SUFFOLK BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN:

Lowland heaths lie below 300m altitude and are characterised by vegetation dominated by dwarf shrubs, in particular various species of heather. They are characteristically found on acidic, sandy, free-draining soils that are nutrient-poor.

1     Definition

In Suffolk, many heaths have a mix of dwarf shrubs interwoven with acid grassland. In Breckland the habitat is very complex as the mix of chalky and sandy soils is reflected in a diverse range of heath and dry grassland communities unique in Britain.

2     Current status

Lowland heath is a rare and threatened habitat internationally and the UK has 20% of the global total. Suffolk has 3,184 ha of lowland heathland, out of a total of 58,000ha in the UK, which is 5.3% of the national resource.
Two important regions of lowland heathland are found in Suffolk: the Sandlings, along the coastal belt, and Breckland on the Norfolk/Suffolk border. Heathland in Suffolk is largely confined to these areas although smaller areas can be found in the upper Waveney Valley at Wortham Ling and Redgrave and Lopham Fens.
Key National Biodiversity Action Plan species that use heathlands in Suffolk include Stone curlew, Nightjar, Woodlark, Skylark, Linnet, Natterjack toad, Silver-studded blue butterfly, Red-tipped cudweed, Tower mustard, Perennial knawel, Small alison and Interrupted brome. Others that used to occur on Suffolk heaths include the Red-backed shrike and wryneck.

2.1     Sandlings

In the Sandlings 1,681ha of heath remain, approximately 8% of what were once extensive heaths. From 1932-1983 83% of Sandlings heaths were lost, largely to forestry (30%), agriculture (30%), buildings (9%) and military bases (5%). There are 42 Sandlings heaths ranging from 247ha at Minsmere/ Walberswick to fragments under 2ha.

2.2     Breckland

Breckland heath has declined more dramatically than Sandlings heaths. Between 1934-1980 86% of Breckland heathland was lost largely to forestry, agriculture and military bases. In Breckland as a whole 4,529ha of heath remain of which 2,242ha are found in Suffolk. There are 55 heathland sites in Suffolk Breckland ranging in size from Lakenheath Warren (570ha) to those less than 3ha.

2.3    Natural Areas

Brecklands, Suffolk Coast and Heaths.

3     Current factors affecting the habitat in Suffolk

In previous decades agriculture and forestry have been the primary cause of loss of heathland but this is no longer the case. Current factors include:

• Neglect: this is the main threat to heaths as lack of management leads to encroachment by trees and scrub. In the Sandlings in 1986 only 38% of heaths were dominated by true heathland communities. Of the remaining heathland areas 16% were disappearing to woodland, 13% to scrub and 33% were dominated by dense bracken stands.
  
• Development: as recently as 1987 parts of Martlesham Heath, lpswich were developed for housing. Currently, areas of Breck heath at Red Lodge are threatened by proposed development. Significant areas of heathland occur on MoD land. If these bases become redundant (as at former RAF Bentwaters) the future for these areas may be uncertain.
  
• Recreational pressures: heathlands are very popular habitats for informal recreation. Experience at Dunwich Heath and Minsmere has shown that this can be compatible with conservation when integrated into the overall management of the site. Some heathland species are susceptible to disturbance and are not compatible with unmanaged public access.
  
• Summer fires: these are a problem particularly in the urban-edge heaths around lpswich. Bixley Heath and Martlesham Heath regularly suffer from deliberate fires. These can have small-scale conservation benefits e.g. burnt areas provide ideal conditions for Silver-studded blue butterflies and clear areas of gorse scrub. However, as these fires are uncontrolled (rather than winter-burn management fires) they have also the potential to wipe-out Silver-studded blue colonies, kill reptiles and destroy the nests and young of ground-nesting birds.
  
• Inappropriate management: although the reintroduction of grazing is generally beneficial some practices can be damaging. In the Breckland ESA there has been a decline of heather on some heaths as a result of winter-grazing of heather, especially where stock are held on sites too long. This leads to 'feeding' rather than 'supplementary feeding' and results in additions of nutrients to the heathland.
  
