Winterton Dunes facts for kids

Winterton Dunes is a special place on the east coast of Norfolk, England. It's a huge area of sand dunes that stretch along the coast. This important natural area is called a National Nature Reserve, covering about 109 hectares (that's like 270 football fields!). It's also part of the Norfolk Coast AONB, which stands for Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Winterton Dunes is quite unique compared to other dunes in Norfolk. The sand here is different. Instead of being full of calcium (which makes it alkaline), the sand at Winterton is more acidic. This makes it similar to dune systems you might find in the Baltic Sea area. This special sand allows different kinds of plants to grow here.

You can find many types of habitats at Winterton Dunes. There are areas of dune heath, which are open spaces with small shrubs. You'll also see wet 'slacks' – these are damp areas between the dunes where water collects. There's also dune grassland that slowly changes into grazing marsh (wet fields) and even some birch woodland.

Amazing Animals of Winterton Dunes

Winterton Dunes is a fantastic home for many different animals. It's a very important place for wildlife, especially insects and birds.

Butterflies and Dragonflies

Many beautiful butterflies live and thrive here. Winterton Dunes, along with the nearby Horsey Dunes, has the biggest groups of dark green fritillary and grayling butterflies in all of Norfolk. You can also spot other colorful butterflies like the small copper and common blue.

The ponds and wet areas among the dunes are perfect for dragonflies. One special dragonfly found here is the common hawker, which is quite rare in Norfolk. Winterton Dunes was also the first place in Britain where the southern emerald damselfly was seen.

Natterjack Toads and Their Reproduction

The shallow pools within the dunes are important for Natterjack toads. These special toads use the pools to breed and lay their eggs. This helps new generations of toads to grow.

Little Terns: A Big Bird Colony

Winterton Dunes is a very important nesting site for a small seabird called the little tern. In 2014, the RSPB counted over 300 pairs of little terns nesting here. This makes it the UK's largest colony for these birds. They come here to lay their eggs and raise their chicks safely.

Images for kids

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  A view of the sandy dunes at Winterton.