Heath, bog, mire and species-rich rush pasture mosaics

What we need to do and where

Holne moor valley mire, Adrian Colston

Snapshot for heath, bog, mire and rush pasture mosaics

What wildlife-rich looks like:

Lightly-grazed, open habitat mosaics on healthy acidic, nutrient-poor soils across Devon. Includes dry and wet heaths with scattered trees and scrub, wet mires and blanket bogs, rush pastures and wet woodlands. Mosaics are rich with plants, invertebrates and other wildlife. Dunlin nest in the upland blanket bogs, drumming snipe in our wetlands and clapping nightjars can be heard over our heaths. Cuckoo, whinchat and curlew nest across the county again.

Focus Species:

Mammals: Otter, beaver and water vole

Birds: Dunlin, curlew, snipe, whinchat, cuckoo, nighjar, Dartford warbler and other birds in the heath, moor and rough grassland group

Moths and butterflies: Marsh fritillary, narrow-bordered bee hawk-moth, dingy mocha, small grass emerald moth and others in the heathland moth group.

Other invertebrates: Heath potter wasp, narrow-headed ant, bilberry bumblebee, bog hoverfly and other valley mire flies, tormentil globetail hoverfly, Dartmoor bog spiders, southern damselfly, scarce blue-tailed damselfly, fairy shrimps.

Plants: Great sundew, lesser butterfly orchid, south-west Dartmoor downs specialist plants, heath lobelia and other plants in the heavily grazed wet acid grasslands and heaths plants group.

UK significance:

UK priority habitats: Blanket bog, upland and lowland heathland, lowland fen (referred to here as mire), purple moor-grass and rush pasture (referred to here as rush pasture)

Statutory irreplaceable habitats: Blanket bog, lowland fen

1. About

Devon’s acid, nutrient-poor soils are found across the county from the uplands of Dartmoor to the Pebblebed Heaths of east Devon. They support a complex mosaic of dry and wet heaths, bogs, mires and wet species-rich rush pastures. These habitats have evolved over 1,000s of years since woodland clearance began across the UK during the Bronze Age (around 2500 – 800 BC). They’re largely found on land which is unsuitable for arable and which was used for rough grazing as part of farming systems. Light grazing (often cattle, sheep or ponies) prevented these areas reverting to woodland and created a mosaic of wildlife-rich habitats.   

Key areas in Devon include Dartmoor, Exmoor, the north Devon culm, east Devon Pebblebeds, Blackdown Hills, Haldon Hills and the Bovey Basin. (see Devon’s habitats below for more detail).
 
Dry heathland develops on acidic free-draining soils where shrubs such as heather and gorse grow, with bilberries on upland heaths. Where soils are waterlogged for at least part of the year, wetland habitats develop. These include wet heath (with cross-leaved heath and cotton grass), species-rich rush pastures (with purple moor-grass and flowering plants such as meadow thistle and devil’s bit scabious), mires (with sundews and bog mosses) and the very acid upland blanket bogs with deep peat (peat soils).
 
These habitats form complex mosaics that grade into each other as physical conditions change.  
 
Since the 1800s large areas of these habitats have been converted to other land uses such as conifer plantations, agricultural land, quarries and urban development. Some areas reverted to woodland as rough grazing was no longer needed.

The huge value of these habitats for carbon sequestration, water management, wildlife and recreation provide opportunities to fund the management and restoration of large areas of wildlife habitat across Devon.  

Devon’s habitats

The main remaining areas of mosaic habitats include:

– Extensive areas of upland heath, bog and mire on unenclosed Dartmoor and Exmoor.

– Complex mosaics of species-rich rush pastures, mire, wet heath and wet woodlands on the wet soils of north Devon, enclosed Dartmoor and the scarp slopes in east Devon and the Blackdown Hills. Often known as Culm grassland in north Devon, as Rhos pastures on Dartmoor and as spring-line mires in the Blackdowns.

– Mosaics of acid grassland, heathland, mire, bracken and scrub on commons known as the South West Dartmoor Downs. explain where this is etc etc Roborugh context quarries

– Heath mosaics of dry heath, wet heath, valley mires and scattered trees and scrub on the Pebblebeds, Bovey Basin, Haldon and east Devon ridges and plateau.

– Smaller areas of heath on the coast and a few remaining smaller mires scattered across the county, including the dune systems at Braunton Burrows and wet heathy grasslands in the South Hams around Andrews Wood SSSI.

Devon’s heaths – wildlife value

Devon’s distinctive yellow and purple heathlands are found on nutrient-poor, acidic podzol soils as well as acidic gley soils. The largest areas of heathland are found on Dartmoor and Exmoor. Other key areas are the Pebblebed Heaths, the east Devon plateau and ridges (Trinity Hill, Fire Beacon Hill and Gittisham Hill), Haldon and the Bovey Basin.

Heathland is also found along both Devon coasts (west of Bolt Head, north of Saunton and a small area at Berry Head) and as part of the north Devon Culm grassland mosaic. Some areas, such as Hense Moor SSSI in the Blackdown Hills, are currently mapped as heath but are better considered as mire mosaics.    

Heathlands are defined by dwarf shrubs such as heathers, western gorse and bilberry. Characteristic species of Devon’s heaths include bell heather (Erica cinerea), heather (Calluna vulgaris) and a small grass called bristle bent. Wet heathland develops where drainage is impeded. Bell heather is replaced with wetland-loving species such as cross-leaved heather (Erica tetralix), purple moor-grass, cotton grass, deer grass and bog mosses (sphagnums). At higher altitudes on Dartmoor and Exmoor species such as bilberries become more common. 

