1.    Total number of different plant species recorded in all sections:

      92 species

2.   The dominant plants across the whole project area:

     Eurhynchium praelongum
     Thuidium tamarascinum
      Polytrichum formosum
      Bluebell - Hyacinthoides non-scripta
      Common Bent - Agrostis capillaris
      Yorkshire Fog - Holcus lanatus
      Bramble - Rubus fruticosus agg.
      Silver Birch - Betula pendula
      Common Dog-violet - Viola riviniana
      European Gorse - Ulex europaeus
      Slender St John's Wort - Hypericum pulchrum
    Heather - Calluna vulgaris
     Yellow Pimpernel - Lysimachia nemorum
     Bugle - Ajuga reptans

3.  Plants occurring across in every section of the Heathland Restoration Project site:

     Only 6 plants were found in every single section on the site. These were:     

4.  The sections closest to a heathland habitat:

      Section 7 (spring brushcut, initial gorse and grass control)
      Section 8 (autumn brushcut, initial selective weed control)
      Section 9 (handweeding)

This is based on these sections having the greatest abundance of heath species such as Heather,         Bell Heather, gorse, bramble, Tormentil, Silver Birch, Pill Sedge, Bristle Bent and mosses such as      Hypnum jutlandicum.

5.   Rhododendron is present in over half of the sections:

This highly invasive non-native species which formerly covered the Heathland Restoration Project site is gradually appearing again. There is a constant source of reinfestation from the seed bank in the soil which will contain millions of seeds. Without the control provided by the brushcutting regimes, within the space of one or two decades at the most, rhododendron would once more dominate the area.

6.  Sections containing the most remnant woodland species:

Sections 1- 4. These sections are the ones most influenced by adjacent woodland. This leads to marked differences in microclimate in this region of the Heathland Restoration project (cooler, shadier, more humid). Woodland species concentrated in this area include: Bluebells (visible left), Wood Sorrel, Wood Speedwell, Enchanters Nightshade and Oak.

The project site was formerly covered in conifer woodland with a rhododendron understory. It is bounded by deciduous woodland to the west, with small areas also to the east. The site's wooded history and the adjacent woodland habitat means that there is a constant source of seed from woodland species both fresh each year, as well as remaining in the seedbank in the soil.

7.  The section with the highest species diversity:

Section 3 (autumn brushcut)

8.  The section with the lowest species diversity:

Section 5 (control strip - no management) This section is dominated by gorse, bramble and tree saplings which shade out many of the other smaller plants.

Ecological Survey 2001
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