The HEATH Project

Our heathland landscapes are of great ecological, economic, historic and cultural importance but they are in long-term decline. Since 1800 there has been a 90% loss of heathland in North West Europe, replaced by intensive farmland, plantation forests and building development. What remains is fragmented, often neglected, and suffering from scrub and bracken encroachment and general mis-use.

With partners in Holland, France, Wales, and England The HEATH ( H eathland, E nvironment, A griculture, T ourism, H eritage) Project aims to reverse some of this decline. Funded through Interreg and the Heritage Lottery Fund, the project is reconnecting sites, advocating good land management techniques, encouraging local community involvement and promoting heathlands as a valuable resource. More

Project News

Controlled burning by Natural England on Goonhilly Downs
Farmers welcome heathlands burning workshop Farmers in West Penwith welcomed last weeks workshop on heathl... HEATH Partnership Newsletter Issue 2 The second edition of the HEATH partnership newsletter is published. LOCAL FARMER WELCOMES GRAZING OPPORTUNITIES ON LIZARD COMMONS Chris Oates, an organic beef farmer from the Lizard, has welcomed recent government approvals which will mean he can graze his cattle on Rosuick Common on the Lizard. Specialist equipment helps West Penwith Farmers Specialist equipment, to help rural farmers tend their livestock, is now available thanks to the HEATH Project. HEATH project moves to a new address... From the 1st October the HEATH project will be located at a new address in Truro Why are cattle being re-introduced to Carn Kenidjack, St Just? The following article was written in response to a letter published in The Cornishman on the 1st November, 2007, titled: Will fences destroy last unspoilt landscape? HEATH Festival 2007 ends.... HEATHFEST, a festival celebrating Heathland at sites across Cornwall providing an opportunity for people to get involved, educated and passionate about their local landscape, was well attended with over 3500 people involved. Tourism outputs delivered Two reports looking at Visitor Payback Schemes and Sustainable Transport have been produced by COAST on behalf of the HEATH project. Archaeological reports delivered The brief reports provide guidance on all of the 56 HEATH project areas to ensure that there is complete HE management coverage as part of the project. More

Picture of Project Site coastline

Project Sites

The HEATH Project is working in a number of
sub regional areas in countries across North West Europe.

Project Sites Preview

The project brings together experiences from a wide range of partners responsible for a variety of heathland sites. Specifically, sites can be found in the following regions:

Brittany (France)
Normandy (France)
Cornwall (England)
Pembrokeshire (Wales)
Hoge Veluwe National Park. (NL)

More Picture of Project Site flora

What is Heathland

Lowland heath is primarily found in North West Europe, from Norway south to Portugal and from Eire east to Poland.

What is Heathland Preview

Heathland is a generally open, dynamic landscape that develops on impoverished, usually acidic soils and supports a range of plant communities. This includes:

Heathers (Calluna and Erica)
Acid grasses (eg, Festuca and Agrostis)
Gorse (Ulex spp)

Project Partners

(External) English Nature Logo and Link
(External) Symel logo and link
(External) Parc Naturel Régional d'Armorique Logo and Link
(External) Het Nationale Park De Hoge Veluwe Logo and Link
(External) Conservatoire du littoral Logo and Link
(External) Bretagne Vivante Logo and Link
(External) Alterra Logo and Link

Project Supported by

(External) Integralvision Web Design Exeter, Devon

Change Text Only Settings

Graphic version of this page