The plant communities on these heaths are only found in the wet and mild western fringes of Europe and Devon’s heathland is internationally important. Heathlands aren’t botanically rich, but the mosaic of habitats and structural diversity support specialist species. This mosaic includes:     

Bare areas of sand and soil, especially on warm south-facing slopes: Important nesting and basking areas for invertebrates such as bees, wasps, ants and snakes such as adder and smooth snake. The only site in England for the narrow-headed ant is Chudleigh Knighton Heath.

Open areas for flowering plants: Heath lobelia was once common on the wet heaths around Shute in east Devon but is now only found at one site and Andrew’s Wood in the South Hams. Violets are an important foodplant for rare fritillary butterflies.

Young heather shoots: An important food source, including for silver-studded blue butterfly caterpillars.

Mature heather, gorse and patches of scrub and bracken: Important shelter, nesting and feeding habitat for invertebrates and birds such as stonechat and Dartford warbler. Open ground between scrub provides safe ground-nesting sites for species such as nightjar, tree pipit and meadow pipit. Bracken provides important shelter for rare fritillary butterflies.

Scattered trees: Provide song posts for birds such as tree pipits.

Valley mires, pools and wet runnels: Provide habitat for dragonflies and damselflies, sundews and rare species such as southern damselflies, scarce blue-tailed damselfly and pennyroyal (a plant).

Compact, damp ground in wheel ruts: Supports specialist plant species such as three-lobed crowfoot.

Other Devon Species of Conservation Concern found on heaths include the bog bush cricket – other examples to be added – see the Species Spreadsheet.

There is more information on plant communities in the LNRS Habitat Classification Table and the Lowland Heathland, Upland Heathland and South West Dartmoor Downs LNRS papers. See Find out more below.

Devon’s heaths – historical context

Historically, heathlands were maintained for their economic value. They provided important rough grazing for small numbers of cattle, ponies and sheep. Turf was cut for fuel (for example from Stockland Turbaries in the Blackdown Hills), gorse was used to feed livestock, bracken was used for bedding and heather was used for thatch. They were often burnt (swaled) to provide new soft growth for grazing livestock. All Devon’s heaths have historical remains of life dating back to the Bronze Age and these activities stopped them reverting to woodland.

However, huge areas of Devon’s heaths have been lost. The former open commons on the east Devon and Blackdown Hills plateau and ridges were enclosed in the 19th century and only a few remnants survive. Heaths across Devon’s lowlands and uplands were planted with conifer in the early 20th century. Areas of heath over china and ball clay at Lee Moor and the Bovey Basin have been lost to quarrying. Changes in farming practices over the centuries alongside impacts as a result of the industrial revolution (mining, air quality etc) have had a significant impact on landscapes and vegetation resulting in the decline or loss of some species. For example species recorded as widely scattered across south-west Dartmoor commons such as heath fragrant-orchid and field gentian have almost disappeared.

After the 1947 Agricultural Act, farming in areas like Dartmoor and Exmoor intensified, with more grazing, drainage and re-seeding. Heathland and mires were lost and large areas of drier acid grassland have developed across much of Dartmoor and Exmoor. Heathlands have been undergrazed in parts of the uplands. This has led to areas on steeper slopes becoming dominated by gorse, scrub and bracken with other areas now dominated by purple moor-grass (Molinia caerula). See Key pressures and opportunities below for more information.

Many lowland heaths have been lost to scrub and secondary woodland as they’re no longer needed by farmers for rough grazing. Most are now managed as nature reserves by organisations such as Devon Wildlife Trust, the RSPB and Clinton Devon Estates. Heathland remnants in the Blackdown Hills near Stockland and Kilmington are being restored and managed by local residents and parish councils. 

There is more information in the Lowland Heathland, Upland Heathland and South West Dartmoor Downs LNRS papers. See Find out more below.

Mires

In Devon, mires (or fens) are generally  found on wet, very acid soils, especially gley soils. They’re incredibly valuable for wildlife, supporting both widespread and specialist species.  Most receive water from seepages, springs and small streams and they would have once been very common across Devon. However the mass production of drain tiles and pipes in the early 19th century led to huge areas of Devon’s wet soils being more efficiently drained and mires were lost. By 1939, between 50% and 75% of Devon had undersoil drainage.

A concentration of mires remains on the scarp slopes of east Devon and the Blackdown Hills. Springs appear where permeable greensand meets the underlying impermeable mudstone rocks and as a result wet gley soils (known as Hense) have developed. The largest surviving sites are Hense Moor and Southey and Gotleigh Moor which, along with Bolshayne Fen (near Colyton) and Bulmoor Pastures, are designated as SSSIs. There are also tiny areas of mire on the Sidmouth to Dorset coastal landslip and a calcareous mire at Spring Head SSSI on the chalk near Axmouth.

Valley mires are found as part of heathland-wetland mosaics on Dartmoor and Exmoor as well as in the Pebblebed and Haldon heaths. They often develop in wet, shallow valleys and support a wealth of wildlife particularly flowering plants, bryophytes and invertebrates. Dartmoor valley mires support particularly rare species such as bog hoverfly and breeding birds such as snipe and curlew (now very rare). Wetland flushes also occur on Dartmoor and Exmoor where water seeps from springs

Important mire habitats also form in dune slacks at Braunton Burrows SSSI and Swanpool SSSI and there may once have been an extensive area on the grazing marshes between Braunton and the dunes. The only known mire in south Devon is Wolborough Fen SSSI in Newton Abbot. 

