In the heart of this ‘links’ course are scattered strands of yellow flowering prickly GORSE on the carry and along the fairway edges. These bushes provide song posts for LINNETS, CHAFFINCHES and WHITETHROATS.

From the 10th tee, a low woody glaucous shrub called CREEPING WILLOW carpets the dune ridges. This typical dune plant is found across the course in a variety of wet and dry habitats, and in differing growth forms according to the grazing or mowing pressure.

A characteristic plant of the Fixed Dunes in this area is SCREW MOSS. Although small, and sometimes inconspicuous, it comes into its best after rain when it appears in bright green patches. Many of the mosses and liver-worts of the Birkdale Dunes are rare and have a high conservation value.

Butterflies such as the SMALL HEATH, MEADOW BROWN, WALL BROWN and GRAYLING are all found around the open fixed grasslands.