Lowland Heathland
Lowland heathland is a broad term that refers to a range of wet,
humid and dry habitats, characterised by dwarf shrubs such as
heathers and gorses. They are generally found on poor soils below
about 300 m altitude. Lowland heathlands support many Red Data Book
species of plants and birds, as well as all 12 species of native
amphibians and reptiles in the UK.
Only about 70,000 ha of lowland heathland remains in the UK,
about 16% of its extent in the 19th century. Many heaths have been
lost due to afforestation, development and agricultural practices.
However, the main threat today is the lack of appropriate
management to maintain the remaining fragments in a good
condition.
- Maintain the extent of all existing lowland heathland.
- Improve management of all existing lowland heathland currently
in unfavourable condition.
- Encourage the re-establishment by 2005 of a further 6,000 ha of
heathland.
The
Lowland Heathland Lead Co-ordination
Network was established by the JNCC and the UK's statutory
nature conservation agencies to assist the JNCC carry out its
special functions with respect to heathlands. Current and recent
work includes:
- Contributing to the implementation of the Lowland Heathland
Biodiversity Action Plan;
- Contributing to the work of the Inter-Agency Monitoring Group;
- Further development of the habitat databases and inventories,
e.g. update of the English inventories through the National Biodiversity Network;
- Co-ordinating and formulating advice on lowland heathland
conservation issues;
- Providing advice to a range of bodies on lowland heathland in
the UK.
The Lowland Heathland Lead Co-ordination Network provided
specialist advice to support implementation of the EC Habitats
Directive in the UK, and on assessing the implications for nature
conservation policy and practice of recent changes in the British
countryside, as reported by CS2000. It has also produced the Common
Standards Guidance for monitoring the condition of lowland
heathlands.
Resources
Lowland Heathland Newsletter
9th National Heathland Conference -
Kings College, University of Aberdeen 8-10 August 2006
Lowland heathland SSSIs:
Guidance on conservation objectives setting and condition
monitoring.
PDF - 516KB
Alonso, I, Sherry, J, Turner, A, Farrell, L, Corbett, P, Strachan,
I (2003)
English Nature Research Reports, No. 511