Nature Peak District State of Nature in the Peak District What we know about the key habitats and species of the Peak District Penny Anderson 2016 On behalf of the Local Nature Partnership Contents 1.1 The background .............................................................................................................................. 4 1.2 The need for a State of Nature Report in the Peak District ............................................................ 6 1.3 Data used ........................................................................................................................................ 6 1.4 The knowledge gaps ....................................................................................................................... 7 1.5 Background to nature in the Peak District....................................................................................... 8 1.6 Habitats in the Peak District .......................................................................................................... 12 1.7 Outline of the report ...................................................................................................................... 12 2 Moorlands .............................................................................................................................................. 14 2.1 Key points ..................................................................................................................................... 14 2.2 Nature and value ........................................................................................................................... 15 2.3 Moorland habitats .......................................................................................................................... 17 2.3.1 Blanket bog ............................................................................................................................... 17 2.3.2 Dwarf shrub heathland .............................................................................................................. 18 2.3.3 Flushes, springs and other wet patches ................................................................................... 18 2.3.4 Purple moor-grass and rush pasture ........................................................................................ 18 2.3.5 Bracken ..................................................................................................................................... 19 2.3.6 Outcrops and screes ................................................................................................................. 19 2.4 Amount .......................................................................................................................................... 20 2.5 Conservation ................................................................................................................................. 20 2.6 The future ...................................................................................................................................... 23 3 Grassland ............................................................................................................................................... 24 3.1 Limestone grassland ..................................................................................................................... 25 3.1.1 Key points.................................................................................................................................. 25 3.1.2 Nature and value ....................................................................................................................... 25 3.1.3 Amount ...................................................................................................................................... 26 3.1.4 Conservation ............................................................................................................................. 26 3.1.5 The future .................................................................................................................................. 26 3.2 Limestone heath ............................................................................................................................ 28 3.2.1 Key points.................................................................................................................................. 28 3.2.2 Nature, value and amount ......................................................................................................... 28 3.2.3 Conservation ............................................................................................................................. 29 3.2.4 The future .................................................................................................................................. 29 3.3 Lowland grassland ........................................................................................................................ 30 3.3.1 Key points.................................................................................................................................. 30 3.3.2 Nature and value ....................................................................................................................... 30 3.3.3 Amount ...................................................................................................................................... 31 3.3.4 Conservation ............................................................................................................................. 33 3.3.5 The future .................................................................................................................................. 33 3.4 Lead rakes (including Calaminarian grasslands) .......................................................................... 34 3.4.1 Key points.................................................................................................................................. 34 3.4.2 Nature and value ....................................................................................................................... 34 3.4.3 Amount ...................................................................................................................................... 35 Nature Peak District 1 3.4.4 The future .................................................................................................................................. 35 3.5 Acid grasslands ............................................................................................................................. 36 3.5.1 Key points.................................................................................................................................. 36 3.5.2 Nature and value ....................................................................................................................... 36 3.5.3 Amount ...................................................................................................................................... 37 3.5.4 The future .................................................................................................................................. 37 3.6 Waxcap grassland ......................................................................................................................... 38 3.6.1 Key points.................................................................................................................................. 38 3.6.2 Nature, value and amount ......................................................................................................... 38 3.6.3 The future .................................................................................................................................. 39 3.7 Improved/ semi-improved grassland ............................................................................................. 40 3.7.1 Key points.................................................................................................................................. 40 3.7.2 Nature and value ....................................................................................................................... 40 3.7.3 Amount ...................................................................................................................................... 41 3.7.4 The future .................................................................................................................................. 41 4 Woodlands ............................................................................................................................................. 42 4.1 Woodland character ...................................................................................................................... 42 4.2 Amount .......................................................................................................................................... 43 4.3 Upland mixed ash woodlands ....................................................................................................... 44 4.3.1 Key points.................................................................................................................................. 44 4.3.2 Nature and value ....................................................................................................................... 44 4.3.3 Amount .....................................................................................................................................