Section 4 - Technical guidance - Scrub, bracken and other tall vegetation
| Feature | Feature detail | Unit of measurement |
|---|---|---|
| V01 - Bank side vegetation | - | hectares |
| V02 - Bracken | - | hectares |
| V03 - Rank vegetation | - | hectares |
| V04 - Scrub | - | hectares |
| V05 - Scrub of high environmental value | - | hectares |
| V06 - Invasive plant species | - | hectares |
V01 - Bank side vegetation
- Vegetation beside rivers, streams including trees, shrubs and grassland.
Condition assessment
- Cover by undesirable species (creeping thistle, spear thistle, curled dock, broad-leaved dock, common ragwort, common nettle, rosebay willowherb) is less than 5%.
- Absence of alien species, e.g. giant hogweed, Japanese knotweed, Indian (Himalayan) balsam.
- Absence of poaching or excessive grazing of vegetation.
V02 - Bracken
- Areas of over 0.5 hectare that are dominated by bracken with a deep litter layer that excludes most other plant species.
- Do not record this feature for woodland with bracken in the field layer - use the relevant woodland feature instead.
- Condition assessment not required.
You will need to annotate your map with the above code wherever this feature occurs but you do not need to record the feature in part 2 of the FEP.
V03 - Rank vegetation
- Areas of over 0.5 hectare of tall vegetation (grasses and/or wildflowers) that do not fit in to any other category e.g. record areas dominated by thistles, docks, common nettle, rosebay willowherb, etc. as this feature.
- Condition assessment not required.
You will need to annotate your map with the above code wherever this feature occurs but you do not need to record the feature in part 2 of the FEP.
V04 - Scrub
- Scrub includes all stages in the development of woody vegetation, from scattered bushes to closed canopy vegetation.
- It is dominated by native or non-native shrubs and tree saplings, usually less than five metres tall, occasionally with a few scattered trees.
- Condition assessment not required.
You will need to annotate your map with the above code wherever this feature occurs but you do not need to record the feature in part 2 of the FEP.
V05 - Scrub of high environmental value
Record the scrub as of high environmental value only if at least one of the following applies:
- Montane scrub (above 600 metres altitude)
- Common juniper or box scrub
- Scrub on calcareous soils with three or more of the following: wayfaring-tree, wild privet, dogwood, buckthorn, hawthorn or spindle
- Scrub on peat soils with two or more of the following: alder buckthorn, eared willow, goat willow, grey willow, bay willow, purple willow, osier.
- Scrub which is recorded as one of the interest features in a SSSI designation.
- Scrub where any of the following rare species have been recorded: any UK BAP Priority Species (e.g. dormouse); any animal species protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act; or any Red Data Book species.
Condition assessment
- At least three woody species present, with no one species comprising more than 75% of the cover (except common juniper or box, which can be 100% cover).
- A good age range - a mixture of seedlings, saplings, young shrubs and mature shrubs.
- Pernicious weeds and invasive species make up less than 5% of the ground cover.
- Has a well developed edge with ungrazed tall herbs.
- Has many clearings and glades within the scrub.
V06 - Invasive plant species
- Areas that are dominated by invasive alien plant species including rhododendron, Indian (Himalayan) balsam and Japanese knotweed.
- Condition assessment not required.
You will need to annotate your map with the above code wherever this feature occurs but you do not need to record the feature in part 2 of the FEP.
Page last modified:
19 May, 2005
Page published: 3 March, 2005