Identifying effective treatments to reinstate heath vegetation on commercially extracted peatlands at Hobbister RSPB Reserve, Orkney, Scotland
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Published source details
Robertson J. (2010) Identifying effective treatments to reinstate heath vegetation on commercially extracted peatlands at Hobbister RSPB Reserve, Orkney, Scotland. Conservation Evidence, 7, 123-129.
Published source details Robertson J. (2010) Identifying effective treatments to reinstate heath vegetation on commercially extracted peatlands at Hobbister RSPB Reserve, Orkney, Scotland. Conservation Evidence, 7, 123-129.
Summary
Trials were undertaken to assess the effectiveness of various treatments aimed at reinstating heathland vegetation at Hobbister RSPB Reserve (Orkney Islands) on a denuded area where no vascular plant growth had occurred since peat had been extracted commercially over 30 years previously. A management history of Hobbister was collated and information (derived from a literature search of restoration techniques) combined with observations of physical conditions at the site, was used to develop a list of possible impediments to heathland vegetation regeneration. Based upon these findings, eight sets of treatments were designed and applied to trial plots devoid of vegetation in June 2006. Plots were surveyed in August 2009. A combination of peat dust, heath mulch and geojute gave best results with 80% cover of vascular plants (including 70% by heather Calluna vulgaris). Although two grass-seed addition plots had higher cover values (91 and 86%) these were dominated by one of the sown species (red fescue Festuca rubra). Peat dust plus heath mulch addition also produced good cover (40%) of Calluna. Adding fertiliser did not assist in target heathland plant species re-colonisation. On the untreated control plot, vascular plant cover remained at zero.
https://conservationevidencejournal.com/reference/pdf/2328
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