Page 8 - Conservation Impact Report 2016

Lowland Heaths
Conservation Status
Lowland heathland covers 58,000ha18 in England.
Like many other semi-natural habitats heathland has
experienced a significant contraction in its range,
decreasing by 60% since the 19th century19. 13% of
grassland and heathland species are threatened with
extinction in Great Britain20.
The UK has a special responsibility to conserve and
protect this habitat as it supports about 20% of the
lowland heathland found across Europe. Heathland is
also important in an historical context as much of this
habitat developed during Neolithic and Bronze Age
forestry clearances.
Heathland supports a range of specialist species
including birds such as nightjar (Caprimulgus
europaeus) and Dartford warbler (Sylvia undata), all of
which are currently under threat. Other species include
invertebrates such as silver-studded blue (Plebejus
argus), keeled skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens) and
small red damselfly (Ceriagrion tenellum) as well as a
range of herpetofauna including the increasingly rare
adder (Vipera berus).
BBOWT manages 445 hectares of lowland heath.
91% of BBOWT lowland heathland is classified as favourable or recovering
Heathland nature reserve
7
Conservation Strategy
Conservation grazing and rotational cutting of heather
help to ensure heather is present in a range of different
growth stages from very young and short to more
mature and bush forming. This provides the right
conditions for a range of different species that are
adapted to thrive in all stages of heather. Additionally
scrub and gorse are controlled and managed to ensure
that they do not start to dominate, shading out the
heather, but that some is present in dense blocks or as
single trees, providing perches and safe nesting sites
for a range of bird species and refuges for reptiles.
Many of the species associated with heathland are
susceptible to disturbance caused by visitors and dogs.
The wardening of sites and the focusing public access
away from key areas plays an increasingly important
role in helping the survival and breeding success of
these species.