Heather Management Boosts Nutrients for Wildlife and Grazing
- Rob Beeson
- Sep 3
- 1 min read
A ten-year study across three British upland peatlands has found that active heather management - especially controlled burning - can improve the nutritional quality of key moorland plants.
Researchers compared three approaches: burning, cutting, and no management. They found that managed plots, particularly those burnt, had higher levels of important nutrients in heather shoots, including nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and iron (Fe). These nutrients are essential for:
Carbon uptake in plants (N, P, Fe)
Egg formation in birds (K, Zn)
Breeding success for upland species
Grazing livestock and wild herbivores (P)
Burning often provided greater and longer-lasting nutrient boosts than cutting, with benefits sometimes persisting for up to nine years. Cotton-grass - another vital food plant for moorland birds and livestock - also showed higher manganese in flower heads on burnt plots.
In contrast, areas left unmanaged had lower nutrient levels, which could reduce food quality for wildlife and grazing animals.
The study underlines that careful, rotational management can support both wildlife and rural livelihoods, challenging claims that all burning is harmful. It also shows the importance of looking at long-term ecological outcomes rather than short-term changes.
Takeaway: Well-planned heather management, including controlled burning, can enhance plant nutrition in ways that benefit moorland wildlife, carbon storage, and grazing – helping sustain healthy upland ecosystems and rural communities.
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