• Inappropriate management of heathland by golf clubs can lead to a loss of acid grassland through irrigation and additions of fertilisers.
  
• Atmospheric deposition of nitrogen may be contributing to nutrient enrichment and loss of heather in the Brecks. Results of current research may have implications for a range of semi-natural habitats.
  
• Lack of protective designations of areas of potential heathland. Sandy, nutrient-poor soils will soon revert to heath if appropriately managed. It is difficult and expensive to re-establish heathland where soils have been enriched by arable fertilisers or through outdoor pig-rearing. Commercial pine forests offer the best opportunities to re-establish heath as they are on relatively unmodified sandy soils.

4     Current action

4.1    Legal Status

• Seventeen of the 55 Suffolk Breckland heaths are designated as SSS1 and most of the larger heaths are designated as pSPA and cSAC because of their European importance for rare habitats and species.
  

• On the Sandlings, 85% of the heathland area is designated as SSSI: 19 of the 42 sites. The Minsmere and Walberswick heaths are also pSPA and cSAC.
  
• All heathland sites not designated as SSSI have been identified as County Wildlife Sites.

4.2     Management

General

• FE have drawn up and agreed management plans with EN for its heathland areas and heathland rides in Thetford Forest and the Sandlings forests.

Sandlings

• The management of the Sandlings heaths have benefited from a high degree of partnership since 1983 when the Suffolk Wildlife Trust's Sandlings Project started.
  

• FE have taken 78ha out of forest production for permanent reversion to heathland and have carried out management on 25ha this year. (Where large areas are involved, the Forestry Commission would wish to see the forestry replaced by an equivalent area elsewhere).
  
• By 1997 most of the Sandlings heaths were under some form of management either directly through sympathetic ownership or through the SWT's Sandlings Project. In 1996/97 the Project managed 865ha of heathland including 220ha being grazed by the Sandlings sheep flock.
  
• The main funding mechanism for heathland management has been Countryside Stewardship (CS). The scheme started in 1991 and by 1996 935ha of Sandlings heaths were managed under the scheme. The Sandlings remains a target area for CS but the successful uptake of the scheme means that most eligible heaths are now in agreements. CS has been effective in encouraging the management of the areas of heathland that remain but there are additional areas where considerable resources are needed to restore heathland currently dominated by trees and scrub.
  
• In 1997 'The Sandlings Walks' bid was submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund to support heathland restoration work in the Sandlings. The bid is being led by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust's Sandlings Project but involves all the partners on the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Sandlings Group. If successful the bid will enable the restoration of much of the remaining area of Sandlings heaths as well as encourage the linking of fragmented heaths.

Breckland

• The Breckland ESA, introduced in 1988, has been the main mechanism for encouraging management of the Breck heathlands. The scheme has successfully reintroduced grazing to many sites and has undoubtedly prevented the loss of heathland by tree and scrub encroachment.
  

• By December 1996 2,668ha had been entered into the ESA heathland management tier representing 63% of eligible heathlands.

Re-establishment

• The Brecks ESA had funded the re--establishment of 127ha of heathland by December 1996. The target set in 1992 had been 1000ha of re-established heath by 1998.
  

• Forest Enterprise have committed to create 300ha of heathland from forestry in Thetford Forest by 2020.
  
• The RSPB is involved in a major project to re-establish 158ha of lowland heath on arable land at Minsmere.

5    Action plan objectives and targets

1     Secure, without damage or loss, all existing areas of heath.
2    Restore areas of heathland that are currently being degraded through encroachment of trees and shrubs.
3    Maintain and improve the wildlife value of existing heathland through appropriate and sustainable grazing management systems.
4    Encourage the re-establishment of 570ha of heathland in the Sandlings and 1500ha in Breckland (Norfolk and Suffolk) from arable and forestry use, targeting links between fragmented heaths to create sustainable heathland units.
5    Maintain and strengthen populations of key BAP species associated with heathland.

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