 Due to the strong prevailing wind from the English channel to the west, no large trees are able to grow on the down, allowing shrubs and grasses to thrive.The Isle of Wight's county flower, the pyramidal orchid, also grows here, along with "Plantago lanceolata", the main food plant for the rare Glanville fritillary.A car park is situated near the highest point of the Military Road's route over the down, and allows for walkers to travel along a footpath downhill towards Freshwater Bay.