habitats, this makes them rich feeding grounds for the pipets. They also provide the first landfall for flying insects that have been blown over the sea, so the menu changes daily.
Cliff are hostile environments not just to wildlife but for us. Avoid the bottom even on a summer's day, it only takes a hand size rock to fall several hundred feet and you will be in serious trouble if it hits you. The large rocks on the beach came from these cliffs they fell, so be warned.
Cliff are hostile environments not just to wildlife but for us. Avoid the bottom even on a summer's day, it only takes a hand size rock to fall several hundred feet and you will be in serious trouble if it hits you. The large rocks on the beach came from these cliffs they fell, so be warned.