Appendix 1 - Land management options - Lowland Heathland
- Maintenance of lowland heathland HO1
- Restoration of lowland heathland on neglected sites HO2
- Restoration of forestry areas to lowland heathland HO3
- Creation of lowland heathland from arable or improved grassland HO4
- Creation of lowland heathland on worked mineral sites HO5
For each option, overall aims, management requirements and relationships with ELS and OELS options are explained. The exact management requirements for each option, including optional prescriptions, will be negotiated with you, and then included in your agreement. The prescriptions text between square brackets may be changed by advisers to suit particular situations and management needs.
Where HLS options can be located with ELS or OELS options this is highlighted at the end of the text describing the options, see below.
Formed and maintained by traditional agricultural practices, lowland heathlands are ancient wild landscapes on nutrient-poor acid, sandy and peaty soils below 300 m in altitude. They are often found on common land with a tradition of public access. The vegetation of lowland heathland is a mixture of dwarf shrubs, particularly heathers and gorses, providing a refuge for rare species such as the marsh gentian, dartford warbler and sand lizard. In the past, heathlands were managed by burning, grazing, and/or cutting. Many heathlands have been lost or become fragmented due to ploughing, development or forestry planting. Those that remain are often neglected and dominated by scrub and bracken or have returned to woodland.
Management of lowland heathland under these options will protect and enhance the valuable plant communities and associated wildlife, protect archaeological features and maintain and strengthen the vegetation mosaics characteristic of lowland landscapes.
The management of lowland mires within the heathland should be considered under these options.
Soil type, management history and location in relation to existing heathland sites, will be significant factors in determining the suitability of a site for restoration or heathland creation. Heathlands vary in character and complexity and therefore a management plan may be required. A range of capital works including fencing, bunds, sluices and ditch restoration may be funded by a Capital Works Plan.
Maintenance of lowland heathland HO1
This option maintains the valuable plant communities and associated wildlife of lowland heathland by appropriate active management.
Management will require you to: burn, or cut and remove, small patches of heathland each year to sustain a varied and balanced age range and structure of dwarf shrubs; maintain fire breaks; graze to control scrub and grasses; bracken and tree cover. No supplementary feeding is allowed.
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Restoration of lowland heathland on neglected sites HO2
This option restores lowland heathland on sites that have become degraded by scrub, bracken or woodland encroachment. Fragments of heathland vegetation will still be evident.
Areas under this option will be managed as HO1, but restoring the heathland may require you to: exclude winter grazing; remove areas of scrub, trees and bracken; burn, or cut and remove, small areas of heathland to restore a varied and balanced age range and structure of dwarf shrubs; and restore the original drainage system to areas of wet heathland and mire.
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Restoration of forestry areas to lowland heathland HO3
This option restores lowland heathland by clear-felling and re-introducing traditional grazing on sites that were heathland in the past, but have since been forested. Evidence of heathland vegetation will often still remain.
Areas under this option will be managed as HO1, but restoring the heathland may include: clear-felling trees; removal of accumulated organic litter where it is deeper than 5 cm; restoration of the original drainage system to areas that historically were wet heathland.
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Creation of lowland heathland from arable or improved grassland HO4
This option creates lowland heathland on arable or improved grassland sites that were historically heathland but have been improved for agricultural production. It will usually only be possible to restore heathland on sites that have been in intensive agricultural production for only a few years and on which the soil nutrient status is low.
Areas under this option will be managed as HO1, but creating the heathland habitat may include:
- spreading dwarf shrub cuttings or seed sourced from a local site;
- excluding livestock over the first winter to allow germination; and
- grazing from late spring to control competing weeds and grasses.
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Creation of lowland heathland on worked mineral sites HO5
This option creates lowland heathland on worked mineral-extraction (quarry) sites. These sites are likely to have good potential for heathland creation, as they will be very low in nutrients. However, former chalk or limestone quarries are not suitable for this option.
Areas under this option will be managed as HO1, but creating the heathland habitat may also include: preparing the mineral substrate by light surface cultivation; spreading dwarf shrub cuttings or seed sourced from a local site; excluding livestock in the first winter following seeding; and grazing from late spring following seeding.
View prescriptions and indicators of success
Page last modified:
21 March, 2006
Page published: 3 March, 2005