Lowland heath
Encyclopedia
Lowland Heath is a Biodiversity Action Plan
Habitat as it is an ancient wild landscape type. Natural England
's Environmental Stewardship
scheme describes it as containing dry heath, wet heath and valley mire communities, usually below 250 metres, on acidic soils and shallow peat, typically comprising heathers, gorses, fine grasses, wild flowers and lichens in a complex mosaic. There are usually at least 25% cover of heathers and other dwarf shrubs.
They have acidic, sandy, free draining, shallow soils with a ph of 4-5. There are no worms in the soil, even fungi find it hard to survive. They often have a thick litter layer on top which is difficult to decompose. They are dry in summer and subseptable to drought due to their free- draining nature. In July it is so dry that plants have either shut down or are drought specialists. As many of the plants are waxy, fire is a hazard. A plant animal association has adapted to these harsh conditions.
Lowland Heath can be found in Devon
, Hampshire
, Dorset
(mainly found here), Sussex
(some), Kent
(some), Surrey
(some), Cornwall
, Norfolk
and Suffolk
.
80% of Lowland Heath has been lost since 1800, but the UK still holds a fifth of the worlds stock. Pollen grain carbon dating has indicated that it has existed in the UK for 14000 years. It started to form after this date as the ice-caps retreated. As the weather warmed trees became established and replaced the heathland. But 5000 years ago man began to clear forests and thus the heathland re-established up until the 17th century. From then onwards agricultural and transport technology improved allowing nutrients etc. to be put back into the soil,non heathland type crops grown, or it was simply not managed as it had been done in the past.
There are 3 types of heathland according to their location and climate conditions: wet heaths (impervious rocks/clay preventing water drainage), dry heath (well drained), humid heath (between the two types). Wet heaths contain more different species than dry, spagnum moss being an example.
Heathland was originally wooded with richer soil. The woods were removed and the soils eroded and leached, especially nitrogen which leaches away more easily. Therefore heaths are man-made.
Upland Heath which is more than 300 metres in altitude, is called Moorland
, Dartmoor
being an example.
There is a UK Biodiversity Action Plan
has set a target of restoring 58000 hectares of lowland heathland, and recreating a further 6000 hectares.
Heathland Succession moves from grasses and bracken, to gorses and heather, and finally to woodland (birch
, pine
and oak
s)
Typical animal species found are:
cover of dwarf shrubs should be between 25% and 95% with at least 2 species frequent. There must be a range of age classes of heather present, with cover of young heather between 10 to 15%, and cover of old between 10 and 30%. cover of undesirable species (bracken, injurious weeds, invasive non native plants) must be less than 10%. cover of trees/scrub must be less than 15%
Grant is available in England
under Natural England
's Environmental Stewardship
Scheme.
, Hartridge Common, Offwell Heath, Hense Moor
Biodiversity Action Plan
A Biodiversity Action Plan is an internationally recognized program addressing threatened species and habitats and is designed to protect and restore biological systems. The original impetus for these plans derives from the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity...
Habitat as it is an ancient wild landscape type. Natural England
Natural England
Natural England is the non-departmental public body of the UK government responsible for ensuring that England's natural environment, including its land, flora and fauna, freshwater and marine environments, geology and soils, are protected and improved...
's Environmental Stewardship
Environmental Stewardship
Environmental Stewardship is an agri-environment scheme run by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in England. It was formally launched on 18 March 2005, although the first agreements did not start until 1 August 2005....
scheme describes it as containing dry heath, wet heath and valley mire communities, usually below 250 metres, on acidic soils and shallow peat, typically comprising heathers, gorses, fine grasses, wild flowers and lichens in a complex mosaic. There are usually at least 25% cover of heathers and other dwarf shrubs.
They have acidic, sandy, free draining, shallow soils with a ph of 4-5. There are no worms in the soil, even fungi find it hard to survive. They often have a thick litter layer on top which is difficult to decompose. They are dry in summer and subseptable to drought due to their free- draining nature. In July it is so dry that plants have either shut down or are drought specialists. As many of the plants are waxy, fire is a hazard. A plant animal association has adapted to these harsh conditions.
Lowland Heath can be found in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
(mainly found here), Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
(some), Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
(some), Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
(some), Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
and Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
.