These spring-line mires, valley mires and flushes are fed by well-oxygenated and mineral-enriched water and can be very species-rich. Characteristic species in more acidic mires include bog mosses (sphagnums), cotton grass, purple moor-grass, cross-leaved heath, bog asphodel and common sundew. Drier areas can have devil’s-bit scabious and meadow thistle, which are characteristic of species-rich rush pastures (see below). Rare species can include greater sundew, fir club-moss, and broad-leaved cotton grass, fen fragrant orchid and marsh helleborine. Southern damselflies were once found on the Blackdown Hills spring-line mires but haven’t been seen since the 1960s (other than a failed re-introduction project) Add more on other species? possibly split up as for heaths?

There is more information on plant communities in the LNRS Habitats Classification Table (not yet added to the web) and the Lowland Fens and Upland Heathland and Bogs LNRS papers. See Find out more below. Add more on species? possibly split up as for heaths?

Blanket bogs

Blanket bogs are rain-fed wetlands which form on peat soils that are generally more than 40cms deep. The peat layer isolates vegetation from ground water to create wet, very acid and very nutrient-poor conditions that support species such as bog mosses, cross-leaved heath, cotton grasses and bog asphodel. Bog pools can also form on the blanket bog.

Blanket bog is extensive on the higher parts of Dartmoor, but less extensive on Exmoor. There is one raised mire in Devon, at Tor Royal Bog.

Blanket bog is an important carbon store and healthy bogs also absorb carbon. However, over the centuries blanket bog on both Dartmoor and Exmoor has been affected by activities such as peat cutting, land drainage, agricultural improvement and unsustainable grazing and burning practices. More recently it has been affected by climate change and atmospheric nitrogen and ozone pollution. As a result, only a fraction of the blanket bog is hydrologically functional and in good condition. Restoring and rewetting these areas are now conservation priorities and considerable amounts of money are being invested to achieve this. 

Peat is partially decomposed vegetation. In the rainy uplands of Dartmoor and Exmoor, high rainfall leaches minerals from the soil creating an impermeable layer (known as an iron pan) which prevents drainage. The resulting water-logged soils are perfect for bog mosses (sphagnum). These mosses and other plants decompose very slowly due to lack of oxygen and, over 1,000s of years, form a deep layer of peat.  

Focus Species include breeding dunlin, bog spiders and bog hoverfly.

There is more information on plant communities in the LNRS Habitats Classification Table and the Upland heaths, mires and bogs LNRS paper. See Find out more below.

Species-rich rush pastures

Devon is a stronghold for species-rich rush pastures (also known as purple moor-grass and rush pasture or fen meadows). This is a UK priority habitat which can occur as mires get drier or as wet, acidic grasslands get wetter. Rush pastures are found on damp, acidic, nutrient-poor gley soils. They are found in complex mosaics of habitat with wet heath, mires and wet woodland. These habitats grade into each other, making mapping difficult.  

Species-rich rush pastures are found on the wet, acidic Hallsworth and Wickham soils of the Culm Measures between Dartmoor, Exmoor and the Cornwall border, where the mosaic of wetland habitats is known as Culm grassland. They’re also found on the wet Laployd soils in enclosed areas of Dartmoor, where the mosaic of habitats is sometimes known as Rhos pasture. There are also small areas on Hense soils in the scarp slopes mires of the Blackdowns and east Devon, where mires and wet pastures grade into each other.  

This habitat is characterized by tussocks of purple moor-grass (Molinia). The most species-rich communities support meadow thistle, devil’s-bit scabious (the foodplant for marsh fritillary butterfly and narrow-bordered bee hawk-moth), heath spotted-orchid, bog asphodel, creeping willow, meadowsweet, greater bird’s-foot trefoil, water mint and a variety of sedges. Rarer plants include round-leaved sundew, pale butterwort and lesser butterfly orchid. Bog mosses are often found, and open pools support marsh St John’s-wort, bogbean, marsh pennywort, bog pondweed and other aquatic plants. 

Focus Species include marsh fritillary and narrow-bordered bee hawk-moth (which require devil’s-bit scabious), the tormentil globetail hoverfly, lesser butterfly orchid and grasshopper warblers. Southern damselflies have been recorded in a few Dartmoor Rhos pasture sites such as Tor View Moor near Whiddon Down.

Health check

Lowland heaths health check

To be finished during the consultation in discussion with NE and with latest CWS data

Area

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SSSIs

Unfavourable declining: Maiden Down

County Wildlife Sites

Upland habitats health check

To be finished during the consultation in discussion with NE and with latest CWS data

Area of heathland

It’s hard to establish the exact extent of upland heath as mosaic habitats are difficult to map.

The Nature of Dartmoor report: ~  11,500ha of heather moorland on Dartmoor

JNCC citation for the SAC states that 40% of the Dartmoor SAC is upland heath = 9,263 ha.   

Exmoor National Park estimates that there is ~ 7,000ha of upland heath and 1500ha of lowland heath across Exmoor (Devon and Somerset). The  JNCC states that it accounts for 83% of the SAC =  8,856ha. 

Exmoor lost 20% of its upland heath between 1940 and 1980 as a result of government funded agricultural improvement schemes. However, Dartmoor lost much less of its upland heath during the same period.

Area of mire

Estimating the extent of mire is hard as mapping techniques have varied. An unpublished DNPA analysis from 2020 suggested that there may be 5,400ha of mire on Dartmoor’s commons, moorland and newtakes. National England’s National Vegetation Classification analysis for the North and South Dartmoor SSSIs gives ~  402ha.

Area of bog

It’s hard to estimate the area of bog as some is mapped as blanket bog, some as wet heath and some as Molinia mire.

