The site is unusual in that it shows greater ecological similarities to the dune systems of the Baltic - which support acidic plant communities - rather than the dunes on the North Norfolk Coast - where the sand is calcareous.
The ponds among the dunes are home to many dragonflies including the common hawker - which is rare in Norfolk.
Winterton Dunes is also known as the first site in Britain where the southern emerald damselfly occurred (Nobes 2003).
After a count in 2014 by the RSPB they found that the dunes are the home to more than 300 pairs of the little tern making it the UK's largest colony.[1]