Heathland

Last updated: 29/05/2012 Add to My Bookmarks Subscribe

Places such as the Lizard and Penwith are temporarily transformed as the heathland blooms and takes over the countryside.  This important habitat generally exists as a 'mosaic' of plants such as heaths, gorse, heather and grasses, and is influenced by the ground conditions such as acidity, nutrients and water levels.

The heathland in Cornwall is heavily influenced by the surrounding maritime environment and the areas are largely determined by environmental factors such as wind and rain.  Heathland is largely due to human influence through past land management practices.  It is normally the lack of this continuing management that poses the greatest threat to its presence.

These threats include the lack of fencing to manage grazing, development, arson and human activities such as trampling or motorcycle scrambling. On many sites, sympathetic management is being re-introduced to conserve the remaining heathland.