Dartmoor:  ~ 3,432ha of blanket bog + 7,848ha of degraded blanket bog (DNPA 2020). There is over 17,500ha of peat soils more than 40cms deep on Dartmoor (Luscombe et al 2016). 

Exmoor:  ~  480ha of quality blanket bog and an additional 4,400ha of degraded and mostly Molinia dominated blanket bog (ENPA 2001). 

SSSIs / SAC

Dartmoor / Exmoor SSSIs…….

Dartmoor SAC covers 23,158ha and includes areas of upland heath, valley mires, flushes and blanket bog. It has three SSSIs: North, South and East Dartmoor.

Exmoor SAC covers 10,670ha and includes mosaics heath, mire and blanket bog. There are four SSSIs on Exmoor (Devon and Somerset) which include upland habitats and around 60% of these are in the SAC. The 4 Exmoor SSSIs are North Exmoor, South Exmoor, Exmoor Coastal Heaths and West Exmoor Coast and Heaths.

Condition of bogs

The University of Exeter’s research indicated that of the 17,510ha of peat over 40cm in depth only 360ha (0.8%) was intact and hydrologically functional. They also identified around 2,289ha which should form the primary focus for restoration. (Luscombe et al 2017).

Significant areas of Dartmoor and Exmoor have been in environmental schemes for approaching thirty years and despite their detailed management prescriptions the figures above show that the vast majority of these heathlands are not in ‘favourable condition’ as determined by Natural England’s Assessments. 

Mires health check

To be finished during the consultation in discussion with NE and with latest CWS data

Area

SSSIs:

Favourable or unfavourable recovering:

Unfavourable:

Purple moor-grass and rush pasture health check

To be finished during the consultation in discussion with NE and with latest CWS data

Area (JNCC, 2008):

In Devon and Cornwall only 8% of that present in 1900 remains, with 62% of sites and 48% of the total area being lost between 1984 and 1991 

Devon and NE Cornwall Culm –  530 purple moor-grass and rush pasture sites = ,3981ha

Dartmoor, Rhos pasture – 400 sites = 1,000ha

Blackdown Hills –  90 sites = 300ha

SSSIs:

Found in 26 SSSIs=  1,081 hectares. Dunsdon Farm SSSI is also a National Nature Reserve.

Eight of these are also Special Areas of Conservation. Six culm Grassland sites are now DWT Nature Reserves, covering some 200 hectares. 

Found in small areas within five SSSIs on Dartmoor. 

Found in four SSSIs in the Blackdowns Hills:  Hense Moor, Ashculm Turbary, Southey and Gotleigh Moor and Blackdown & Sampford Commons.  There are also two Devon Wildlife Trust Nature Reserves.

Natural England’s Favourable Condition Assessment for Devon includes the category Fen, Marsh and Swamp – Lowland which includes Purple Moor-Grass Pastures but doesn’t specifically identify the condition of Purple Moor-Grass Pasture SSSIs.  

County Wildlife Sites (2024 data)

814 sites =  2,834 ha.

522 of these have been monitored between 2009 and 2022 and have been categorised as red, amber and green depending on their condition.

91 (17.4%) totalling 295ha (15.2%) were Red

283 (54.2%) covering 805ha (41.5%) were Amber

148 (28.4%) covering 838ha (43.2%) were Green.

Key pressures and opportunities

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Viable livestock farming

Heaths, mires and rush pastures all require grazing and therefore rely on viable livestock farming businesses. Many farm businesses are enrolled in Environmental Stewardship schemes, some in partnership with Natural England and other organisations, to manage these sensitive wildlife habitats.

At the time of writing (June 2025) much is still unknown about how Environmental Stewardship will evolve. It’s possible there will be an impact on existing farm businesses. This may have significant implications for the future management of heaths, mires and rush pastures across Devon.

It’s critical that new schemes continue to pay for nature recovery. However, understanding how to manage these habitats is complex (see the Purple moor-grass and Dartmoor Land Use Group drop downs below). Many of these areas are unfenced commons which makes these issues more complex.

Many lowland sites are no longer part of farming systems and abandonment and lack of grazing remains a major threat. It can be difficult to source graziers with appropriate stock for heathland habitats and many sites lack infrastructure such as fencing, shelter and water supplies. Funding through agri-environment schemes should be made available to landowners and managers in all areas, so they can buy, for example, stock, fencing materials and water bowsers. The Farming in Protected Landscapes schemes that have been running in Devon’s Protected Landscapes have proved very successful and have allowed funding to be targeted to where it’s most needed in a way that’s more flexible than currently possible through national schemes. See Find out more below for more information.

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Landscape Recovery Projects

Need to add a few lines on the Landscape Recovery Projects – Central Dartmoor, East, West, Exmoor, Luppitt  – opportunities……

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Purple moor-grass expansion in the uplands

Large areas of upland heath on Dartmoor and Exmoor’s commons are dominated by monocultures of purple moor-grass (Molinia caerulea) that has been outcompeting heather since the early 2000s. These areas can only be effectively grazed by cattle (and to a lesser extent ponies) during the growing season, from May to July.
 
Although the reasons why Molinia is dominating are not clear, they could include:
 
– Lower stock numbers since the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in 2001 and since the introduction of the Environmentally Sensitive Areas scheme in the 1990s.
– Atmospheric nitrogen pollution.
– Heather beetle (Lochmaea suturalis) attacks reducing the health and abundance of heather.
– Damage from historic peat cutting, drainage and unsustainable grazing and swaling practices.
 
