FEN, AND (UK BAP BROAD HABITAT)

This broad habitat includes almost all other than : i.e. wetland which has little or no hare’s-tail cottongrass Eriophorum vaginatum, bog mosses papillosum or S. magellanicum, and which is not wet heath or purple moor-grass Molinia caerulea on wet >50 cm deep. This therefore includes a very wide range of , , , springs and flushes dominated by species such as sedges, rushes, M. caerulea, common reed Phragmites australis,reed canary-grass Phalaris arundinacea, flag Iris pseudacorus, bulrush Typha latifolia and meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria. Soft rush Juncus effusus mires included here differ from rushy acid or neutral in that they include wetland species such as Sphagnum spp., Polytrichum commune, F. ulmaria, wild angelica Angelica sylvestris, marsh thistle Cirsium palustre, marsh marigold , common valerian Valeriana officinalis, cuckoo flower Cardamine pratensis and marsh bedstraw Galium palustre. Species-poor stands of dense J. effusus are best classed in this broad habitat if the associated flora is too limited for clear classification as acid or neutral .

Certain coastal are not in this broad habitat: dune slacks, which are included in the Supralittoral sediment broad habitat; Coastal saltmarsh, which is in the Littoral sediment broad habitat; and Coastal and floodplain grazing marsh which is in the Improved grassland broad habitat. Wet belongs in the Broadleaved, mixed & yew woodland broad habitat.

The , marsh and swamp broad habitat is widespread and common in Scotland, in both areas and on a wide range of soils from acid to basic and from moist to extremely wet. Situations vary from wet hollows and valley floors to flushes and springs on steep slopes.

Ideal management for conservation varies according to the many different types of wetland within this broad habitat, but commonly includes light or moderate grazing by stock such as sheep or cattle, and an avoidance of artificial drainage, peat-cutting, burning and afforestation.

This broad habitat contains the following UK BAP priority habitats: Lowland fens, Upland flushes, fens and swamps, Reedbeds, and Purple moor grass and rush pastures. Differentiation between these priority habitats is based on combinations of NVC community and situation (see accounts for these priority habitats). Some vegetation in this broad habitat does not belong in any priority habitat: this includes the species-poor J. effusus vegetation mentioned above, the very common and extensive Molinia mires on acid upland peaty soils <50 cm deep and various lowland weedy inundation communities with species such as great willowherb Epilobium hirsutum, creeping bent Agrostis stolonifera and creeping buttercup Ranunculus repens.

The priority habitats included within this broad habitat type are:

 Lowland fens  Purple moor grass and rush pastures  Reedbeds  Upland flushes, fens and swamps