Definition of heathland
What is heathland?
Lowland heathland is an open landscape generally found poor, acid sandy soils less than 300 metres above sea level. It usually contains dwarf shrubs of the heather family, notably ling (
Calluna vulgaris), bell heather (
Erica cinerea), cross-leaved heath (
Erica tetralix) and bilberry. However the term ‘heathland’ can also be used to describe a type of landscape, which may include areas of gorse, bracken, acidic grassland, valley bogs, bare sandy or peaty ground, scattered trees and shrubs and open water habitats.
Where is heathland found?
In Europe, heathland is found in areas that have an oceanic climate of mild winters and wet summers. This occurs to the west of the continent, and areas of heathland are found in southern Scandinavia, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Western France and the north and west of the Iberian Peninsula.
Geology is also important. In the south and east of Britain, heathland is usually found on sands and gravels, and sometimes clays, which have led to acidic soils. In the north and west of the country, heathland can be found over igneous and metamorphic rocks. In Surrey, most heathland is found in two National Character Areas: the Thames Basin in the north west of the county, and the Wealden Greensand in the south west and centre of the county. Small areas of heathland can also be found on superficial deposits overlying the chalk in the North Downs (please see Heathland areas for further details).
To find out more about how and why heathland came about, see Heathland history.
