Lowland heath Lowland heath is mainly found in the south of This habitat type is important for England. The largest many rare UK animal species area in Devon is such as wood tiger beetle Woodbury Common in (Cicindela sylvatica), ladybird the east of the county. spider (Eresus niger), sand lizard, This is a man-made habitat silver-studded blue butterfly created thousands of years (Plebeius argus) and the birds ago when trees were cleared Dartford warbler and nightjar from lowland areas with sandy, acidic / nutrient-poor soils

The management of surviving heathland includes regular cutting, controlled grazing, or burning to mimic historical management. In the past decade significant heathland re-creation projects have been successfully completed in Dorset, Suffolk and Berkshire as well as Greater London Lowland heath is generally dominated by low growing Lowland heath is one of the most ericaceous shrubs including threatened habitats in Europe and heather, bell heather and the UK has a significant proportion - gorse . 20% of the world total. Since 1800, more than 80% of lowland heaths in

The majority of the UK have been lost, largely due lowland heath to the impacts of intensive agriculture, aforestation and in the UK is protected building development. under statutory

site designation

including SSSI, Nightjar

SAC & SPA Moorland

Apart from grazing, moorland is managed by burning. Burning of moorland vegetation needs to be very carefully controlled as the peat itself can catch fire. Uncontrolled burning of heather can increase bracken and rough grass

growth which ultimately Red grouse produces poorer grazing.

Moors are normally Moorland is a man Bracken control is common on dominated by low made habitat created moors. Bracken is usually treated

growing ericaceous from historic forest with a fern-specific herbicide. shrubs e.g heather and Moorlands are of clearance. It is bilberry but can include managed for sheep significant value to birds. areas of grass grazing and for the They are of importance to dominated vegetation 11 bird species listed rearing of red grouse and areas of blanket for shooting. It is under Annex 1 of the bog. similar in appearance European Directive on the Conservation of Wild to lowland heath but is found across Birds including golden extensive upland plover, merlin and short This habitat type is eared owl. associated with areas areas including

of high rainfall and across the Pennines, the highlands of acidic nutrient poor soils (peat in the wetter Scotland and

areas). Dartmoor in Devon. Moorland burning management

Hedges

Most hedges in Britain were originally planted to keep grazing animals

contained. Others were Hedges are dominated by shrub planted as boundaries, and tree species, often planted on a such as parish bank and often with an adjacent boundaries. ditch. Principal woody species within hedges include: hawthorn,

Traditional hedge laying management in Dartmoor National Park blackthorn, hazel, field maple, ash, European protected oak & holly species that use hedges include dormice

and also bats which in Hedges are a useful habitat for many places depend on foraging, nesting animals Pollarding, coppicing and hedge them for navigation. laying are the main traditional including birds and small mammals. They act as valuable methods of management. Hedge Many hedges have deliberately wildlife corridors in farmed laying provides a good barrier that been removed to increase the size landscapes. sheep and cattle cannot pass of arable fields or to make way for through. Although the majority of uk roads and other urban hedges are now cut using development. Between 1946 and mechanical rotary hedge flails 1963, 8000km a year were lost. In In Devon nearly all hedges traditional methods are still used by recent years, legislation has been grow on an earth bank and a proportion of farmers and land introduced to prevent the removal the majority are very old managers. of important hedgerows. There are (several centauries) - many

many new hedge-planting schemes support a rich associated now in operation in both rural and flora. urban areas.

Meadows

The management differs from pasture which is Meadows are of normally grazed throughout specific value to the year. Instead the invertebrates e.g. sward is left to grow and butterflies and beetle set seed until mid to late species and to scarce summer when the hay crop plants e.g. green- is harvested. The cut hay is winged orchid and left to dry for a few days twayblade. before being baled-up and stored for use as animal fodder. After a few weeks

growth the meadows are Traditionally managed meadows Meadows on some slopes of chalk then grazed between late are grasslands that support a high grassland remain unharmed, as do summer and the end of diversity and abundance of some damp and isolated meadows. winter flowering plants. Unlike modern Many of these have been protected agriculturally improved grassland as SSSI’s and nature reserves. they have a low nutrient status and Increasingly in recent years, meadow do not rely on the use of fertilisers. creation is taking place for example through Higher Level Countryside Stewardship. This is achived through soil striping and re-sowing with seeds collected from other unimproved Meadows were formerly widespread in meadows. Britain. Most of Britain's meadows were destroyed by the intensification of farming methods during the 20th centuary. By 1984 the total area of meadowland was estimated

at just 3% of the 1930 level. A meadow in late summer after cutting

Semi-improved pasture

Semi-improved pasture is grazed grassland that has been subject to only a moderate level of agricultural improvement making them more valuable for wildlife than intensively improved grassland. The term agricultural improvement The majority of land generally refers to fertilizer on the Sharpham and manure application, and Estate is semi- From a distance improved pasture typically the use of herbicide. improved pasture. has a very uniform shiny dark emerald

green appearance. Semi improved pasture can usually be identified by its more Semi-improved pasture on the Sharpham Estate irregular appearance and paler colour.

Natural England defines semi-improved grassland as containing less than 30% Management of pasture for wildlife should aim to reduce the input of cover of rye-grass and white fertiliser/manure. This will lower the nutrient status over time reducing the clover and contains between presence of competitive species in the sward and allowing many additional plant 8 and 15 species per square species to colonise. If spreading of artificial fertiliser or manure is stopped this will metre. ultimately allow the development of species-rich unimproved grassland where

conditions allow. Control of stocking levels is also important to prevent overgrazing and poaching.

Saltmarsh

Cross section of a salt marsh. 1. Normal low water 2. Normal high water 3. High water at spring tide

Sharpham Marsh is an area of estuary saltmarsh and reed bed within the Sharpham Estate. This site is designated as a CWS. This habitat is important for coastal Management is likely to take

invertebrates, fish, wading birds and place very soon to allow tidal wildfowl. They provide nursery areas for waters to more easily enter the fish, food and nesting sites for birds. Many Saltmarsh is an inter- marsh to allow it to develop a tidal habitat dominated of the plants growing on saltmarsh are not more natural condition. by plants that can live in found anywhere else.

salt rich conditions and survive being covered by salt water at high tides. It is usually made Farm animals may Saltmarsh is fairly up of blocks of flat low graze on the upper common around the growing vegetation parts of saltmarshes. British coast. Many such as herbs, grasses Many however help with defence or low shrubs with represent some of against the sea as narrow channels Britain’s only true they reduce the between. wilderness areas. force of the waves.

Part of Sharpham Marsh

Key UK habitats: Selected key words

acidic irregular aforestation low nutrient status arable lowland baled manure bank mimic barrier navigation blanket bog nutrient boundaries parish bracken peat cattle poaching chalk rearing channels re-creation colonise reed bed crop rough grass deliberately rural designation sandy ditch scarce dominated schemes ericaceous set seed fertilisers shrubs fodder slopes foraging soil stripping grazing sowing harvested statutory hay stocking levels heather uniform hedge flails unimproved herbicide upland intensification wading birds intertidal wildfowl invertebrates wildlife corridors