Ecology

Heathland

About Heathland

The Great Glamorgan Way passes through upland heathland habitat such as along the Taf Ely Ridgeway. The majority of heathlands in the UK have been lost due to land-use change and urban development. As a result, heathland is a rare habitat, which often exists in isolated areas. It is important to maintain remaining heathlands along with their rare shrubs, invertebrates and reptile species.

Heathland Plants

Heathland is home to many rare species, particularly grasses and low-growing shrubs. Heathland shrubs provide shelter and nesting sites for small mammals and ground nesting birds. Characteristic species, which help us to identify heathland include:

Common heather (Calluna)
Bell heather (Erica cinerea)
Common gorse (Ulex europaeus)
Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus)
Bracken (Pteridium)

: Thistle

: Common gorse

: Bracken

: Common heather

Invertebrates

Heathlands can support a wide variety of butterflies and moths, which are found in the presence of their foodplant. Unimproved grassland and heathland habitats contain an assortment of shrubs and meadow flowers, due to limited management and human intervention. Some species which can be observed include:

Green hairstreak butterfly (Callophrys rubi)
Small copper butterfly (Lycaena phlaeas)
Common blue butterfly (Polyommatus icarus)
Small skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris)
Elephant hawk moth (Deilephila elpenor)
Magpie moth (Abraxas grossulariata)

: Common blue

: Common blue

: Small Skipper

: Elephant hawk moth

: Magpie moth

Anthills are a common sight in upland heathland habitats. Yellow meadow ant colonies create an anthill from a mound of soil, which is often grown over with grasses and vegetation. The colony itself can live up to 1 metre below the ground. The ants spend the majority of their time living under the ground feeding on honeydew produced by root aphids.

: Anthill

Reptiles and Amphibians

Heathlands are particularly important for reptiles and amphibians. The broad range of invertebrates found within heathland habitats provide a food source for reptiles and amphibians. Amphibians can be found in wet areas and near freshwater sources, where they lay their eggs.

Open sunny areas provide basking and egg laying opportunities for reptiles, whilst heathland shrubs provide shelter. Heathlands provide a home for all 6 native reptile species:

European adder (Vipera berus)
Grass snake (Natrix natrix)
Smooth snake (Coronella austriaca)
Sand lizard (Lacerta agilis)
Common lizard (Zootoca vivipara)
Slow worm (Anguis fragilis)

: Adder

: Slow worm

Mammals

Gorse provides shelter for small mammals such as rabbits, hares and weasels. Mammals runs develop overtime as an animal uses the same path over and over, leaving paths in long grass or gaps in gorse. These gaps are useful indicators of the presence of small mammals.

Birds

Heathland habitats are home to ground nesting birds, which seek shelter in dense heather, gorse or bracken. These species are highly camouflaged for nesting at ground level. Ground nesting species include:

Skylark (Alauda arvensis)
Dartford warbler (Sylvia undata)
Nightjar (Caprimulgidae)

Birds of prey are also a common sight in upland grassland areas along the Great Glamorgan Way. They prey on small mammals, birds and reptiles which are associated with heathland habitat therefore, you may see them soaring above open grassland areas in search of prey. Here are some species to look out for: