Bryher

At the most northern end of Bryher, Shipman Head runs south towards the plateau of Shipman Head Down. The eroded heathland is thinned in places due to the strong winds and extreme maritime environment, creating the illusion of waves – a fine example of ‘waved heath', particularly important for some rare lichen species. Scattered amongst the dwarf and bell heather are wildflower species including tormentil, bird’s-foot trefoil, heath bedstraw, English stonecrop and sheep’s-fescue. At the most southern end of the downs is large stand of European gorse and more extensive areas of scrub, including bracken, bramble and honeysuckle.

Along the coastal edges of the Down and within the coves there are areas of species rich maritime grassland. Thrift, buck’s-horn plantain, Yorkshire fog and sorrel are the most common, along with a scattered population of spring squill. Of particular importance are the nationally rare orange bird’s-foot and the notable hairy bird’s-foot trefoil. Shipman Head is an important seabird colony with seven species of seabird breeding including herring gulls, great and lesser black-backed gulls, razorbills, fulmars, shags and Manx shearwaters. Ringed plover and oystercatcher occasionally breed on the open heathland.

In the southern half, in a cove called Great Pool, there lies a brackish lagoon which is home to an exciting variety of salt marsh plants, including beaked tasselweed, sea-milkwort, saltmarsh rush, lesser sea-spurrey and red goosefoot. 

In the sandy grasslands of Rushy Bay, you might find the rare and spectacular dwarf pansy – a tiny violet flower that only grows on Scilly. The dwarf pansy is elusive and often very difficult to find, making it a ‘must see’ for naturalists. It grows on sandy turf and on bare sand. A little further up on Heathy Hill, another rare plant can be found growing on the granite cairns, nestled in the dry soil during summertime – the orange bird’s-foot. Small and golden with bell-shaped petals, is also a species that only grows on Scilly. The exposed summit also supports the small adder’s-tongue fern and the autumn lady’s-tresses orchid.