UPLAND AND LOWLAND HEATH ACTION PLAN
Description
Upland heath
Upland heath lies below the montane zone (which begins above the ‘potential
woodland limit’ at c. 600 - 750m) and above the upper limit of agricultural enclosure
(250 - 300m). Dwarf shrub heaths have international conservation significance and
are largely confined to the British Isles and the western seaboard of Europe.
Upland heath is typically dominated by dwarf shrubs, with cover greater than 25%. At
least two distinct types of upland heath exist. Dry heath is dominated by dwarf shrubs
such as heather (Calluna vulgaris), bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), bell heather (Erica
cinerea), and western gorse (Ulex gallii), which thrive on the drier mineral soils and
thinner peat (<0. 5m deep). Wet heath occurs on soils/peat with impeded drainage
and supports species that require a high soil water table, such as cross-leaved heath
(Erica tetralix), crowberry (Empetrum nigrum), bog-myrtle (Myrica gale), deergrass
(Scirpus cespitosus) and purple moor-grass (Molinia caerulea), with an understorey of
bryophytes often including carpets of bog moss (Sphagnum spp.). Upland heath can
form part of a more complex upland mosaic with other habitats such as mire and
blanket bog, flush, acid grassland, freshwater, rock habitats, bracken and dispersed
trees/scrub. This habitat is distinct from blanket mire which occurs on the deeper
peats (>0.5 m) and which usually contains frequent hare’s-tail cottongrass
(Eriophorum vaginatum) and characteristic mosses (Sphagnum papillosum,
Sphagnum capillifolium).
High quality upland heaths will generally be structurally diverse, containing stands of
heather at the different growth stages from pioneer through to the mature heather,
with areas of scrub and woodland regeneration. Some forms of upland heath also
have a significant lower plant interest, including rare and local mosses, liverworts, and
lichens associated with the wetter western heaths of Wales.
An important
assemblage of birds is associated with upland heath, including red grouse, black
grouse, and hen harrier.
This Habitat Action Plan recognises the importance of habitat mosaics, and will
consider some elements of the action plans for lowland raised bog and upland
calcareous grassland.
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Upland heaths are widely distributed throughout the unenclosed moorlands of Wales.
Most upland heathland in Wales is managed primarily as rough grazing for sheep and
occasionally other domestic livestock; some stands are included within grouse moors
in north and east Wales.
Lowland heath
Lowland heath includes any below an altitude of about 300 m (limit of agricultural
enclosure). Lowland heaths have historically been managed by light grazing or
burning. In Powys, the community usually occurs on the lower slopes of hills where it
forms part of an altitudinal zonation of vegetation types from valley bottom, to lowland
heath, to upland heath. It is only the altitude that leads to the distinction between
upland and lowland heath although lowland heath supports a range of birds, reptiles
and invertebrates not found on upland heaths.
Lowland heath is characterised by the widespread occurrence of dwarf ericaceous
shrubs such as heather (Calluna vulgaris, Vaccinium spp., Erica spp.) and western
gorse (Ulex gallii), with a cover >25%. Most lowland heathlands were created in
prehistoric times by the clearance of primary woodland, and many heaths would
develop into scrub or woodland if left unmanaged. Subsequently, cropping, grazing,
burning and other activities such as turf and peat cutting have all served to impoverish
the soil leaving it nutrient poor and acidic. As with upland heath, lowland heath may be
classified as dry or wet, depending on soil moisture content. Although usually quite
distinct, transitions between dry and wet heath are common.
Targets
Target 1:
Maintain the extent and distribution of upland and lowland heath that
is currently in favourable condition.
Target 2:
Achieve favourable condition, through management, of all statutory
sites by 2010 and demonstrate progress towards achieving
favourable condition for at least 50% of non-statutory sites by 2010.
Target 3:
Identify potential areas for restoration of dwarf shrub heath with
particular emphasis on reducing fragmentation of existing heath.
Aim to create 300 ha of restored heath by 2015.
Target 4:
Ensure all owners/occupiers, planners and foresters are aware of
the importance of this habitat and seek opportunities to raise the
profile of this habitat.
103 Our Partnership with Nature: A Local Biodiversity Action Plan for Powys. September 2002
Current status
Upland heath
The total upland heath resource in the UK is estimated to be 2 - 3 million ha. In Wales
there is around 80,000 ha with the largest expanses of dry heath found in Snowdonia,
Denbigh, Powys and the Brecon Beacons National Park. Data from the NCC/CCW
Upland Vegetation Survey suggest that approximately 12,000 ha of upland heath exist
within Powys (17.5% of the Welsh resource), comprising 8,800 ha of acidic dry heath,
360 ha of wet heath and 2,870 ha of grassland/heath mosaic.
Lowland heath
The UK has some 58,000 ha of lowland heath of which the largest proportion (55%) is
found in England. The most significant areas in Wales for lowland heath include
Pembrokeshire, west Glamorgan and west Gwynedd. The UK has an important
proportion (about 20%) of the international total of this habitat. Data from the
NCC/CCW Phase I habitat survey suggest that an approximate total of 600 ha of
lowland heath exists within Powys, comprising 510 ha of dry heath, 99 ha of wet heath
and and additional 220 ha of grass/heath mosaic.
Dwarf shrub heath is represented at 23 SSSIs within Powys and also in several ESA
and Tir Gofal agreements. A number of species which occur on upland and lowland
heath are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981). These include
nightjar.
