Heathlands

map generated from Phase 1 vegetation survey of Wales (Countryside Council for Wales)

This map shows the heathland areas in the West Wales region

Heathlands came to exist following man's forest clearance of acidic, sandy soils.

Heathlands are important habitats to many British species, particularly birds and reptiles which thrive on the diversity of invertebrates found in this habitat.

Lowland heathlands occur below the upper limit of agricultural enclosure and are characterised by vegetation that has more than 25% cover of plant species from the heath family ericoids. Pembrokeshire's Living Heathlands project is working to safeguard the lowland heathland habitat within the county.

Upland heathland varies between regions but is typically dominated by a range of dwarf shrubs such as heather Calluna vulgaris, bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus, crowberry Empetrum nigrum, bell heather Erica cinerea and in the south and west, western gorse Ulex gallii.

Carmarthenshire County Council website has information on lowland heathland and upland heathland.