This acidity means that after about 60 years, when the roots of the marram grass have anchored the sand in place, they become colonised by heather, and most of the Studland dune system is characterised by an unusual habitat known as dune heath. With more than 75 hectares, Studland is the largest area of dune heath on the South Coast.
As well as the marram, the younger dunes are home to an array of wildflowers throughout the summer, with the powder blue sheep’s bit and the golden yellow cat’s ear constant companions.
Look closely and you will find much rarer plants as well: such as the red data book listed sea stock, or the seashore specialist prickly saltwort.
Further inland and into the heather, the dune heath has fewer wildflowers, but it is home to particularly important lichen and fungi communities.