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Home > Spaces and species > LandLife > Lowland heathland
Lowland heathland
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 LutonBedfordshire 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) Lowland heathland: wildlife value and conservation status (Natural England) Impacts of livestock grazing on lowland heathland (Natural England) Grazing heathland: a guide to impact assessment for insects and reptiles (Natural England)
Common standards monitoring guidance
for lowland heathland (Joint Nature Conservation Committee)
Habitat fragmentation and heathland species (Natural England) A literature review of urban effects on lowland heaths and their wildlife (Natural England)
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