As the dunes become stabilized by Marram, they provide a new habitat with more soil nutrients, better moisture retention and especially more shelter from the wind. More kinds of plants and animals survive here than on the open beach.

Beach Pea Lathyrus maritimus

Beach Pea has many of the same adaptations as Marram, and helps stabilize the sand in less windy places. Underground stems connect individual plants. The foliage forms a dense mat that breaks the wind and traps blowing sand.

Like other pea family plants, Beach Pea has nodules on its roots. These nodules contain bacteria which take nitrogen from the air and change it to nitrates. When the leaves and stems die off in winter, the nitrates enrich the soil and benefit other plants.