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Home > Spaces and species > LandLife > Lowland heathland

Lowland heathland

Rammamere Heath. Photo by Phil Irving

National lead organisation: Natural England

Local lead organisations:

The Greensand Trust

Bedfordshire Heathland Forum

Lowland heathlands are characterised by the presence of plants like heather and gorse. They are mainly found on poor soils. Lowland heathlands are home to many rare and threatened species, including all of Britain’s 12 native amphibians and reptiles. Lowland heathlands are closely related to acid grasslands, and the two habitats are often found together.

Lowland heathland in Bedfordshire and Luton

Bedfordshire has about 42 ha of heathland. All of it occurs on the acidic, sandy soils of the Greensand Ridge. Existing heathland sites are located in four clusters around Heath and Reach, Wavendon, Ampthill and Sandy. In the past, several areas of heath also existed in South Bedfordshire. However these have now disappeared.

Check out these links to learn more about lowland heathland:

National action plan for lowland heathland

Bedfordshire & Luton action plan for lowland heathland

British habitats: heathland (Natural History Museum)

BBC Science and Nature: heathland

What is heathland? (Offwell Woodland & Wildlife Trust)

Lowland heath (Forestry Commission)

The Heathland Conservation Society

Advice on managing BAP habitats: lowland heathland (Buglife)

National Vegetation Classification field guide to mires and heaths (Joint Nature Conservation Committee)

Lowland heathland: a cultural and endangered landscape (Natural England)

Grazing management of lowland heathlands (Natural England)