In the Events Directory on their Internet web site I saw that the National Trust wardens were organising a Heather Seeding Day on Mam Tor, in the High Peak area of the Peak District, Derbyshire. Called "Help Turn Mam Tor Purple", this seemed a good reason to spend a day in one of my favourite parts of the country. Armed with a packed lunch and a spade I headed for the hills. |
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Originally Mam Tor was covered with moorland type
vegetation, mainly heather and bilberry.
As agricultural practices have changed over the centuries, the vegetation of the area has altered. In recent times there has been an increasing number of sheep, especially in the uplands area since the second world war. Too many grazing sheep suppress the vegetation by eating all of the new growth, so the grasses become dominant and the heathland plants disappear. |
| For the last ten years Mam Tor has been part of the
Countryside Stewardship Grant Scheme, where DEFRA (Department for
Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) sets the stocking limits for sheep
grazing and pays grants to farmers as compensation.
The aim is to promote the regeneration of the moorland plants. |
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On Mam Tor the sheep are only allowed to graze in the
Summer months when they eat fresh grass.
The sheep are removed in Winter allowing the bilberry to thrive and some heather to return. The heather needs bare ground to germinate and would find it difficult to colonise the grass that now covers the hill. |
| On the "Heather Seeding" day, Chris and Andy,
the local wardens, lead teams of volunteers in the task of trying to
re-seed the hillside.
Turfs were dug out on three sides about 24insx18ins in size and the grass was laid back to expose the bare soil. Heather seed pods and separated heather seeds were then spread over the area. |
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The grass turfs were left laid back and open so that
nature could be left to do the rest!
This seeding had been done before about three years previously and it was impressive to see how much of the heather had grown and become established, although still only small in size. If this one days effort proved as successful it should make a significant difference to the appearance of Mam Tor. |
| The footpath along the ridge from Mam Tor is very popular
with walkers, particularly families, and it was very rewarding to see how
many people stopped to help with the project.
Throughout the day hundreds of people helped and a terrific effort was achieved. By the end of the day turfs had been turned and seeded over an area over 200m long by about 80m wide. |
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The heather seed for this project was collected during the previous winter from the high moorland areas of the Peak District, where heather is widespread. Stored and dried for a few months the new seeds have a good chance of establishing themselves now that the sheep have been removed from the hillside for the winter. This event proved very popular with all age groups as the stronger volunteers could dig out the turfs and those not dressed for digging could follow round with the seeds. It was also very pleasing to see how careful the youngsters were, so as not to damage the newly grown heather. It will be very interesting over the next few years to see how the heather develops and a lot of people will be able to say "I helped with that". |
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