80% of Lowland Heath has been lost since 1800, but the UK still holds a fifth of the worlds stock. Pollen grain carbon dating has indicated that it has existed in the UK for 14000 years. It started to form after this date as the ice-caps retreated. As the weather warmed trees became established and replaced the heathland. But 5000 years ago man began to clear forests and thus the heathland re-established up until the 17th century. From then onwards agricultural and transport technology improved allowing nutrients etc. to be put back into the soil,non heathland type crops grown, or it was simply not managed as it had been done in the past.
There are 3 types of heathland according to their location and climate conditions: wet heaths (impervious rocks/clay preventing water drainage), dry heath (well drained), humid heath (between the two types). Wet heaths contain more different species than dry, spagnum moss being an example.
Heathland was originally wooded with richer soil. The woods were removed and the soils eroded and leached, especially nitrogen which leaches away more easily. Therefore heaths are man-made.
Upland Heath which is more than 300 metres in altitude, is called Moorland
Moorland
Moorland or moor is a type of habitat, in the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome, found in upland areas, characterised by low-growing vegetation on acidic soils and heavy fog...
, Dartmoor
Dartmoor
Dartmoor is an area of moorland in south Devon, England. Protected by National Park status, it covers .The granite upland dates from the Carboniferous period of geological history. The moorland is capped with many exposed granite hilltops known as tors, providing habitats for Dartmoor wildlife. The...
being an example.
There is a UK Biodiversity Action Plan
Biodiversity Action Plan
A Biodiversity Action Plan is an internationally recognized program addressing threatened species and habitats and is designed to protect and restore biological systems. The original impetus for these plans derives from the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity...
has set a target of restoring 58000 hectares of lowland heathland, and recreating a further 6000 hectares.
Indicator species
- HeathersCallunaCalluna vulgaris is the sole species in the genus Calluna in the family Ericaceae. It is a low-growing perennial shrub growing to tall, or rarely to and taller, and is found widely in Europe and Asia Minor on acidic soils in open sunny situations and in moderate shade...
– (Ling) (callum) is dominant on moorland; the flowers are pale purple, the plant branches a lot more, the leaves are in opposite pairs (not whorls); and are oily in order to prevent water loss, they have a symbiotic relationship with fungi. Bell Heather flowers in mid July and is crimson purple and is found on a long spike, its leaves are dark green and less hairy, and they are more turned in so that they can survive on exposed dry sites; they exist as a whorl of 3 leaves. Cross-leaved heather can be found in wetter patches, it has rose pink flowers with a nodding drooping head at the end of the shoot, not as dense a head as bell heather, the leaves are arranged as a cross of 4 are greyish with hairs, and are curled downward – the hairs trap moisture – this plants shut down in summer but grow more in winter. Heathers have a 6 year pioneer phase which is the time they take to form a bush, then it grows until it is 25, when the centre gets more gappy due to the growth becoming less vigorous, mosses/bryophytes start to colonise this area due to the humid conditions. the plant begins to degenerate after 30 years. - GorseGorseGorse, furze, furse or whin is a genus of about 20 plant species of thorny evergreen shrubs in the subfamily Faboideae of the pea family Fabaceae, native to western Europe and northwest Africa, with the majority of species in Iberia.Gorse is closely related to the brooms, and like them, has green...
– European (common) flowers in the spring and is found in sheltered locations, Western Gorse is smaller and flowers mid July to mid August on the more exposed areas. Dwarf gorse is found on the Dorset heaths. Gorses are part of the pea family and have nitrogen fixing ability due to their symbiotic association with bacteria. - BrackenBrackenBracken are several species of large, coarse ferns of the genus Pteridium. Ferns are vascular plants that have alternating generations, large plants that produce spores and small plants that produce sex cells . Brackens are in the family Dennstaedtiaceae, which are noted for their large, highly...