Current factors affecting the habitat
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Inappropriate management of sheep. Heavy grazing and trampling is incompatible
with maintaining dwarf shrub heath cover and diversity. There have been marked
losses of heather throughout the uplands of Powys, with a reversion to species
poor acid grassland.
Damage due to uncontrolled and too frequent burning, particularly summer burns
that tend to burn deep into the peat, or burning on wet peat. If heathland is burnt
too infrequently there is a risk of successional change to scrub and woodland.
Extensive damage due to heather beetle infestation. In the long term, damage by
heather beetle may result in the loss of heath, particularly in areas where heather
is patchy or under other stress.
Past and present afforestation leading to direct loss of dwarf shrub heath, and
regeneration of conifers.
Conversion to more intensive forms of agriculture, such as pasture improvement,
particularly at lower elevations where land has been drained, ploughed or reseeded.
Invasion by bracken, which shades out heather.
Fragmentation, disturbance and direct loss from inappropriate development.
Much of the dwarf shrub heath within Powys is on common land. Because of the
structures and laws that control the commons, achieving agreed grazing levels that
harmonise nature conservation with agricultural land-use can sometimes be
difficult.
The interaction of two or more of the factors above will often greatly increase the
overall impact on the heathland vegetation.
Our Partnership with Nature: A Local Biodiversity Action Plan for Powys. September 2002
104
Current action in Powys
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CCW has prepared management plans for ten of the upland and lowland heath
SSSIs.
The CCW Phase I habitat survey is complete in Powys. The CCW Phase II survey
(1999) covered 17 sites in Powys.
Approximately 56 ha of upland heath are managed under the Tir Gofal whole farm
agri-environment scheme. No Tir Gofal data is available for lowland heath but the
area managed in Powys is thought to be negligible.
CCW has carried out a lowland heath survey in Wales to identify all the remaining
important sites.
The Powys Wildlife Sites System has identified guidelines and criteria for selecting
heath Wildlife Sites.
Key species
Hen harrier, red grouse, black grouse, merlin, golden plover, skylark, ring ouzel,
peregrine, linnet, whinchat, stonechat, yellowhammer, lesser twayblade, large heath,
emperor moth, adder.
105 Our Partnership with Nature: A Local Biodiversity Action Plan for Powys. September 2002
Upland and Lowland Heath Action Plan
Action
Policy and legislation
Ensure adequate habitat protection policies for statutory
(e.g. SSSI, SAC, NNR) and non-statutory sites (e.g.
Wildlife Sites) in the UDP.
Protect dwarf shrub heath from afforestation through the
Wales Woodland Strategy and CCW’s Conservation
Strategy for Coastal and Lowland Heathland.
Ensure that the Tir Gofal prescriptions that safeguard
and enhance the quality of dwarf shrub heath are
implemented and reviewed, and, if necessary, revised in
the light of experience.
Site safeguard and management
Review extent of SSSI coverage and notify further sites
as necessary to fill significant gaps.
Review existing SSSI boundaries and amend where
necessary to ensure best areas of lowland and upland
heath are protected.
Ensure favourable condition of all SSSIs through the
preparation and implementation of management plans
and the provision of management advice and use of
management agreements where appropriate.
Achieve favourable condition, through management, of
all statutory sites.
Initiate recovery management on at least 50% of nonstatutory heathland sites by 2010.
Work with Commoners’ Associations to manage common
land through Tir Gofal, Tir Mynedd and other
agreements.
Identify potential areas for restoration of heathland (up to
48 ha of lowland heath) with particular emphasis on
reducing fragmentation of existing heath.
Monitoring and research
Compile and maintain a GIS inventory of all heathland
sites in Powys, using CCW’s Phase I survey and the
NCC’s Wales Field Unit survey reports as a basis.
Establish systematic monitoring of heathland sites in
Powys, to detect changes in habitat extent and condition
and to assess progress towards achieving action plan
targets.
Identify heathland Wildlife Sites.
Advisory
Produce guidance providing information on the
importance of the habitat, general principles of
management and availability of grants. Make guidance
available to all partner organisations.
Ensure media coverage of action though partner
organisation’s newsletters/reports and local media.
Meets
target
Deliverer
Complete
by
1
PCC, WTs
2003
1
FC, CCW
2005
1,2,3
CCW, ARAD
2003,
ongoing
1,2
CCW
1,2
CCW
2003,
ongoing
2005,
ongoing
1,2
CCW
2010
1,2
CCW
2010
2,3
CCW, PCC
2010
1,2,3
PCC, CCW
2010
1,3
CCW, WTs
2005
1
BIS,
CCW,
PCC, WTs
2003
1,2
CCW, WTs
2004, 2009
1,2
WTs
2005
1,2,4
CCW, PCC,
FWAG, WTs
2004
4
WTs,
PCC,
CCW, FUW,
CLA
2003,
ongoing
Our Partnership with Nature: A Local Biodiversity Action Plan for Powys. September 2002
106
Associated action plans
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UK biodiversity action plan for lowland heath (for which English Nature is the lead
partner)
UK biodiversity action plan for upland heath (for which English Nature is the lead
partner)
Powys brown hare action plan
Powys nightjar action plan
Powys red kite species statement
Powys curlew action plan
Powys marsh fritillary action plan
BBNP action plans for dwarf shrub heath
MWT’s Biodiversity Matters: Action plan for moorland and heath
Elan Estate (Dðr Cymru) BAP for heather moorland
107 Our Partnership with Nature: A Local Biodiversity Action Plan for Powys. September 2002