Upland Heathland- Exmoor
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Upland Heathland

 Exmoor LBAP
Key factors
Glossary  

Extent/Distribution

 On Exmoor, lowland and upland heaths frequently occur adjacent to each other and it is often very difficult to distinguish the communities in the transitional zone at their margins. These transitions are most common on the heathlands of Exmoor and Dartmoor and have resulted in the designation of the Exmoor heaths as a cSAC. At higher altitudes, upland heath sometimes occurs in association with blanket bogs. Areas of bracken, European gorse and hawthorn scrub also form an important element of the moorland vegetation mosaic.

There are approximately 7,000 hectares of upland heathland on Exmoor. MAFF figures suggest a loss of upland heath of approximately 20% between 1950 and 1980. This has predominantly been to agricultural reclamation, though there has also been a limited amount of coniferous planting.

Key sites:

Dunkery Beacon.
Brendon Common / Cheriton Ridge / Ilkerton Ridge.
Withypool Common.
Winsford Hill.
Molland Moor.

Threats

  • Uncontrolled and unauthorised burning, resulting in the loss of heathland animal communities and the replacement of heathers with purple moor-grass.
  • Overgrazing, resulting in the replacement of dwarf shrubs with grasses.
  • Locally, undermanagement is resulting in scrub encroachment onto upland heath.
  • Invasion of bracken and rhododendron onto upland heathland.
  • The difficulty of entering large commons into the Exmoor ESA scheme.
  • Locally, erosion and disturbance through recreational and hunting activities
    can be a problem.
  • Past agricultural reclamation has resulted in the fragmentation of upland heathland.
  • The livestock subsidy system encourages the overgrazing of upland heathland.
  • The use of persistent veterinary chemicals can greatly reduce the diversity and
    biomass of the important dung invertebrate community.

Action Plan Objectives

OBJECTIVE 1

Maintain all existing high quality upland heathland in favourable condition.

TARGET: Ongoing.

OBJECTIVE 2

Restore sub-optimal upland heathland to favourable condition.

TARGET: All by 2010.
OBJECTIVE 3

Re-create upland heathland where it formerly occurred, with particular
emphasis on the linking of existing fragments.

TARGET: 100 ha by 2010.

OBJECTIVE 4

Maintain and enhance populations of key species of conservation concern.

TARGET: Ongoing.

OBJECTIVE 5

Increase public awareness and appreciation of upland heathland.

TARGET: Ongoing.

Action Plan Targets

[see above]

Current Action

Approximately 1700 ha of Exmoor’s upland heath is owned or managed by the National Trust, including the Dunkery heaths, and a further 250 ha is owned by the ENPA.

The vast majority of Exmoor’s upland heath is notified within the North Exmoor and South Exmoor SSSI and has subsequently been included within the Exmoor Heaths cSAC.

Much of the Dunkery moorland is within the Dunkery and Horner Wood NNR.

Approximately 50% of the upland heath resource has been entered into the Exmoor ESA scheme. A further 200 ha are in ENPA management agreements. Porlock Common is in an EN management agreement.

Approximately 1700 ha of Exmoor’s upland heath is owned or managed by the National Trust, including the Dunkery heaths, and a further 250 ha is owned by the ENPA.

The vast majority of Exmoor’s upland heath is notified within the North Exmoor and South Exmoor SSSI and has subsequently been included within the Exmoor Heaths cSAC.

Much of the Dunkery moorland is within the Dunkery and Horner Wood NNR.

Approximately 50% of the upland heath resource has been entered into the Exmoor ESA scheme. A further 200 ha are in ENPA management agreements. Porlock Common is in an EN management agreement.

Proposed Action

Policy and legislation

[no information currently available]

Management

Ensure compliance with environmental conditions attached to livestock subsidies (ongoing).
Partners: MAFF; EN; ENPA.

Review impact of ESA prescriptions in maintaining and improving upland heathland and make improvements where appropriate (ongoing). Partners: MAFF.

Seek to enter all upland heaths into ELMS with priority given to cSAC and SSSI (by 2005). Partners: MAFF; EN.

Implement Habitats Directive to ensure favourable conservation status of upland heathland by;
a) agency review of consents,
b) EN seeking change to consents where conservation status is unfavourable,
c) establishing monitoring systems (all by 2002). Partners: EN; ENPA.


Begin restoration of sub-optimal upland heath to favourable condition by;
a) removal of scrub and rhododendron,
b) implementation of appropriate grazing and burning plans (all by 2010).Partners: MAFF; EN; ENPA; NT; BLC.

Begin recreation of upland heathland by experimental reversion of agriculturally improved land on former heathland sites (100 ha by 2010).
Partners: MAFF; ENPA; EN.


Promote non-damaging use of veterinary chemicals on all SSSI/CWS upland heathland (by 2010). Partners: MAFF; EN; ENPA.
Research and monitoring

Produce an inventory of all upland heathland using GIS-database, including an assessment of current condition (by 2001). Partners: ENPA; EN; SERC;DWT/DBRC.

Continue ESA grazing monitoring until results unequivocally show that stocking levels are maintaining all areas of upland heath in favourable condition (ongoing). Partners: EN; ENPA.

Use EN Grazing Index and other heathland condition survey techniques to monitor condition of ten areas of upland heathland (by 2005 and then every 5 years). Partners: ENPA; EN; Universities.


Implement remaining actions in ENPA Moorland Research Strategy (by 2001). Partners: ENPA; EN; Universities.

Education and awareness raising


{no information currently available]


Progress

{no information currently available]

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