In the aftermath of mowing, the seral stage of the vegetation becomes more difficult to define, as the patches of open ground and the more open structure of the vegetation allows several species associated more with successionally-young dune slack vegetation to persist alongside species typically found in more closed swards. The internationally rare and declining fen orchid (Liparis loeselii) is one of those species able to persist in the mown vegetation. However, mowing should not be seen as a long term management solution to dune stabilisation, rather a holding phase that allows declining species to persist and continue to set/disperse seed until either new habitats are being created through natural processes again or until a programme of habitat rejuvenation can be implemented.
