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Traditional forms of management
Grazing
Edaphic
and environmental conditions peculiar to shingle seem to serve as natural limits
on cover for Calluna (and other plant communities).
Grazing management may be all that is needed to restrict scrub invasion on grassland
and to a lesser extent heathland. However, following cessation of grazing pressure,
maintenance of a variety of grassland (and a few heathland) communities may
require clearance of invasive scrub and heath (see for example
Dungeness Annex 05). Reintroduction
of grazing may then be required to maintain certain grassland assemblages such
as the herb-rich Yorkshire-fog Holcus lanatus
grasslands of Arran.
| Guidance: Away from the drift-line, the soils on shingle structures
are usually very nutrient-poor. The introduction of grazing herbivores on
traditionally ungrazed sites will almost always cause vegetation change
both as a result of structural effects and nutrient
enrichment and is potentially damaging (see for example). At
a few sites excessive grazing can cause damage to the vegetation as a Rye
Harbour, Annex 04 (see Picture below ). |
Caption:
Damage caused to mature shingle grassland at Rye Harbour form excavation
and heavy grazing near the burrows.
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