subject: Heathland Wildlife [print this page] Lots of people who engage in trekking do so because of the wide variety of flora and fauna which it is possible to see as they enjoy the scenery. Naturally, the species that you are likely to identify will be based on the nature of the habitat through which you are hiking. One kind of terrain which is often favoured by people is heathland but bilogists distinguish between whats called upland and lowland heathlands as the prevailing climate conditions are very distinct and therefore so are the indigenous species.
Upland heathland is a wild habitat regularly characterised by purple heather carpets. It occurs between 250-750 m above sea level. Good examples are Dartmoor and Exmoor in South West England, the North Pennines in northern England and much of the upland regions of Scotland. Wetter sections of this habitat include peat bogs, which possess a variety of specialist plants which dont grow on drier heaths. Lichens and mosses are important plants of upland heathland habitat. Bird species that are typical of this habitat include Meadow Pipits (in actual fact also termed the mountain Mars Bar since it is eaten by everything) Golden Plover and Red Grouse. Summer visitors for instance the Ring Ouzel can be located in the rocky areas common in these kinds of habitats. Raptors for instance Hen Harriers and Buzzards may also be seen in the sky in search of prey.
Plenty of flowers such as Bog Myrtle, Bog Bean, Cottongrass, Round-leaved Sundew, Common Butterwort, Crowberry, Heath Rush and March Violet dwell on upland heathland and encourage invertebrates including butterflies such as the Green Hairstreak. Bees are additionally in particular attracted by the nectar that's produced by heather plants. Heathland really should be managed to stop trees from establishing and the habitat starting to be woodland. Burning will be carried out on a rotational basis of in between 10 and 25 years. Grazing using cows or sheep is currently utilised to preserve vegetation at a low level. Management plans have to be implemented with care; harm is often caused to upland heathland terrain by overgrazing, burning of the heaths too much, and clearing to create space for conifer plantations.
Lowland heathland is a habitat which occurs lower than an elevation of 300 m. It is really mainly located in more southern parts of England and Wales, for instance the New Forest in Hampshire, along with the Lizard peninsula in Cornwall. This habitat is dominated by dwarf shrubs such as Heather and Gorse. It's definitely a habitat thats abundant with invertebrates including dragonflies, grasshoppers, beetles and spiders, and in addition includes lots of ground-nesting birds like Stonechats and Nightjars. Small mammals of this habitat include rabbits, field voles and wood mice and these are preyed on by much larger mammals like foxes, weasels and stoats. Reptiles for example Smooth Snakes and amphibians for example rare Natterjack Toad live in lowland heathland.
If heathland is not managed by grazing, cutting or burning, trees like Silver Birch could become established and the habitat will at some point turn into woodland. Bracken is additionally a problem since it will take over an area and block other plant species from establishing. On lowland heaths look out for plants like Common Gorse, Ling Heather, Cross-leaved Heather, Bell Heather, English Stonecrop, Heath Bedstraw, Tormentil, Heath Milkwort
