Heather Moorland

This is the most common type of moorland currently covering approx. 0.4 million acres in upland England.

The vegetation is dominated by heather and is found on gentler, relatively dry slopes.  High quality heather moorlands are generally structurally diverse, including young, mature and degenerate stands of heather.

Where old heather has been left to develop into gnarled old leggy plants, lichens and mosses are important.

For more information on the life cycle of heather and how moorlands are managed by burning click here.

Locally, mixed moor occurs on steeper rocky slopes where bilberry (seen here), crowberry and cowberry compete with the heather.  These areas are important for invertebrates such as the green hairstreak butterfly for which the Peak District is an important stronghold.

For more information on how organisations are working together through the Peak District Biodiversity Action Plan to look after heather moorland click here.