As the Chair of Natural Devon



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Upland acid grassland

(note that this is not identified as a key habitat in the Devon BAP)


Area mapped
There is no Devon BAP inventory for upland acid grassland.

Condition of habitat in SSSIs
5 SSSI (1,967 hectares) contain upland acid grassland. The majority (1,858 hectares) is within North Dartmoor SSSI. 100% of habitat is favourable or unfavourable recovering.

Condition of habitat in CWS
There are no CWS designated for upland acid grassland.
Coastal and floodplain grazing marsh
Area mapped
6,537 ha
Condition of habitat in SSSIs

No SSSIs have been classed as coastal and floodplain grazing marsh by NE. SSSIs with this habitat include Braunton Swanpool and Greenaways (largely favourable) and Freshmarsh SSSI (favourable condition).


Condition of habitat in CWS
37 CWS contain coastal and floodplain grazing marsh. Seven sites have been monitored. One site was classified as Green, whilst the other six were Amber.


Lowland heathland
Area mapped
3,989 ha
Condition of habitat in SSSIs
10 SSSI (1,903 hectares) contain lowland heathland. This is 48% of the area mapped by DBRC. 95% of habitat is favourable or unfavourable recovering. 5% (87 hectares) is unfavourable no change (Little Haldon Heaths) or declining (part of East Devon Pebblebeds and Maiden Down). Issues include encroachment by scrub (birch, pine, gorse) and bracken as well as lack of specific growth stages of heather. Management issues relate to grazing (largely under grazing), cutting and burning.


Condition of habitat in CWS
118 CWS containing lowland heath. 51 have been monitored and 33% were classed as Green. Issues include under grazing, scrubbing up, bracken encroachment and agricultural improvement.




Upland heathland
Area mapped
5,456 ha

Condition of habitat in SSSIs
16 SSSIs (15,408 hectares) contain upland heathland and these are largely found on Dartmoor and Exmoor. 97% is favourable or unfavourable recovering. However, the majority (79%, 12,245 hectares) is classed as unfavourable recovering. 418 hectares (3%), located predominantly in East and North Dartmoor are classed as unfavourable, no change or declining. Habitat is largely unfavourable due to lack of dwarf shrub regeneration and high levels of purple moor-grass cover due to historical high levels of grazing, especially during the winter. Inappropriate burning practices have also been cited. NE condition assessment of East Dartmoor states that no real recovery was apparent following the ESA scheme but that a reduction in grazing levels has been supported through entry into HLS. Heather beetle damage and illegal fires also remain current issues.



Condition of habitat in CWS
There are only 4 CWS containing upland heath. Two have been monitored since 2009. One site was classified as Green, and the other Amber due to scrub encroachment and loss of heathland species.

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