Changes to the coastal flora of Wirral, Merseyside (v.c.58)

Abstract

Changes over more than 200 years in the landscape, vegetation and flora of coastal habitats of the Wirral peninsula in north-western England are described. These include the creation of new salt-marshes, following ongoing accretion of sediments as well as destruction of habitats following urbanisation and industrialisation. These changes led to the development of new Open Mosaic Habitats increasing floral diversity. The role of hybrids and new species to the Wirral coast is discussed in relation to changes in floral diversity with losses largely confined to species of totally destroyed and relatively nutrient poor habitats and occurring before 1900.

Distribution and ecology of Equisetum variegatum (Variegated Horsetail) (Equisetaceae) on the Sefton Coast sand-dunes, north Merseyside, UK

“…Skelcher (2017) did not find E. variegatum during his survey of Fylde sand-dunes in 2016, though he reports that, according to another observer, the plant was still present on Lytham St. Anne's Local Nature Reserve (LNR) in 2015. Greenwood (2023) states that, since it was first noted by Hall ( 1839), E. variegatum has been known from sand-dunes between New Brighton and West Kirby in north Wirral (v.c.58). The most recent record was in 2011.…”

“…However, some forms of E. variegatum are similar to E. ×meridionale which also occurs at intervals in the same area. Examination of specimens in the Natural History Museum, London, suggests that Wirral records for E. variegatum are identification errors for the hybrid and that all voucher specimens need checking (Greenwood, 2023). There are 19 th century records of E. ×meridionale from Crosby and Southport in v.c.59 (Rumsey & Spencer, 2012;Stace et al, 2015) but none since for this vice-county (Northwestern Naturalists Union, 2023;Savidge et al, 1963).…”