Haycock and Jay Associates Ltd. was commissioned by Natural England to undertake a National Vegetation Classification (NVC) survey of habitats within a survey area between Filey Brigg and Red Cliff on the east coast of Yorkshire to investigate the potential for its inclusion within a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
The survey compares the current vegetation state of the area to that recorded during a previous NVC survey undertaken by the author in 2012 and 2013. A complex interplay of factors was found to be influencing grassland and maritime vegetation communities, including soils, geology, aspect, drainage, slope, and enrichment by birds. Sub-maritime grassland, which generally supports an unusual assemblage of species including some species limited to coastal sites, was recorded along much of the coast.
Other sub-maritime and para-maritime features, such as dense scrub and woodland, were also recorded. More stable areas of calcareous grassland on steep slopes were found to have been maintained in some hard cliff zones, as have maritime cliff and ledge communities. Reduced fertiliser spill has driven a recorded decrease in eutrophic grassland in specific areas.
The report also comments on areas recorded where vegetation is being impacted by coastal erosion processes, and the state of coastal erosion as it pertains to vegetation extent and distribution across the survey area.