Heathlands

Heathlands are landscapes dominated by dwarf shrubs of the botanical family Ericaceae. However, the range of soil and weather conditions in which they are found and their rich association of wildlife make them much more than that.

Heathlands occur in several parts of the world under similar soil and climatic characteristics, but they were first described in North-West Europe. These are the heathlands to which we refer in these pages. Their area is represented in the European map and extends from the north coast of Spain northwards through Brittany and Normandy in France, continuing into Belgium, the Netherlands, the north German plain up to Jutland in Denmark, the British Isles and the southern provinces of Norway and Sweden (Webb, 1986).

Heathlands appeared in most cases after forest clearance, several thousands of years ago, although some coastal heathlands developed from severe climatic conditions. All along their distribution in NW Europe, similarities in the climatic conditions, soil characteristics and mainly management have maintained heathlands during the last 3000 years in a similar appearance to the remaining patches that we know nowadays. During this time a variety of animal and plant species evolved and adapted to the range of habitats created by management in heathlands.

In the last decades traditional management has nearly disappeared and since heathlands are not climax vegetation, they are being invaded by scrub, bracken or other vegetation with less ecological value. As they were considered as a "waste and barren land" they have been systematically destroyed and fragmented by afforestation and development