It is managed by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust,[1] and is a National Nature Reserve.

[10] The reserve's sand dunes, salt marsh, pasture and pools are important for breeding birds like pied avocet, and wintering ducks, geese and waders.

There are a range of coastal habitats including, freshwater pools, grazing marsh and saltmarsh.

Much of the site consists of natural habitats maintained largely by coastal processes.

[1] In 2024 the rare species of fly Schroederella iners was identified at Holme Dunes, having last been recorded in the UK in 1910.