WALKERS took home a piece of an East Hampshire beauty spot after rangers spoke about its importance and upkeep.
People who took part in the ‘Bringing Heathland Home’ event at Longmoor last Friday got the chance to cut and keep their own section of heather.
They also learned about the many species which live on the managed site between Liss Forest and the A3 during a two-hour walk.
The event was led by Ralph Connolly of the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust and Guy Mason of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.
Longmoor is one of the most important and ecologically rich heathlands in southern Britain as every type of native snake, lizard and reptile can be found on the 815-acre site.
It’s even home to a tiny carnivorous plant and some of the county’s most treasured birds like the Dartford warbler, a ground-nesting species which thrives in areas where pines have been felled.
Walkers heard that cattle grazing and heather cutting are an important part of the site’s management as they promote new growth.
The appearance of dwarf gorse around the site is encouraging as it’s considered a “good indicator species” as it provides shelter for reptiles and invertebrates.
The biggest issue facing heathland is the presence of pine trees as they thrive in nutrient-poor soil but they’re non-native and nothing grows under them.
The event was part of the Heathlands Reunited project which aims to recreate, connect and restore heathland across the South Downs National Park, with the next being a ‘Scrub Bash’ at Woolmer Forest on September 22 to aid its Natterjack toads.