The Ayreland occupies a former shore, composed mainly of large pebbles, but also bearing a certain amount of blown sand locally distributed. The vegetation of the main part of this raised beach consists of heathland, dominated by Erica cinerea and Calluna vulgaris, which has developed as organic matter accumulated and the soil became acid. Rabbit activities have served to produce a "hummock" heath at certain places, which passes back to normal heath as the clearings are re-colonised. Certain sand hills on the Ayre are dominated by Ammophila arenaria, which also occurs in the modified dune formation of the seaward fringe of the raised beach. The inland Ammophila hummocks may represent the relics of a former dune system which has become eroded, so making the soil conditions suitable for the development of heath. Communities of Pteridium aquilinum and Ulex europaeus invade the heath from the bounding arable land, and may owe their presence to human activities. The inland margin of the raised beach has been cultivated in the last 100 yrs., having been reclaimed from the heath which formerly occupied it.