Comment – Grazing for nature conservation: rising to the challenge
Matthew Oates and Sandie Tolhurst
Pages 348-353
Virtually all grassland, heathland and pasture-woodland habitats in Britain are dependent on grazing. The exceptions are montane grasslands above the tree line, some inland cliff and gorge systems, some wetlands and those maritime heath and grassland communities which are maintained by natural proceses and conditions. These apart, out present-day grass-lands, heaths and pasture woodlands are essentially the product of centuries of burning, cutting and drainage, in combination with near-continuous grazing and browsing, particularly by domesticated stock.
Comment – Grazing for nature conservation: rising to the challenge
Virtually all grassland, heathland and pasture-woodland habitats in Britain are dependent on grazing. The exceptions are montane grasslands above the tree line, some inland cliff and gorge systems, some wetlands and those maritime heath and grassland communities which are maintained by natural proceses and conditions. These apart, out present-day grass-lands, heaths and pasture woodlands are essentially the product of centuries of burning, cutting and drainage, in combination with near-continuous grazing and browsing, particularly by domesticated stock.