Historic human activities have severely damaged the structure of the peaty soils. Combined with more recent atmospheric nitrogen pollution and climate change, this may mean that Molinia-dominated landscapes take decades to recover or cannot ever be restored.
 
The dominance of Molinia means that large areas of wet and dry heath are inaccessible to stock. This forces animals into areas that are not dominated by Molinia, which then become over-grazed, further reducing heather cover. Many areas of dry heath have also become dominated by gorse (Ulex gallii and europaeus), which again causes overgrazing in more open areas.
 
There is concern that the large areas of land dominated by Molinia and gorse have created a huge fuel load that increases the risk of uncontrolled wildfires on Dartmoor and Exmoor.

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Dartmoor Land Use Group

 In 2023, Natural England offered five-year extensions to existing Higher Level Stewardship agreements. They required commoners on Dartmoor to reduce stock (sheep, cattle and ponies) and undertake a phased removal of winter sheep grazing, which Natural England argued would allow dwarf shrub communities to recover. The extensions were offered to ensure there was a continuity of agri-environment funding for hill farmers prior to the introduction of the Moorland Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI).
 
Hill farmers fiercely opposed the stock cuts so Defra agreed to an independent review of the proposals (the Fursden Review). The review reported to Defra in December 2023. Its key wildlife recommendations include:
 
– The first ecological and environmental priority for Dartmoor is to improve hydrological function and re-wet blanket bogs and peatlands. 
– The second priority is to control Molinia, using a combination of active management practices, including grazing. 
– Encourage development of wood pasture and tree growth in suitable locations, particularly along valley sides, as part of an agreed land-use plan. 
– Undertake more research and monitoring to understand the full range of environmental factors that affect the growth of heather and dwarf shrubs on Dartmoor.
 
Update to include Defra response, Land Use Group / proposed Land Use Plan etc

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Nitrogen pollution

To add

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Opportunities to restore heathlands from conifer plantations

Many remaining lowland heaths are isolated fragments of once much larger areas. Adjacent conifer plantations are often on heathland soils and have good potential for restoration, especially where there are relics of heathland flora.

Heathland has been successfully restored from conifer in Haldon Forest and could be expanded. Trinity Hill and Shute Hill in east Devon are good candidate sites. Wet heathland developed quickly after forestry was cleared at Shute Hill, although it has now been replanted with trees. 

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Water management

Ploughing and draining mires and rush pastures outside SSSIs continues to be a potential threat in Devon. Mire habitats depend on a supply of clean water. Clean water and natural hydrological processes are important for wetland habitats which can be impacted by surrounding land uses such as run-off from roads, run-off from slurry stores and arable land, house building and pollution from housing and industry.   

However, wetlands provide great opportunities. They can help to slow the flow of water, reduce flooding and improve water quality. This has led to an increase in funding for habitat restoration through initiatives such as South West Water’s Upstream Thinking project and natural flood management schemes. For more information see Inspiration and Find out more below.   

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Quarries

Potential loss of habitat due to existing mineral permissions at Lee Moor (Smallhanger) Bovey Basin etc but opportunities through restoration at Bovey Basin, Lee Moor etc – text to be finalised – explain requirement for restoration plans, aftercare etc

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Sensitive expansion of woodland and tree cover

There is currently a drive to increase woodland cover in Devon to reduce carbon emissions and create wildlife habitat. Heaths and mires are found on poor agricultural land and so are often preferred areas for tree planting schemes. While woodland is an important part of habitat mosaics, it’s critical that increased tree cover doesn’t lead to the loss of wildlife-rich mire, bog and heathland habitats, especially where these provide critical habitat for rare species such as waders, fritillary butterflies and whinchats. The proposed Dartmoor Land Use Plan is critical and should be informed by the LNRS mapping of these sensitive areas.

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Non-native invasive species

The invasive non-natives Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) and American skunk-cabbage (Lysichiton americanus) can be a problem in wet sites. The skunk-cabbage is a particular problem in some Dartmoor wetlands where it outcompetes native vegetation.

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Recreational pressure

The vast majority of Devon’s open heathland habitats are open access land and many areas (especially Dartmoor, Exmoor and the Pebblebed Heaths) are visited by significant numbers of people. At the most popular sites, high visitor numbers are causing physical damage and dogs off leads are sometimes worrying sheep. Projects such as We Love Dogs are tackling this problem. For more information see Find out more below. 

2. What we need to do and where

See Find out more below for information on management and funding.

Priority

Better (wildlife-rich), bigger and more mires. bogs, heaths and rush pasture mosaics that are connected to a network of habitats across the landscape.

See Find out more below for any relevant national and local targets.

Actions

Manage and restore upland blanket bogs for wildlife, particularly for Focus Species. do we add for carbon and water control here as such a big thing? not adding this wording to all actions as would make it too long….to discuss

  • Continue work to re-wet peatlands and associated blanket bog habitats on Dartmoor and Exmoor through, for example, restoring natural hydrological systems or blocking gullies. 

Manage and restore mosaics of grazed heath, bog, mires and species-rich rush pastures with scattered scrub and trees, particularly for Focus Species.

