Editing Holkham National Nature Reserve (section)

=== Other animals and plants ===

[[European hare|Brown hares]] and [[European otter]]s are found all along the north Norfolk coast, but [[red squirrel]]s disappeared from the Holkham pines by 1981.<ref name =encitation/> The rare [[natterjack toad]] breeds at Holkham,<ref name= holkham>Natural England (2009) pp. 7–15.</ref> one of only two sites along this coast,<ref name =encitation/> although the [[common frog]], [[common toad]] and [[viviparous lizard|common lizard]] are widespread in appropriate habitats.<ref name= dear>Norfolk Wildlife Trust (2005) pp. 12–15.</ref>
[[File:Saltmarsh at Holkham Bay - geograph.org.uk - 793497.jpg|thumb|alt= marsh with pine trees in the background|The pines and salt marsh protect and stabilise the dunes.|left]]
The [[green hairstreak]], [[purple hairstreak]], [[Polygonia c-album|comma]], [[hummingbird hawk-moth]], [[Hemaris fuciformis|broad-bordered bee hawk-moth]] and [[ghost moth]] are sometimes seen in the woods with the common butterfly and moth species, and a [[Colias croceus|clouded yellow]] or [[Nymphalis antiopa|Camberwell beauty]] may also occur in some years.<ref name = holkpines/> [[Grayling (butterfly)|Grayling]], [[small heath (butterfly)|small heath]] and [[common blue]] butterflies can be found in the dunes,<ref name = holhdunes/> where there is also a large [[Euroleon nostras|antlion]] colony, making Holkham one of only two locations for this predatory insect in the UK.<ref name=antlion>{{cite web| title= Thriving colonies of antlions discovered in Norfolk nature reserve| work= News| date= 17 October 2011| url= http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/about_us/news/2011/171011.aspx| publisher= Natural England| url-status=dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120108095802/http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/about_us/news/2011/171011.aspx| archive-date= 8 January 2012}} Retrieved 7 September 2012.</ref> [[Dragonfly|Dragonflies]] include the [[migrant hawker]], [[southern hawker]] and [[ruddy darter]].<ref name=holkpines>{{cite web | title= Pinewoods and scrub | work= Holkham National Nature Reserve | url= http://www.holkham.co.uk/naturereserve/pinewoodsandscrub.html | publisher= Holkham Estate | url-status=dead | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121215100304/http://www.holkham.co.uk/naturereserve/pinewoodsandscrub.html | archive-date= 2012-12-15 }} Retrieved 21 August 2012.</ref>

On exposed parts of the coast, the mud and sands are scoured by the tides, and have no vegetation except possibly [[algae]] or [[Zostera marina|eelgrass]], but where the shoreline is more protected, internationally important salt marshes can form, with several uncommon species. The salt marsh contains [[Salicornia|glassworts]] and [[Suaeda maritima|annual seablite]] in the most exposed regions,<ref name= holkham/> with a [[ecological succession|succession]] of plants following on as the marsh becomes more established: first [[Aster tripolium|sea aster]], then mainly [[Limonium binervosum|sea lavender]], with [[Halimione portulacoides|sea purslane]] in the creeks and smaller areas of [[Plantago maritima|sea plantain]] and other common marsh plants.<ref name = encitation/> [[Suaeda vera|Scrubby sea-blite]] and [[Limonium bellidifolium|matted sea lavender]] are characteristic plants of the drier upper salt marsh here, although they are uncommon in the UK away from the Norfolk coast.<ref name= holkham/>

Grasses such as [[Agropyron pungens|sea couch grass]] and [[Puccinellia maritima|sea poa grass]] are important in the driest areas of the marshes, and on the coastal dunes, where [[Ammophila arenaria|marram grass]], [[Elymus farctus|sand couch-grass]], [[Leymus arenarius|lyme-grass]] and [[Festuca rubra|red fescue]] help to bind the sand. [[Eryngium maritimum|Sea holly]] and [[Carex arenaria|sand sedge]] are other specialists of this arid habitat, and [[Petalophyllum ralfsii|petalwort]] is a nationally rare [[bryophyte]] found on damper dunes.<ref name=nbp>{{cite web |title=Coastal Sand Dunes – Habitat Action Plan |url=http://www.norfolkbiodiversity.org/actionplans/habitatactionplans/coastalsanddunes.aspx |publisher=Norfolk Biodiversity Partnership |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017153216/http://www.norfolkbiodiversity.org/actionplans/habitatactionplans/coastalsanddunes.aspx |archive-date=2012-10-17 |url-status=dead |access-date=2012-09-05 }} Retrieved 22 August 2012.</ref> [[Lotus corniculatus|Bird's-foot trefoil]], [[pyramidal orchid]],<ref name = encitation/> [[Ophrys apifera|bee orchid]], [[Centaurium pulchellum|lesser centaury]] and [[Carlina|carline thistle]] flower on the more stable dunes,<ref name=holhdunes>{{cite web | title= Dunes | work= Holkham National Nature Reserve | url= http://www.holkham.co.uk/naturereserve/dunes.html | publisher= Holkham Estate | url-status=dead | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121215095447/http://www.holkham.co.uk/naturereserve/dunes.html | archive-date= 2012-12-15 }} Retrieved 18 August 2012.</ref> where the rare [[Helichrysum luteoalbum|Jersey cudweed]] and [[Corynephorus canescens|grey hair-grass]] are also found.<ref name = encitation/> The narrow {{convert|5|km|mi|abbr=on|adj=on}} belt of pines shelters [[Goodyera repens|creeping lady's tresses]] and [[Monotropa hypopitys|yellow bird's nest]].<ref name= holkham/><ref name = harrup>Harrup & Redman (2010) pp. 242–245</ref>