Securing Biodiversity in Breckland - European Commission

Monitoring of experimental sites and regular disturbance of treatments is vital. A minimum level ofmonitoring would be to record vegetation structure (for example, as at East Wretham Heath, seeYaxley 2004). However, in most instances the outcomes of physical disturbance treatments have notbeen recorded. There is therefore an opportunity to capture much more information from theexperimental management than has been undertaken to date.Recommendations: Survey and monitoring be urgently undertaken at as many of these plots as possible, to coverkey invertebrate groups as well as vascular plants. This will provide evidence to guide andinform future management. Keep disturbance database up to dateExperimental mechanical disturbance treatmentsFC - UEA - Plantlife experimentinvestigates responses of spiders,carabids, plants and hymenoptera todifferent mechanical disturbancetreatments in a replicated trial.Findings will guide management toenhance biodiversity value and networkpotential of forest ride networks.Photographs: © N Armour-Chelu & PDolman154