| Lowland Heathland - Devon |
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| Devon LBAP |
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| Extent/Distribution In addition much of the land cover of Lundy Island is maritime heath. The total UK resource of lowland heathland is estimated at around 58,000 hectares (UK Biodiversity Steering Group Report), of which some 14,500 ha occur in the South West (Action for Biodiversity in the South West). Thus the Devon lowland heathland area represents more than 20% of the regional total, and nearly 7% of the national total. Agricultural improvements Much of the loss of lowland heathland over the course of this century in Devon has been due to agricultural improvement of land by drainage, ploughing, re-seeding and fertiliser application. Losses to this cause have largely come to a halt now, though some of the smaller heathland sites remain vulnerable, and a recent prosecution by English Nature for ploughing of part of a major heathland SSSI in the county has once again highlighted that heathland remains open to abuse. Afforestation Much of the former heathland area of the county is now under forestry. In particular the large Forest Enterprise estate on the Haldon Ridge was originally established in large part on open heath. Some blocks of former heathland were turned to forestry also in the Bovey Basin and on the East Devon Pebblebeds. Forestry and heathland are not necessarily entirely incompatible however; heathy vegetation may persist under plantations, and can be maintained on forest rides and glades. Areas of clearfell and crops under 8 years old also provide a heath-like environment which provides a habitat for the more mobile species; these areas can be maintained at about one sixth of the forest area. The persistence of heathland under forestry means that in many cases heathland can be restored if the conifer crop is harvested and not replaced. Mineral workings have caused the loss of lowland heathland sites in the Bovey Basin (ball clay extraction), the Dartmoor fringes (china clay extraction) and the East Devon Pebblebeds (sand and gravel extraction), both to mineral excavation and to subsequent mineral waste tipping. Such losses are absolute, but in the long term site restoration plans offer the potential to recreate a heathland after-use. Several heathland sites are subject to extant mineral planning consents. Overgrazing Less drastic than full agricultural improvement, but ultimately as damaging, overstocking of heathland vegetation with sheep or cattle causes a gradual transition to poor acid grassland, as the vigour of the heather and other dwarf shrubs is reduced by excessive grazing and trampling. Poorly regulated exercising of common grazing rights is sometimes the cause of such overstocking. Abandonment and neglect Conversely, many of the smaller heaths, and much of the coastal heathland complexes, have suffered from too little rather than too much grazing, often because they do not offer a viable source of grazing, and are not in keeping with the rest of larger farm units, yet have not been economic to convert to grass. Such sites become degraded, or have been lost altogether due to scrubbing up and succession to woodland. Fragmentation and isolation of sites The above factors mean that some heathland sites are separated and surrounded by improved agricultural land or forestry, often making their continued management by traditional means impractical, and preventing free movement and colonisation by less mobile species. Recreational use One site in the Bovey Basin currently suffers from unsustainable use as an unofficial motorbike scrambling site. In recent summers several sites have been subject to accidental or deliberate fires which, though fire is an important tool in heathland management when carried out carefully in the winter months, is seriously damaging to vegetation and to breeding wildlife if it occurs in the summer. One of these fires was caused by a model aircraft igniting after crashing on the heath, illustrating the risks accompanying large scale recreational use of heathland sites. Objective 1 To ensure that existing lowland heathland in Devon is not lost to other land uses Targets No further loss of heathland to forestry, agricultural improvement
or built development Objective 2 Targets All extant heathland sites to be under positive management regimes by 2001 Objective 3 To bolster and expand the existing lowland heathland resource in Devon by targeted restoration and re-establishment Targets 180 hectares of heathland in East Devon, and 270 hectares of heathland on Haldon and the Bovey Basin, restored or re-established by 2010 on land currently under forestry, degraded rough land, improved grassland, or other land use not of existing conservation interest
Objective 4 Targets All heathland sites suited to public access to be open and adequately
interpreted by 2000 [see above] Strategic assessments and biodiversity planning A Devon heathland strategy entitled ‘Spotlight on Devon’s
Lowland Heathland’, incorporating this BAP, has been produced
in 1998, in order to raise the profile of Devon’s heathland in
the context of the rest of the South West’s heathland areas. Finance for heathland conservation English Nature’s Reserves Enhancement Scheme and Wildlife Enhancement
Scheme provide funding for heathland management carried out by the RSPB
and DWT, and over the Culm heaths. EN also has 5 other agreements with
heathland SSSI managers around the County. DWT, DCC, the National Park Authorities, the RSPB and Teignbridge DC
provide management advice to owners of smaller heaths, and have facilitated
entry of some of these sites into the Countryside Stewardship Lowland
Heaths option. DWT has concentrated on East Devon, including work to
develop a management plan for Gittisham Hill, commissioned by EDDC.
