Succession can be defined as a natural progression in a community structure, following a period or event of interference, which resulted in the opening up of large areas of land. In the context of lowland heath, the interference was the human activity which initially created the landscape via tree removal etc. and maintained it through farming and/or industrial processes. Since these activities have ceased on many heathlands, a series of stages unfolds whereby new species invade and replace the species of the previous stage. Ultimately this results in a return of heaths to woodland or acid grassland, which is largely devoid of the key heath species like Calluna.

 

On heaths like Waldridge, the first genus to invade should the area be left unmanaged is often Ulex. followed by establishment of Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris.) These stages are thought to be first as many heathland native species are still present at sites containing these invasive species i.e. the landscape is still ‘close’ to heathland. Following these stages is the invasion of Pteridium aquilinum and finally Rhododendron and Betula.

 

Whilst all of these species are present at Waldridge, they are kept at manageable densities.