– is a fern. Ferns are usually found in wet locations, but this species can survive in dry locations. Formerly it was cut and used as bedding. Sometimes it was burnt for ash lime, Woodbury common having a fascination history about this. - Grasses – Purple Moor GrassPurple Moor GrassMolinia caerulea is a perennial grass native to Europe, west Asia, and north Africa. It grows in locations from the lowlands up to 2,300 m in the Alps. Like most grasses, it grows best in acid soils, ideally pH values of between 3.5 and 5, however, it can continue to live under more extreme...
found in wet locations and when young is edible, fescue and bristle bent are found in dry locations - No mammals
- Rich in insects
Heathland Succession moves from grasses and bracken, to gorses and heather, and finally to woodland (birch
Birch
Birch is a tree or shrub of the genus Betula , in the family Betulaceae, closely related to the beech/oak family, Fagaceae. The Betula genus contains 30–60 known taxa...
, pine
Pine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
and oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
s)
Typical animal species found are:
- Snakes and reptiles. The Smooth snake and Sand LizardSand LizardThe sand lizard is a lacertid lizard distributed across most of Europe and eastwards to Mongolia. It does not occur in the Iberian peninsula or European Turkey. Its distribution is often patchy....
are only found in DorsetDorsetDorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
. - Birds – Dartford warblerDartford WarblerThe Dartford Warbler, Sylvia undata, is a typical warbler from the warmer parts of western Europe, and northwestern Africa. Its breeding range lies west of a line from southern England to the heel of Italy...
, skylarkSkylarkThe Skylark is a small passerine bird species. This lark breeds across most of Europe and Asia and in the mountains of north Africa. It is mainly resident in the west of its range, but eastern populations are more migratory, moving further south in winter. Even in the milder west of its range,...
, stonechat, nightjarNightjarNightjars are medium-sized nocturnal or crepuscular birds with long wings, short legs and very short bills. They are sometimes referred to as goatsuckers from the mistaken belief that they suck milk from goats . Some New World species are named as nighthawks...
, hobbyHobbyA hobby is a regular activity or interest that is undertaken for pleasure, typically done during one's leisure time.- Etymology :A hobby horse is a wooden or wickerwork toy made to be ridden just like a real horse...
(feeds on insects and birds), Tree pipitTree PipitTree Pipit, Anthus trivialis, is a small passerine bird which breeds across most of Europe and temperate western and central Asia. It is a long-distance migrant moving in winter to Africa and southern Asia....
, wrenWrenThe wrens are passerine birds in the mainly New World family Troglodytidae. There are approximately 80 species of true wrens in approximately 20 genera....
(feeds on spiders deep in the ground)
Ideal heathland structure
- vegetation various heights and structures
- scattered trees
- scattered scrub
- some bare ground
- wet heaths
- ponds, water
- bogs
cover of dwarf shrubs should be between 25% and 95% with at least 2 species frequent. There must be a range of age classes of heather present, with cover of young heather between 10 to 15%, and cover of old between 10 and 30%. cover of undesirable species (bracken, injurious weeds, invasive non native plants) must be less than 10%. cover of trees/scrub must be less than 15%
Threats to heathland
- Change in farmland in particular afforestation
- Fire
- Lack of management (overgrown), for example scrub and bracken encroachment
- Housing development
- Quarrying
- Nutrient enrichment
- Pine and Silver birch readily establishing and shading the surrounding vegetation
- Ploughing
Management options
Cut trees (e.g. for firewood); using grazing animals to control vegetation and regrowth, control scrub, make sure there is an age range and try to incorporate the requirement of individual species.Grant is available in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
under Natural England
Natural England
Natural England is the non-departmental public body of the UK government responsible for ensuring that England's natural environment, including its land, flora and fauna, freshwater and marine environments, geology and soils, are protected and improved...
's Environmental Stewardship
Environmental Stewardship
Environmental Stewardship is an agri-environment scheme run by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in England. It was formally launched on 18 March 2005, although the first agreements did not start until 1 August 2005....
Scheme.
UK Lowland Heath
East Devon: Gittisham Common, Woodbury Common, Mutter's Moor, Aylesbeare Common, Pebblebed Heaths, Trinity Hill, Venn Ottery Common, Bystock Pools, Fire Beacon HillFire Beacon Hill
Fire Beacon Hill is a Local Nature Reserve in East Devon, England, registered as Common land and known as Harpford Common. Sidmouth Town Council are the current owners, and are responsible for the management of the site.- Geology :...
, Hartridge Common, Offwell Heath, Hense Moor