  • Manage and restore wildlife-rich habitats through light grazing and scrub control as needed.
  • Continue to experiment with methods to control Molinia in the upland moorlands using a combination of active management practices, including grazing, cutting, rolling and chain harrowing. Share learning, for example from pony grazing at Molland, Challacombe, Gideligh, Throwleigh and Bellever. Develop re-wetting techniques on slopes with wet heath to stop the lateral flow of water and reduce the dominance of Molinia. 
  • Monitor and control fuel load by sensitive vegetation management to limit the potential devastation of wildfires.
  • Where possible restore heath, mire and species-rich rush pasture that has been lost to secondary woodland, scrub and bracken, especially where this will expand or connect existing habitats. Maintain some woodland (especially wet woodland), scrub and bracken as part of the mosaic.
  • Where appropriate restore heath from commercial forestry plantations especially where this will expand or connect existing habitats. Survey commercial forestry plantations on former heath to determine potential areas for restoration. 
  • Where possible restore mires and species-rich rush pastures on low quality agricultural land following best practice and learning from past and current restoration projects.   
  • Reduce pollution of wetland habitats. Maintain and create buffer zones (ideally wildlife habitats or less intensively managed land) around all wetlands and their water sources to protect them from possible pollution and to create networks of habitat mosaics. Ensure that there is no agricultural, road or other run-off onto wetlands or other sources of pollution. See Watercourse corridors for more detailed actions relating to pollution.
  • Carefully increase wood pasture and tree cover into the upland mosaic as part of an agreed land-use plan. It’s critical that advice is obtained before tree cover is increased in open wildlife-rich habitats such as valley mires and bogs or where this could impact on species.

Reduce nitrogen pollution

  • Action to be added – any other pollution issues? water or air…..

Control invasive species

  • Control and where possible eradicate invasive non-native species such as Himalayan balsam and American skunk-cabbage.  See Invasives and disease.

Funding – discuss through Consultation as these apply to most habitats

  • Secure long-term funding to enable habitats to be managed and monitored, including funding for the six relevant Landscape Recovery projects.
  • Ensure that future ELM funding, including Landscape Recovery projects, allows extensive livestock farming to remain viable and that flexible prescriptions build on research and maximise benefits for Devon’s heaths, mires, bogs and rush pastures, including the restoration and management of existing sites.  Call to extend FiPL?
  • Continue to fund the South West Peatland Partnership to retain existing personnel and allow this top priority work to continue.
  • Target other funding streams to heaths and mires including Biodiversity New Gain (BNG) and funding for nature-based solutions.

Advice and awareness

  • Develop a joined-up land management advisory service (farming and forestry) that:
    • Shares learning from farmers, foresters, other land managers, ecological monitoring and researchers.
    • Promotes best practice in the management and restoration of heath, mires, bogs and rush pastures.
    • Promotes all available funding streams.
  • Agree consistent wording for the action above across LNRS habitats including checking actions in the LNP farm advice report
  • Raise awareness of the value of heaths, mires, bogs and rush pastures.

Research

  • Undertake more research and monitoring to understand which environmental factors affect the growth of heather and dwarf shrubs and how to best reduce Molinia cover on Dartmoor.
  • Undertake more research on wetland mosaics (Culm grasslands, Rhos pastures and mires) including integrated farming systems, environmental buffering of water courses, the effects of different management regimes and restoration techniques. 

Other relevant actions

More detailed actions are set out for the following Focus Species: need to more clearly link FS to HOAs – so better to merge this with the Where section below?

  • Moths and butterflies: Bracken and violet butterflies, wet grassland butterfly and moths, small grass emerald (and other heathland species)
  • Bees, ants and wasps: Heath potter wasp, narrow-headed ant, bilberry bumblebee
  • Dragonflies: Southern damselfly, scarce blue-tailed damselfly need to add a link below
  • True flies: Bog hoverfly and other valley mire flies, tormentil globetail hoverfly
  • Spiders and harvestmen: Dartmoor bog spiders
  • Flowering plants and ferns: Great sundew, lesser butterfly orchid, south west Dartmoor downs specialists, grazed wet acid grasslands and heath (including heath lobelia)

Follow the links below to the relevant Focus Species pages as well as to relevant habitat and wider theme pages:

Where to focus action

Actions above are prioritised to the following High Opportunity Areas (in bold). See Mapping for the LNRS Viewer and information on how areas have been mapped.

Upland bog, heath and mire mosaics:

  • Dartmoor and Exmoor
    • heathland (existing)
    • upland acid grassland (existing)
    • Dartmoor valley mires (existing)
    • flushes, fens, marsh and swamp (existing)
    • blanket bog (existing)
    • deep peat

North Devon Culm grassland potential restoration area

Dartmoor Rhos pasture potential restoration area

South West Dartmoor Downs potential restoration area

East Devon spring-line mires potential restoration area

South Hams wet grassland potential restoration area

Bovey Basin heaths potential restoration area

Haldon heaths potential restoration area

Pebblebed heaths potential restoration area

East Devon plateau heaths potential restoration area

Coastal Wildbelt

Mapped habitats:

Lowland heath (existing)

Purple moor-grass and rush pasture (existing)

Lowland mires (existing)

Species zones:

  • Mammals: water voles and beavers
  • Birds: Dartmoor waders, whinchats, willow tits (willow tits are found in the wet woodland which forms part of the mosaic of habitats in these areas)
  • Butterflies: marsh fritillary, pearl-bordered fritillary, high brown fritillary
  • Flies: bog hoverfly and tormentil globetail hoverfly

Focus Species in High Opportunity Areas

Unenclosed Dartmoor (see Species pages for details)

  • Mammals: Otter
  • Birds: Heath, moor and rough grassland group (dunlin, curlew, snipe, whinchat, cuckoo etc).
  • Bees, ants and wasps: Billberry bumblebee
  • True flies: Bog hoverfly and other valley mire flies
  • Beetles: dung beetles
  • Spiders and harvestmen: Dartmoor bog spiders
  • Flowering plants and ferns: Great sundew

3. Inspiration

Case studies

There’s lots of great work going on across Devon for heath, mire and rush pasture. For example:

Farmer led case studies to be added through consultation with the farming steering group. Draft text below.   

