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Shallow kelp community found on sand and slightly gravelly sand, in moderately exposed and sheltered conditions, with weak tidal currents. The community is characterised by occasional Saccharina latissima with an undergrowth of red algae. Characteristic red seaweeds, as with SS.SMp.KSwSS.SlatR.Gv, include Plocamium cartilagineum, Polyides rotunda, Polysiphonia elongate and Lomentaria clavellosa. Coralline encrusting algae are much less important in this biotope as a result of a lack of suitable substrate. Brown algal species present, as with other SS.SMp.KSwSS.SlatR biotopes, include Desmarestia spp., Dictyota dichotoma and Chorda filum, all at low abundance. The ubiquitous green seaweed Ulva sp. may also be present. The sandy substrate is home to a variety of typical sand dwelling infauna including polychaetes (Scoloplos armiger, Parexogone hebes, and Aricidea (Aricidea) minuta), amphipods (Ampelisca brevicornis), and bivalves (Lucinoma borealis and Abra alba). Arenicola worm casts and Lanice worm tubes may be visible at the sediment surface.

On infralittoral mixed muddy substrata communities characterised by the kelp Saccharina latissima and mixed filamentous and foliose red algae can be found. This biotope contains a number of sub-biotopes distinguished by the degree of either wave or tidal exposure. In moderately strong tidal streams in exposed areas Laminaria is sparse and dense stands of red seaweeds are found attached to the boulders and cobbles that make up a large proportion of the sediment (SS.SMp.KSwSS.SlatR.CbPb). As the degree of wave and/or tidal exposure decreases there is a change in community structure, with the density of Laminaria and the diversity of red algal species increasing (SS.SMp.KSwSS.SlatR.Gv). As the environment becomes more stable a few brown algal species are able to inhabit this environment and a rich infauna develops (SS.SMp.KSwSS.SlatR.Sa). In the most sheltered examples of this biotope a diverse muddy sediment infauna can be found and the 'Trailliella' phase of Bonnemaisonia hamifera may develop (SS.SMp.KSwSS.SlatR.Mu).