The marine environment

Troon beach is across the water from the South of Arran Marine Protected Area, where a number of important marine plants and animals live, including possibly Scotland’s largest Seagrass bed.

Seragrasses form beautiful meadows on the bottom of the sea, that provide a home for all sorts of marine animals big and small. They also play an important role in combating climate change, capturing carbon up to 35 times faster than tropical rainforests. Dredging and other disruptions, including pollution from the mainland threaten these crucial ecosystems.

Stonechats

These beautiful small birds can be seen flitting about the sand dunes of Troon beach.Here there are plenty of insects for them to feed on and plenty of scraggy bushes to perch in between meals.

Stonechats get their name from their their sharp, clicking call, that sounds like two stones being knocked together.

Harbour seals

The aptly named Seal Rock off Lady Isle is a clue that seals have long frequented the waters near Troon Beach.

Seals are common throughout Scottish waters, which are home to over a quarter of the world’s common harbour seal population. They can be spotted basking on the shore alone or in groups. If you're lucky, you may also see an inquisitive head popping out of the water for a look.

Marram Grass

It is hard to picture coastal sand dunes without spikes of marram grass poking out of them.

Unlike the grass on your lawn, these grasses are adapted for a hardy life on the coast. If you look closely, the ‘spikes’ are actually rolled up leaves, which protects them from drying out.

Their matted roots hold them fast against the coastal winds and, at the same time, help to keep the very sand dunes that they live on from washing or blowing away.