Dartmoor

On Dartmoor the Duchy tenants at Challacombe Farm have restored extensive areas of upland heath using agri-environment funding and sensitive grazing regimes. On Throwleigh and Gidleigh Commons in north-east Dartmoor, Natural England has granted exemptions to commoners so they can graze cattle in winter, which has reduced the volume of Molinia and led to a significant increase in heather.  

Graze the Moor project

The Graze the Moor Project at Molland Moor on Exmoor is a long-term partnership between the owners, the tenant, Natural England, Exmoor National Park Authority and others. Together they have restored a moor that had become dominated by Molinia and lost much of its heather back to an area where the Molinia is much reduced and heather and bilberry are once again flourishing. This was achieved by a combination of herbicides, fire management and over-winter cattle grazing, and more recently with targeted grazing using no-fence satellite collars.  

Peatland restoration

Since 2010 restoration work has taken or is taking place on 13 different deep peat sites. As a result, dunlin numbers have increased in areas such as Winney’s Down and Cowsic Head. On Exmoor, the Exmoor Mires project identified 3,000ha of mire suitable for restoration. To date over 2,600ha have been completed (Brazier et al 2020). Peatland restoration work on Dartmoor and Exmoor is being carried out by the South West Peatland Partnership, although the project is only funded until 2025. 

Blackdown Hills?   – work with National Highways to reduce flooding – habitat management at Bolham Water for marsh frits etc.

Where to visit

To be added through consultation

Always follow the Countryside Code and stick to footpaths and sites that are managed for public access. 

For information on these and other sites that are open to the public please see the Explore Devon website.  

4. Find out more

Links to be added and tidied up through consultation (some of the references can be left in the detailed LNRS papers and taken out of here)

General

****** LNRS Habitats Classification Table

The UKHab is fully translatable, hierarchical system that integrates all major UK and European habitat classifications. It is used to provide consistent and comparable data within, for example, environmental impact assessments and Biodiversity Net Gain projects: The UK Habitat Classification (2023).

Upland heath, mire and bogs

Dartmoor and Exmoor initiatives

Moorland initiatives on Dartmoor:

Dartmoor Projects 
Dartmoor Dynamic Landscape – HLF 
Dartmoor Headwaters Natural Flood Management Project 
Dartmoor Hill-farming Project 
FiPL projects 
Favourable Condition Assessments for Dartmoor’s moorland SSSIs NE 
Friends of the Dart – HLF  
Heather condition assessment Dartmoor SSSIs NE 
Managing and monitoring Molinia FCL/FoDCA/ HAUCA 
Mangement Plan for Harford and Ugborough Common FCL 
Our Common Cause – FCL/HLF 
Pony / heather project  – Bellever Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust 
Quantifying the extent of Molinia on Dartmoor’s Commons Adrian Colston / SWPP 
Ring Ouzel monitoring Devon Birds / RSPB 
South West Peatland Partnership 
Tackling Invasive Plants 
Two Moors Pine Martin Project  – Seeking to restore populations of this native species DWT  
Whinchat Project FCL/RSPB/HLF 
Wistman’s Wood expansion plan DoC, NE Moor Trees 
 
Dartmoor Landscape Recovery Projects 
Central Dartmoor Landscape Recovery 
Walkham Valley Landscape Recovery Project 
Wilder East Dartmoor Landscape Recovery 

Moorland initiatives on Exmoor:

ENNIS – the Exmoor Non-Native Invasive Species Project. 
Exmoor Hill-farming Network 
Exmoor Pioneers – past, present and future – To provide improved access and interpretation alongside nature recovery works in and around the moorland of the old royal forest of Exmoor. HLF 
FiPL projects 
Graze the Moor Project – An innovative grazing project based on the southern edge of Exmoor National Park. 
Headwater of the Exe Project  – Working to promote and support sustainable land management. 
Riverlands Project – Reviving the Porlock Vale Streams 
South West Peatland Partnership 
Sowing seeds – a project to create more wildlife-rich meadows on Exmoor 
Treescapes Project – Visualising future tree and woodland planting in Exmoor 
Two Moors Pine Marten Project  – Seeking to restore populations of this native species DWT  
Nature Recovery Vision for Nature Recovery ENPA 
 
Exmoor Landscape Recovery Projects 
Arlington Estate nature recovery and connection to Exmoor 
Holnicote River Corridors 
RivivingReviving Exmoor’s Heartland 

Ecology papers

Upland heaths, mires and bog – overview for the LNRS,  2023, Adrian Colston -TO BE ADDED

South West Dartmoor Downs – overview for the LNRS, 2023, Andy Byfield. -TO BE ADDED

Exeter University has produced a paper explaining how to use the Dartmoor SWEEP map: Woodlands to Moorlands: Habitat Mapping for the
South West.

Averis A., Averis B. Birks J., Horsfield D., Thompson D. & Yeo M. (2004) An illustrated guide to British Upland Vegetation. Pelagic Publishing. 

Brazier, R.E., Angus, M., Benaud, P., Gatis, N., Luscombe, D.J., Anderson, K., Ashe, J., Barrowclough, C., Carless, D., Freeman, G., Gillard, M., Grand- Clement, E., Hand, A., Malone, E., McAleer, A. and Smith, D. (2020) Mires on the Moors: Science and Evidence Report 2020, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK. 

Colston (2017a) Atmospheric pollution from ozone – an elephant in the uplands 

Colston A. (2017b) Atmospheric Nitrogen Pollution and its impact on Dartmoor.

