Acid shingle heath is one of the rarest habitats in Britain with Orford Ness having the second largest area.

It is dominated by dense mats of Sea campion (Silene uniflora), which are pierced by the taller growth of False oat grass (Arrhenatherum elatius). These plants are interspersed with continuous crusts of spiky, branched, and brittle lichens.

One hundred and sixteen species of lichen have been recorded on Orford Ness to date. Some are extremely rare. Lichens are unique, as they are not plants but partly fungi and partly algae. Lichens are slow growing (approx. 1mm a year) and extremely sensitive to aerial pollution.

Shingle Heath manages to survive the hostile windy and salty conditions of Orford Ness, in areas no further than 250 metres from the sea.

©National Trust
Normal shingle heath

©National Trust
Damage to lichen flora caused by vehicle tracks many years previously demonstrates the need to prevent vehicular access.