This report is a description of the gradual changes in plant cover taking
place on a 2 hectare area of land, which is being restored to a heathland habitat. The
site is located in the Woodland Education Centre in Offwell,
near Honiton in the county of Devon, South West England. The area was
formerly wooded with conifers and Sweet Chestnut, with an understory of Rhododendron. This
was completely cleared in 1993. The area was subsequently divided into nine sections.
Various different management techniques are being used on different sections (see pictures
below) to test their effects on heath restoration. Changes to the heathland project site
have been monitored on an annual basis from 1996 onwards. For an article describing the
heathland five years after the initiation of the project click here.
For an ecological sampling exercise, based on
Bluebell distribution in strips 1 - 4 seven years after management on the Heathland
Restoration site began, click here
For a discussion of secondary succession on the Control strip of the
Heathland Project area, click here.
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