Lowland Heath

Lowland Heath is a Biodiversity Action Plan Habitat as it is an ancient wild landscape type. Natural England's Environmental Stewardship scheme describes it as containing dry heath, wet heath and valley mire communities, usually below 250 metres, on acidic soils and shallow peat, typically comprising heathers, gorses, fine grasses, wild flowers and lichens in a complex mosaic. There are usually at least 25% cover of heathers and other dwarf shrubs.

They have acidic, sandy, free draining, shallow soils with a ph of 4-5. There are no worms in the soil, even fungi find it hard to survive. They often have a thick litter layer on top which is difficult to decompose. They are dry in summer and subseptable to drought due to their free- draining nature. In July it is so dry that plants have either shut down or are drought specialists. As many of the plants are waxy, fire is a hazard. A plant animal association has adapted to these harsh conditions.

Lowland Heath can be found in Devon, Hampshire, Dorset (mainly found here), Sussex (some), Kent (some), Surrey (some), Cornwall, Norfolk and Suffolk.

80% of Lowland Heath has been lost since 1800, but the UK still holds a fifth of the worlds stock. Pollen grain carbon dating has indicated that it has existed in the UK for 14000 years. It started to form after this date as the ice-caps retreated. As the weather warmed trees became established and replaced the heathland. But 5000 years ago man began to clear forests and thus the heathland re-established up until the 17th century. From then onwards agricultural and transport technology improved allowing nutrients etc. to be put back into the soil,non heathland type crops grown, or it was simply not managed as it had been done in the past.

There are 3 types of heathland according to their location and climate conditions: wet heaths (impervious rocks/clay preventing water drainage), dry heath (well drained), humid heath (between the two types). Wet heaths contain more different species than dry, spagnum moss being an example.

Heathland was originally wooded with richer soil. The woods were removed and the soils eroded and leached, especially nitrogen which leaches away more easily. Therefore heaths are man-made.

Upland Heath which is more than 300 metres in altitude, is called Moorland, Dartmoor being an example.

There is a UK Biodiversity Action Plan has set a target of restoring 58000 hectares of lowland heathland, and recreating a further 6000 hectares.