my pocket guide to heathland

7/29/2019 My Pocket Guide to Heathland

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BerkshireBuckinghamshireOxfordshire


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Heathland is important for many rare animals and plants.

Since our native trees were rst cleared leaving heathlandareas, the continual harvesting of plants, heather turfs andgorse for fuel, and bracken for animal bedding, has preventedshrub and trees from taking over. Today, cattle grazing has thesame effect. Without the shade of trees, heathland plants andother wildlife thrive in the open landscape.

For instance, bare patches of sandy soil make excellent

homes for burrowing insects such as solitary wasps and thecaterpillars of the true lovers knot moth feed on heather andgorse tips. Sun-warmed sandy banks are great for baskingsnakes and the common lizard.

Heathlands are great places for people to explore too.This pocket guide tells you about a few of the amazing speciesthat you can nd on Wildmoor Heath nature reserve.

It's MY heathland

Photo: Adrian Wallington


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Did you know? Many heathland birds nest on the ground.

This secretive bird likesto live in gorse to hide andcatch its prey, such asbeetles and caterpillars.These birds are rarebecause damage to theheathland is causing a

decline in numbers.

The woodlark has such abeautiful song that it hasbeen written about by manyfamous poets. Woodlarksnest close to the ground,

digging a shallow scrape tobuild their nest in.

The nightjar is nocturnal andthe male attracts a mateby calling with a strange

churring noise after dark.Nightjars also have anunusual comb-like claw;they use this to preen theirfeathers.

Birds

Dartford warbler

Nightjar

Woodlark

RARE

!

RARE!

PaulRoberts

BBOW

T

AmyDenness


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This buttery gets its namefrom the light blue reectivespots on the underside of

its wings. The larvae feed onheather and gorse which iswhy heathland is soimportant for their survival.

The larvae have very strongjaws which they use whenhunting. The small burrowin which they live acts likea pitfall trap; they actively

wait for passing prey to fallinto their burrow!

This is the only blackdragony in the UK and is thesmallest of our dragonyspecies. Dragonies are someof the fastest ying insectsin the world, reaching speedsof up to 30mph!

Did you know? Common ants and Silver-studded blues have a specialrelationship; the ants eat the sweet liquid secreted by the caterpillars

Insects

Silver-studded blue

Black darter dragonfy

Tiger beetle

RARE

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DebbieLewis


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There are different types ofheather growing onheathland. Ling has very tinypink owers. Bell heathergrows in dry conditions,whereas cross-leaved heathprefers wetter conditions.

This plant gets itsnutrients by eating tinyinsects which are attractedby its glistening appearanceand get stuck on the hairy

leaves. Enzymes in the stickyliquid digest the insect.

Gorse has bright yellowowers which smell likecoconut. It also has very

thick rolled leaves which arevery prickly to touch. Theyare very waxy to reducewater loss in dry conditions.

and in return protect them from predators.

Gorse

Bell heather

Round-leaved sundew

Plants

KateDent

JimAsher

KateDent


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Adders are the only

venomous snake in theUK. They track their preyusing their keen sense ofsmell and strike using theirpoisonous bite. The poison isinjected into the prey and

paralyses the victim.

Despite their appearance,slowworms are neitherworms nor snakes! They arelegless lizards. When theyare attacked by predators,

they can cleverly shed theirtails to escape!

Lizards have a special thirdeye called a parietal eye.This eye can detect changes

in light. Unlike most otherreptiles, they give birth tolive young.

Did you know?Adders have a zig-zag pattern on their backs.

Adder

Reptiles

Common lizard

Slowworm

RARE

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AndyFairbairn

Andy

Fairbairn

EdFisher


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Disappearing fastOver the last 100 years we have lost 80% of ourheathland in Britain to roads, homes and businesses.That doesnt leave many wild places left for all the specialplants and animals that depend on heathland to survive.

Managing and restoring heathland

At the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust we look afterheathland by regularly cutting, using controlled grazing, orburning to mimic the ways that heathland was managed inthe past. We also keep a close eye on heathland species,from endangered ground-nesting birds to beetles andbutteries.

Get involvedYou can help to look after Wildmoor Heath by volunteeringat a work party. For more information have a look at ourwebsite at www.bbowt.org.uk/how-you-can-help

Heathland needs friends

Photos: Liz Child, Andy Fairbairn, Giles Strother


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Design and illustrations by Rachel Hudson

Please do not light res on theheathland. Uncontrolled re candestroy much of the wildlife.

Please dont leave litter on theheathland. Always take it homeor put it in a recycling bin.

Keep to the marked footpaths,especially when it is nesting season(from March to July).

BerkshireBuckinghamshireOxfordshire

We can all do our bit to help to protect the animals andplants that depend on their special heathland home.

We hope you enjoy exploring Wildmoor Heath!

It's MY heathland

Find out more

The Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust looks after many wild

places and runs lots of events for families to get closer to wildlife.Go to www.bbowt.org.uk/whats-on

my pocket guide to heathland

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