Heather Moorland Plagioclimax
This contains detailed information about the Heather Moorland Plagioclimax including it's management. It includes a case study on the North York Moors National Park, although a lot of the other information could be linked to this case study too. I've focused on the grouse shooting, but you could look at sheep farming here too.
- Created by: Bethany
- Created on: 24-12-13 15:30
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- Heather Moorland Plagioclimax
- Management and threats to heather moorland
- Threats
- Overgrazing
- Reduces heather cover and reduces productivity
- To minimise this, livestock should be removed between 1st Nov and 28th Feb when heather is most vulnerable.
- Uncontrolled burning
- Controlled burning of heather can sometimes be a vital part of the regeneration and management
- May cause harm if is done irresponsibly
- No burning must take place between 15th April and 31st August, and areas where peat depth exceeds half a metre should not be burnt.
- Controlled burning of heather can sometimes be a vital part of the regeneration and management
- Peat Extraction
- Mechanical Peat Extraction can severely damage moorland vegetation.
- Planning permission may be needed for peat extraction.
- Bracken Invasion
- Burning can encourage bracken to spread out and shades regenerating heather.
- It is managed by cutting the leaves twice yearly, repeated over a number of seasons.
- Herbicides may also be used sparingly to control the bracken.
- Overgrazing
- Stage 1 - Pioneer Phase (0-5 years)
- Stage 2 - Building Phase (5-12 years)
- Stage 3 - Mature Phase (12-19 years)
- Stage 4 - Degenerate Phase (20 + years)
- Stage 1 - Pioneer Phase (0-5 years)
- Stage 2 - Building Phase (5-12 years)
- Stage 3 - Mature Phase (12-19 years)
- Stage 4 - Degenerate Phase (20 + years)
- Heather starts to die. Poor food and shelter for grouse.
- Burning of heather the speed up regeneration (this is known as MUIRBURN in Scotland)
- Plant becomes woody and heavy, and % cover falls.
- Here is may be necessary to burn heather for optimum habitat for grouse.
- Stage 4 - Degenerate Phase (20 + years)
- High % cover, develops a dense blanket of green shoots.
- Good food and shelter for breeding grouse
- Stage 3 - Mature Phase (12-19 years)
- New heather begins to colonise amongst old heather shoots
- Good food but limited shelter for red grouse
- Stage 2 - Building Phase (5-12 years)
- Heather starts to die. Poor food and shelter for grouse.
- Stage 1 - Pioneer Phase (0-5 years)
- Burning of heather the speed up regeneration (this is known as MUIRBURN in Scotland)
- Plant becomes woody and heavy, and % cover falls.
- Here is may be necessary to burn heather for optimum habitat for grouse.
- Stage 4 - Degenerate Phase (20 + years)
- High % cover, develops a dense blanket of green shoots.
- Good food and shelter for breeding grouse
- Stage 3 - Mature Phase (12-19 years)
- New heather begins to colonise amongst old heather shoots
- Good food but limited shelter for red grouse
- Stage 2 - Building Phase (5-12 years)
- Threats
- Heather moorland case study
- North York Moors National Park
- Managed by the national park authorities
- Bell Heather, Cross Leaved Heather and Ling.
- Burning leaves 'patchwork quilt affect' on the landscape.
- Leaves new shoots as food for grouse and older, taller shoots where the red grouse can shelter
- Gamekeepers to manage area
- Money from grouse shooting is used to look after the other plants and animals on the moor.
- North York Moors National Park
- What is heather moorland?
- Heather moorlands are unfenced upland areas characterised by heather (caluna vulgaris), bell heather and cross-leaf heath.
- The largest proportion of the remaining heather moorland is in the British Isles, and is under considerable threat.
- Threats
- Overgrazing
- Reduces heather cover and reduces productivity
- To minimise this, livestock should be removed between 1st Nov and 28th Feb when heather is most vulnerable.
- Uncontrolled burning
- Controlled burning of heather can sometimes be a vital part of the regeneration and management
- May cause harm if is done irresponsibly
- No burning must take place between 15th April and 31st August, and areas where peat depth exceeds half a metre should not be burnt.
- Controlled burning of heather can sometimes be a vital part of the regeneration and management
- Peat Extraction
- Mechanical Peat Extraction can severely damage moorland vegetation.
- Planning permission may be needed for peat extraction.
- Bracken Invasion
- Burning can encourage bracken to spread out and shades regenerating heather.
- It is managed by cutting the leaves twice yearly, repeated over a number of seasons.
- Herbicides may also be used sparingly to control the bracken.
- Overgrazing
- Threats
- Responsible management is responsible for its long-term survival.
- Agricultural support payments may be withheld from farmers who overgraze or cause environmental damage.
- Famous for the shooting of red grouse. The moorland needs to be maintained at the ideal habitat for the red grouse to shelter/ breed. Also known for the grazing of the black faced sheep.
- Management and threats to heather moorland
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