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General Description:

Heathland includes vegetation dominated by ericoids or dwarf gorse species, as well as 'heaths' dominated by lichens and bryophytes, dwarf forbs, Carex bigelowii or Juncus trifidus.Generally occurring on well-drained acid soils, heathland is further distinguished from mire (E) by being arbitrarily defined as occurring on peat less than 0.5m thick (but see flood-plain mire E3.3). Dominant species should always be coded. See also dune heath (H6.6) and coastal heathland (H8.5).

D1 Dry dwarf shrub heath:

Dry dwarf shrub heath Description:Vegetation with greater than 25% cover of ericoids or small gorse species in relatively dry situations forms this category. Calluna vulgaris, Vaccinium myrtillus, Erica cinerea, Ulex minor and Ulex gallii are typical of lowland dry dwarf shrub heath, whilst Emperum nigrum, Empetrum hermaphrditum, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi and Vaccinium vitis-idaea are found in upland heaths. Acid heaths usually occur on deep podsols developed on base-deficient sands, gravels and clays. Basic heaths are much more restricted in extent, and may be recognised by the presence of herbs characteristic of chalk grassland and open habitats.See also wet drawf shrub heath (D2), dry heath/acid grassland mosaic (D5) and dry modified bog (E1.4). Damp Calluna heath with Sphagnum capillifolium (mainly in western Scotland) should be included in this category and target noted. Whether the heath is acidic or basic should be recorded (see D1.1 and D1.2).

• D1.1 Dry dwarf shrub heath - acid Description: - Vegetation with greater than 25% cover of ericoids or small gorse species in relatively dry situations forms this category. Calluna vulgaris, Vaccinium myrtillus, Erica cinerea, Ulex minor and Ulex gallii are typical of lowland dry dwarf shrub heath, whilst Emperum nigrum, Empetrum hermaphrditum, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi and Vaccinium vitis-idaea are found in upland heaths. Acid heaths usually occur on deep podsols developed on base-deficient sands, gravels and clays.
• D1.2 Dry dwarf shrub heath - basic Description: - Vegetation with greater than 25% cover of ericoids or small gorse species in relatively dry situations forms this category. Calluna vulgaris, Vaccinium myrtillus, Erica cinerea, Ulex minor and Ulex gallii are typical of lowland dry dwarf shrub heath, whilst Emperum nigrum, Empetrum hermaphrditum, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi and Vaccinium vitis-idaea are found in upland heaths. Basic heaths are much more restricted in extent, and may be recognised by the presence of herbs characteristic of chalk grassland and open habitats.

D2 Wet dwarf shrub heath:

Wet dwarf shrub heath Description:As with dry dwarf heath (D1), this vegetation type has more than 25% cover of ericoids and/or small Ulex species. However, it differs from D1 in that Molina caerulea is often abundant and it generally contains some Sphagnum compactum or Sphagnum tenellum and less frequently other Sphagna. In transitions to mires, the proportion of Sphagna will increase and the species composition will change, often with Sprhgnum papillosum and Sphagnum subnitens becoming more frequent. Erica tetralix is common in wet dwarf shrub heath and is often present in significant quantity. Trichophorum cespitosum is occasionally present at lower levels. Macrolichens such as Cladonia portentosa (impexa), C. arbuscula and C. uncialis may be locally abundant. The abundance of Molinia and Erica tetralix decreases in the transition from wet to dry heath. See also wet heath/acid grassland mosaic (D6) and wet modified bog (E1.3).

D3 Lichen/bryophyte heath:

Lichen/bryophyte heath Description:This category comprises bryophyte and lichen-dominated heaths of mountain summits and lowland situations such as the East Anglian Breckland. Bryophytes and/or lichens must be dominant and there must be less than 30% vascular plant cover.

D4 Montane heath/dwarf herb:

Montane heath/dwarf herb Description:This is a rather diverse grouping of montane heath and snow-bed vegetation types. Included in this category are heaths dominated by Carex bigelowii and Juncus rifidus, also dwarf forb communities of Alchemilla alpina, Silene acaulis, Sibbaldia procumbens and Saxifrage species. Montane dwarf shrub heath should not be included, but should be classified under D1 or D2; Dryas octopetala communities should be classified under calcareous grassland (B3).

D5 Dry heath/acid grassland mosaic:

Dry heath/acid grassland mosiac Description:This represents a common mixture of dry heath (D1) and acid grassland (B1), to be found on hill and moorland, and the category has been specified only for ease of mapping. The relative proportions of each type of habitat should be target noted.

D6 Wet heath/acidic grassland mosaic:

Wet heath/acidic grassland mosaic Description: Vegetation mosaics similar to D5, but involving a mixture of wet heath (D2) with acid grassland (B1), make up this category.