Canford Heath Nature Reserve (plagioclimax)

Canford Heath Nature Reserve

Background Information:

• Canford Heath Nature Reserve is located on the Northern edge of the urban area of Poole in Dorset.
• 420ha- It is one of Dorset’s largest continuous expanses of lowland heathland.
• Most of Canford heath is owned by the borough of Poole and funded under the Environmental Stewardship Scheme.
• The heath rises steeply to Lodge Hill, at 70m to the south, reaching a plateau, and then gradually dips towards the north.
• UK has lost 84% of its lowland heathland since the 1800’s.

[pic 1]

Plant (flora) species:

Gorse:

Spines reduce water loss and prevent predation.
Heather: 

Small waxy leaves reduce transpiration.[pic 2][pic 3]

[pic 4]

Animal (fauna) Species:

Reptiles like heathland because they can bask on and lay on their eggs within the warm sandy soils. E.g. Sand Lizard[pic 5]

Sweet-scented heather and gorse attract insects which in turn fall prey to birds such as the Dartford Warbler.

Bog Bush Cricket          Silver studded Blue butterfly             Dartford warbler[pic 6][pic 7]

Heather Life Cycle:

1. Pioneer Phase (0-7 years)

Young heather plants become established from seedlings and from rootstock amongst dead heather stems.

1. Building Phase (8-15 Years)

Heather has a dense canopy of bright green shoots. Few other species

1. Mature Phase (16-25 years)

Less vigorous growth, woody stems, canopy begins to open up. Lichen colonise old stems.

1. Degenerate Phase (26 years+)

Canopy disintegrates, moss and lichen occupy gaps. Heather in time will grow from seedlings but may be prevented by the growth of grass and tree saplings.

To prevent scrub and woodland invasion and conserve the heath, a number of measures are now in place:

1. Without grazing and/or burning, heather becomes old, woody and eventually progresses to its degenerate stage. Once the degenerate stage is reached, grass, pine and birch seedlings are able to take hold in the open ground between the dead heather stems.

• In former times livestock ate young tree seedlings, and scrub and grazing and periodic burning stimulated heather shoot development.
•  Prevent scrub and woodland invasion and conserve the heath.
• Young pine and birch seedlings are either pulled out or cut down.
•  Birch stumps must be treated with chemicals to prevent re-sprouting.
• Grazing has been re-introduced to suppress scrub.
• Not all heather on the reservoir is grazed, or mowed, because some species prefer a tall heather cover. The overall aim is to create patches of heather which represent the entire growth life-cycle of the plant.
• All maritime pine (non-native species) is removed because it supports fewer species than Scots Pine.

1. Decaying plants create organic matter. Bracken is an aggressive species which can spread rapidly via underground rhizomes also invade and smothers heather.

• The spread of gorse is controlled by cutting, grazing and patch burning.

1. Recreational Pleasure: Dogs disturb wildlife. Their faeces raise nutrient levels, which is detrimental to the low base status of the heath.

• Maintain gorse beside footpaths also discourages visitors from straying onto the heath and disturbing the ground-nesting birds.
• Keep dogs on their leads and visitors are required by law to clean up after their animals and signage encourages this and notices to remind.

1. Invasive exotics: Rhododendron, originally planted beside Longfleet Drive, a road which once crossed the heath is now spreading across the reserve.

• Invasive plants controlled by cutting, burning and treating chemicals.

1. Wildfires and fly tipping: Arsonists destroyed 100ha of heath in 2006 and further fires were again deliberately started in 2011 and 2012. Such fires are highly damaging because they destroy heather rootstock and expose the ground to soil erosion and allows for grass and bracken to invade. Many Animals particularly reptiles are unable to escape fast enough to safe areas.

• To help tackle illegal activities a local residents group called the Canford Heathwatch has been set up to monitor activities on the reserve.

Heath Characteristics:

• Sandy soils weather to release few nutrients; those which are produced are quickly leached down through the soil profile, creating podsols.
• Heath plants survive by having low nutrient requirements.
• Gorse can also fix atmospheric nitrogen in its root nodules.
• Heath was a valuable source of fuel, livestock fodder and bedding, fertiliser and thatch. However, during the 19th/20th century the exploitation of heath resources declined. For example, Bracken which had been used for fuel was replaced by coal. It was also less used as a fertiliser because limestone was now quarried and burnt in great quantities to create agricultural lime.
• Birch, young oak trees and bracken occur across the heath, reflecting the cessation of grazing and periodic burning.

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