The vegetated shingle comprises one of the most important features of Orford Ness and is of international importance as reflected in the designation of the site as a candidate Special Area for Conservation.

The past history and use of the site, in particular by the military, has resulted in many areas of the shingle morphology having been severely degraded with the shingle ‘matrix’ being largely destroyed. The grading of the shingle, and in particular the presence of fines in the surface layer, are known to be most critical in the development of shingle vegetation.

It was proposed to test experimentally, whether it was possible to regenerate shingle flora on some of the worst degraded and damaged sites. The project was carried out in 2000 as part of the European Union LIFE-Nature project 'WILD NESS - The Conservation of Orford Ness, Phase 2'.