2001 Descriptions of Section 9 (hand weeded) on the Heathland Restoration Project site.

These descriptions build upon the descriptions of the sections given in the 2000 ecological survey and should be read in conjunction for maximum benefit.
Hand Weeded Section 2000

Six years after the start of experimental management and succession was beginning to take place in section 9, despite the hand weeding regime.

Bramble in amongst Bracken in the lower half of section 9.

As in the preceding year, bramble (left - amongst bracken) was the dominant species, occurring in virtually all of the quadrats sampled.

It had increased in abundance over the year.

This section still contained the greatest abundance of Heather (left) on the project site.

The well-established Heather bushes had increased substantially in height and girth, with many of the older bushes becoming coarse and rank with quite open crowns.

The European Gorse (left) had grown substantially, reaching a maximum height of 250cm in places across the centre of the section.

Gorse had also increased in abundance since the previous year.

Birch and other tree seedlings in amongst Bracken in the upper half of section 9.

Silver Birch (left) had increased and was the second most dominant species after bramble. Many of the birch saplings were by now up to160cm tall

Other tree species which were well established were cherry, willow and Rowan. Many of these were beyond pulling by hand.

Patches of rhododendron were also becoming re-established in isolated places.

Bracken and Gorse behind the darker green of Heather, in the lower half of section 9.

Bracken (left - dead, brown fronds)- continued to encroach in the extreme top and bottom areas of the section.

Hypnum jutlandicum, Polytrichum formosum and Thuidium tamarascinum in section 9.

Patches of more open ground supported a varied moss flora (left), including Polytrichum formosum and Hypnum jutlandicum, (both species commonly found on heaths), as well as Thuidium tamarascinum.

Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus , another characteristic moss of heaths, was recorded for the first time in section 9 this year, as well as in adjacent section 8.

Sedges (left) were common in patches, although overall they were not dominant. These were mainly Pill Sedge, Smooth-stalked Sedge and Green-ribbed Sedge.

This section supported quite a variety of different grasses, including several different species of Bents (Agrostis spp.), Purple Moor Grass, Sweet Vernal Grass and Yorkshire Fog.

Yorkshire Fog had decreased and was no longer classed as a dominant species in this section.

Open patches of bare sandy ground were still clear in parts of the section (left).

These had often been colonized by ants and solitary wasps.

Species	Overall % frequency		Mean % Cover (all quadrats)
	2001	2000	2001	2000
Bramble	91	72	27	22
Silver Birch	71	50	17	15
*Polytrichum formosum*	68	66	37	32
Heather	68	63	44	38
Thuidium tamarascinum	65	63	25	25
*Hypnum jutlandicum*	53	38	21	17
European Gorse	47	31	23	10
Pill Sedge	41	9	6	2
Eurhynchium praelongum	41	35	16	9
Velvet Bent	21	53	3	16
Common Bent	35	47	11	18
Cherry	27	22	5	3

Percentage frequency = the percentage of the total number of quadrats sampled over the whole site which contain the species. For example, a percentage frequency of 100%, means that the species was found in all quadrats sampled.