DCC has promoted Stewardship on Little Haldon. RSPB has concentrated
on the East Devon Pebblebeds, with smaller efforts on coastal heaths
in South Devon. Some preliminary research and assessments have been undertaken in Devon, through collaboration between RSPB, DWT, EN and DCC, into the feasibility of heathland re-establishment, and some possible locations for such initiatives. Priority areas are being identified, aimed at linking and expanding existing heathland blocks. Policy and legislation 1. Maintain maximum possible protection for all heathland sites against inappropriate development through general or specific Local and Structure Plan policies, reflecting importance of statutory sites (SAC/SPA and SSSI) and non-statutory Wildlife Sites. (TARGET 2010)LEAD:LPAs PARTNERS: EN, RSPB, DWT 2. Seek amendment of existing permissions for quarrying on heathland sites, to minimise heathland losses and establish restoration plans, taking account of requirements of Habitats Directive. (TARGET 2010) LEAD:County Minerals Planning Auth’y PARTNERS:EN, Quarrying companies
4. Seek to extend Local Nature Reserve designation, with funding for positive management, to appropriate heathland sites beyond those currently designated. (TARGET 2000) LEAD:LAs, NPAs PARTNERS:EN, DWT 5. Secure national sources of capital funding for heathland management and expansion. (TARGET 2010) LEAD: EN, RSPB, NT PARTNERS: LAs, DWT Management
1. Maintain current positive management regimes for core heathland sites LEAD: L’owners, FE NGOs, NPAs, EN PARTNERS:MoD, LAs Quarry Cos., HCS 2. Extend positive management initiatives to cover all heathland within the main heathland SSSI complexes, through acquisition or agreement as appropriate LEAD:EN, RSPB DWT, FE, NT, NPAs
6. Seek to optimise opportunities for heathland restoration within
the context of multi-purpose forest design plans.
3. Continue to offer guidance through other advisory work, ensuring all advice is to a common standard. LEAD:FRCA, ADAS, FWAG, DWT PARTNERS: RSPB, LAs, NPAs, DCC Research
and monitoring
1. Collate and appraise all existing site and species data on Devon heathlands within Devon Biodiversity Records Centre. LEAD:DBRC (DWT) PARTNERS:DCC, RSPB, EN, LAs, NPAs 2. Ensure an efficient communication network is established between data holders, especially for key heathland species LEAD:DBRC (DWT) 3. Identify gaps in existing data sets and initiate further field
survey to complete coverage of all extant sites, and to improve knowledge
of key species populations. 4. Establish a site integrity monitoring programme for all extant sites, based on site revisits at a maximum of four year intervals. LEAD:DBRC (DWT) PARTNERS: DCC, RSPB, EN, LAs, NPAs 5. Maintain or establish individual monitoring programmes for key species. LEAD:RSPB, EN, DWT PARTNERS: BC, DRAG, DBWPS, BDS, BSBI 6. Collate research data for heathland re-establishment from forestry or improved land (using experience from other areas) RSPB, DWT, EN LAs, NPAs Education and awareness
raising
1. Ensure proper communication of heathland-related conservation initiatives, issues and progress through existing channels of communication LEAD:RSPB, DWT, EN, DCC, NT PARTNERS:LAs, NPAs, larger landowners 2. Develop high quality literature (leaflets, information sheets, larger pamphlets etc) on Devon heathland wildlife and management for distribution to site owners, site managers, foresters, farmers, councillors, schools, youth groups, parish councils and community groups, visitors and other audiences. LEAD:DWT, RSPB, LAs, HCS PARTNERS:Larger landowners, NPAs 3. Seek to highlight, through off-site interpretation and appropriate on-site signage, the dangers to heathland from accidental fire and other effects of irresponsible recreational use. Landowners, RSPB, LAs, NPAs HCS, DWT, EN 4. Seek ongoing media interest in heathland issues and wildlife stories. RSPB, DWT, EN DCC,LAs, NPAs [no information currently available] |
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