A variety of species have made Jersey their home and some have been adopted to the extent that they have been named after the Island.

Marsh harrier
The marsh harrier bred for the first time in Jersey for many years in 2002. It has returned to breed this year, suggesting that current management techniques are working well. Although they mainly stay around St Ouen’s Pond, they also hunt on the heathland at Les Landes and on the north coast.

Skylark
St Ouen’s Bay is the best place in Jersey to see skylarks, which are declining around Europe. There are around 25 pairs at Les Mielles, nesting in long grass.

Sand martins
Les Mielles is the perfect breeding and feeding ground for the migratory sand martins, and Simon Sand is the only place in Jersey where they nest every summer.

Lapwings
Lapwings are ground-nesting birds that are found throughout Europe, although
Jersey is just about the southernmost tip of their distribution. Lately there have been 11 pairs nesting at Les Mielles.

Green Lizard
The lizards can grow up to ten inches, making them the largest in the Channel Islands. They like patches of marram grass, as they enjoy spending time basking every day, and are most often seen when the weather is hot.

Grass snake
Also found in Europe, the grass snake is fairly widespread across the dunes. It reaches a maximum length of about three feet and is a very good swimmer.

Pyramidal orchids
These plants are very easy to spot, and flower later than most orchids. Their name gives away a lot about their appearance and they are found on grassland and dunes.

Lizard orchid
This orchid is very rare in Jersey, with only 30 or 40 plants at Les Mielles. It is a couple of feet tall with a grey and purple flower, and a long tassle hanging from the bottom petal.

Jersey Orchid
This flower is quite rare in the Island and is also found elsewhere, where it is commonly known as the loose flowered orchid. In Jersey it is restricted to the Orchid Field, which is a protected National Trust site.

Marram grass
Marram grass is fairly typical of coastal dunes and plays a big role in holding some banks and dunes together with its strong root structure. It is a popular habitat for many species which live on the dunes.

Thrift
There are two kinds of thrift found in the Island, common thift and Jersey thrift. The Jersey variety is not unique to the Island, and is called sea pink in the UK. The pictured variety is the common thrift which blooms in coastal areas.

Hare’s tail
This plant, which gets its name from its distinctive head, was fairly endangered until recently because it was used extensively on Battle of Flowers floats. When that practice was stopped, the plant started flourishing.