Restoration of Calluna heathland on a bracken Pteridium-infested site in north west England

Abstract

Heathlands tend to occur on low fertility soils, but where heathland has been invaded by bracken Pteridium soil nutrient concentrations may be increased. In order to reestablish Calluna-dominated heathland these elevated soil nutrient concentrations may have to be reduced. This paper describes an attempt to re-create an area of Calluna-dominated heath on land which had been invaded by bracken. Several management techniques were implemented in a hierarchical manner to control a dense bracken stand, including: litter stripping, ploughing and traditional bracken control methods such as cutting and herbicide treatment. Finally a heathland propagule source, which was rich in Calluna seeds, was added. The effects of these treatments on both nutrient budgets and soil chemical properties were also investigated. Litter stripping removed a large amount of nutrients, ranging between 19 and 98 years' worth of rainfall inputs depending on the element. Ploughing caused an initial reduction in frond density and biomass but effects were not significant thereafter. Cutting twice yearly was the most effective treatment in reducing frond biomass. The establishment of Calluna seedlings was directly related to the success of the bracken control treatments.