Biodiverasity Action Plan

Limestone Heath

Limestone heath is defined as dwarf shrub dominated vegetation within the White Peak natural area as distinct from the heather moorland of the Dark Peak and South West Peak.

Characteristic species of limestone heath are heather, bilberry, crowberry and cross-leaved heath with a mosaic of grasses and plants typical of acid soils.

This used to be the dominant habitat type on the limestone plateau of the White Peak, but the Limestone Heath Project survey of 34 sites in 1998 indicated that the remnant heaths amount to just 100 hectares (less than 0.1% of the land area in the Peak District).

This is an incredibly rare resource with most sites being extremely small, usually less than 5 hectares. The largest site is Longstone Moor which is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to its vegetation communities and dewponds supporting great crested newts.

The remnant traces of limestone heath are an important link to the past and we are working to protect, restore and enhance these where possible.

Limestone Heath action plan (285KB)