Heathland fragmentation is a concern for conservationists, as well as the reduction in total land cover in Britain, due to the impaired ability of species to cross boundaries between habitats. Whilst natural barriers can prevent migration and dispersion so can artificial areas of non-heathland, with roads as an example.

 

Whilst small roads such as Waldridge Road are unlikely to prevent seed or spore dispersal and limit plant, moss and lichen dispersion, a greater impact may be observed in invertebrates. Some insects and spiders have poor dispersal ability by default and the addition of an expanse of unfavourable habitat has the potential to prevent movements into a new area of heathland.

 

This fragmentation has the effect of generating islands of heathland on which poor dispersers are isolated, which can places limitations on their reproductive options and can lead to inbreeding effects.

 

North and South Fells are comparatively large, however, where fragmentation has led to very small heathland ‘islands.’ In other areas of Britain, many species are at risk of out-competition by invading organisms which have easy access to the majority of the isolated habitat.

 

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