Vegetation Changes
- Two reports established trends in the change of vegetation on Molland Moor.
- The 2013 report by Dave Boyce, the independent ecologist on the Graze the Moor project, drew attention to the loss of heather cover, in the period 1991 – 2013, and the increase in the area of Molinia.
- The heather cover on Molland Moor has declined very markedly over the last two decades.
- This decline is continuing and without management, heather dominant areas will continue to degenerate towards species-poor, Molinia dominated vegetation.
- The vegetation changes were confirmed by the aerial photo analysis carried out by the Devon Biodiversity Records Office (DBRC).
- This analysis considered the vegetation changes that have taken place since the post-war aerial photographs were taken in 1947.
- The area of heather has declined by 56.2% in this period.
Figure 1: Decline in Heather Cover and Increase in Grass and Bog areas
Annual Vegetation Monitoring
- Since 2012, Natural England has carried out annual surveys to monitor the impact of management on the vegetation on Molland Moor. Each year, 28 points were surveyed across the moor.
- There are two SSSI units on the moor, and the condition of both is assessed as “Unfavourable – recovering”. For more information see the designated Sites webpage: http://bit.ly/2I29w1Y
Conclusions
- The decline in the cover of heather and the expansion in the area of Molinia, since 1947, has been significant.
- One of the aims of the project was to prevent further change and in time it is hoped that some of this change can be reversed.
- Overgrazing of heather during the winter months is beginning to show through and to be a concern.
- There is a suggestion that stock numbers could be increased to assess the impact of higher grazing pressure on old stands of heather and areas where Molinia is dominant.
- The Graze the Moor Project Final Report – section 18.
- Sheep Tick Survey report - available in the Project Report Folder.
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