Colston A. (2020). Hill-farming incomes and the Agricultural Transition Plan – whither Dartmoor?

Colston A. (2021) Stakeholder attitudes to the narratives of the Dartmoor Commons: tradition and the search for consensus in a time of change. PhD thesis. Centre for Rural Policy Research, University of Exeter.   

Colston A. (2021) The Dartmoor Fire – an inevitable event.

Defra (2023) Independent review of protected site management on Dartmoor 

DNPA (2001) The Nature of Dartmoor – a biodiversity profile 

DNPA, (2020) Analysis of priority and associated habitats on Dartmoor by catchment. Unpublished. 

ENPA (2001) Exmoor Biodiversity Action Plan 

JNCC (2008a) UK Biodiversity Action Plan Habitat Descriptions: Upland Heathland, Page 92.

JNCC (2008b) UK Biodiversity Action Plan Habitat Descriptions: upland flushes, fens and swamps, Page 89.

JNCC (2008c) UK Biodiversity Action Plan Habitat Descriptions: Blanket bog, Page 4.

Luscombe D., Gatis N., Carless D., Anderson K. and Brazier R. (2016) Dartmoor peatland investigation and mapping project report. University of Exeter. Report for the DNPA. 

Luscombe D., Carless D., Anderson K. and Brazier R. (2017) Dartmoor peatland investigation and mapping supplementary report. University of Exeter. Report for the DNPA. 

Rodwell J. S. (1991) British Plant Communities volume 2 Mires and Heaths. Cambridge University Press. 

Key delivery partners

Natural England, Dartmoor National Park Authority, Exmoor National Park Authority, RSPB, National Trust, Devon Wildlife Trust, Dartmoor Hill-farm Project, Exmoor Hill-farm Project, landowners e.g., Duchy of Cornwall, Dartmoor Commoners Council, individual Commons Associations, Dartmoor Preservation Association, Dartmoor Society, Exmoor Society, Foundation for Common Land

Lowland heathland

Lowland heathland examples

East Devon District Council: Trinity Hill  

East Devon District Council: Fire Beacon Hill 

RSPB: Aylesbeare Common  

Devon Wildlife Trust: Venn Ottery Common  

Devon Wildlife Trust: Bovey Heathfield  

Teighbridge District Council: Little Haldon

Stockland Parish Council: Stockland Turbaries

SSSIs:

Chudleigh Knighton Heath: favourable/unfavourable recovering

Bovey Heathfield: unfavourable recovering, past scrub invasion  

Little Haldon: mainly unfavourable recovering, some units declining – lack of management and scrub invasion   

Great Haldon Heaths : unfavourable recovering – lack of management   

Haldon Forest: Favourable, this includes heath restored from former commercial forestry   

East Devon Pebblebed Heaths:  mostly favourable or unfavourable recovering  

Lambert’s Castle Units 2, 4, 7: Unfavourable Recovering – lack of management  

Blackdown and Sampford Commons: mostly unfavourable recovering – lack of management leading to scrub and bracken development  

Maiden Down: Unfavourable declining – no recent management  

Ecology papers

Lowland Heathland overview for the LNRS, Phil Wilson

Key delivery partners

Devon Wildlife Trust, East Devon and Blackdown Hills Protected Landscapes, Forestry Commission, RSPB, Teignbridge District Council, East Devon District Council, Clinton Devon Estates, Ministry of Defence, Stockland Parish Council and Kilmington Parish Council.

Mires (fens)

SSSI’s (citations)

Sothey and Gotleigh Moors: All apart from one unit assessed as in favourable or unfavourable recovering condition in 2020).  

Hense Moor: Unfavourable recovering condition.

Braunton Swanpool: favourable condition.

Wolborough Fen.  Unfavourable declining condition.

Bolshayne Fen: Favourable condition.

Springhead: NE assessed this as in unfavourable recovering condition in 2009.  In 2014 it appeared to be in unfavourable declining condition, with scrub and tall swamp vegetation developing over the species-rich fen, and little sign of appropriate management.   

Ecology papers

UK BAP Priority habitat description for Lowland Fens

Wheeler et al (2009) provides a comprehensive description of fen types based on characteristics of water supply.   

Lowland Fen overview for the LNRS, Phil Wilson

Upstream Thinking is an innovative conservation project running across the Dart, Exe, Fowey, Otter, Tamar and Tavy catchments.

What is Natural Flood Management?

Colston A. (2022) Defra’s 2021-22 Farm Business Income stats – what do they mean for Dartmoor?

DBRC (2024) County Wildlife Sites condition spreadsheet 

Culm/ Rhos pasture

Ecology papers

DCC (2009) Rhôs Pasture. Devon Biodiversity and Geodiversity Action Plan (archived)

Defra (2024a)  MAGIC website

Defra (2024b)  MAGIC website

DWT (2014a) The Culm: a landscape that works 

DWT (2014b) Culm Grassland: An Assessment of Recent Historic Change 

DWT (2020) NIA Culm Grassland Flood Management Project Vegetation Monitoring Summary 2020 

DWT (2021) Culm Grassland Natural Flood Management Project Final project report 2016 – 21 

JNCC (2008) UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Habitat Descriptions: Purple Moor Grass and Rush Pastures, Page 63.

NE (2024) Favourable Condition Assessment spreadsheet. Natural England 

Rodwell J. S. (1991) British Plant Communities volume 2 Mires and Heaths. Cambridge University Press. 

Rodwell J. S. (1995) British Plant Communities volume 5 Aquatic communities, swamps and tall-herb fens. Cambridge University Press. 

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