heathercovered

Heathercovered is a descriptive term used in ecology and landscape terminology to denote plant communities in which heather species form the dominant cover. In practice, it refers to heathland and moorland habitats where shrubs such as Calluna vulgaris (common heather) and various Erica species create a continuous evergreen cover across the ground layer.

These habitats usually occur on acidic, nutrient-poor, well-drained soils, often on upland or coastal terrains with a temperate maritime climate. Heather cover is maintained by a balance of disturbance and grazing; periodic burning or mowing, along with grazing by sheep or deer, prevents succession to coarse grasses or woodland and helps sustain the open structure that supports specialized flora and fauna, including several bird and invertebrate species.

Conservation and management aim to maintain or restore heather-covered landscapes and their biodiversity, while recognizing land-use pressures such as afforestation, drainage, or development. Management tools include controlled burning, mowing, and rotational grazing, as well as habitat restoration to counter fragmentation.