Habitats

Important habitats in our three counties

Generally, ancient habitats which have remained much the same for centuries are richer or more special than newly-created ones. This is partly because species colonise any area of habitat over time - so the longer a wood or wetland has been there, the longer plants and animals have had time to find it and move in.

But equally important, the last 200 years have been a particularly tough time for wildlife in Britain: farming has been industrialised, towns and cities have expanded, and new roads and railways have carved the countryside into smaller and smaller pieces. Habitats which were around before this damage took place are often the last stronghold of species which are no longer found in the wider countryside, and it is not easy for these vulnerable species to colonise more recently created habitats from their now isolated refuges.

The main habitats in our three counties are grouped under a few headings, which are familiar everyday words, but used in specific ways by wildlife enthusiasts:

Grasslands, divided into meadows cut for hay, and pasture grazed by sheep or cattle
Heathlands
Woodlands
Wetlands including fens and marshes, ponds and lakes, and rivers and streams
Artificial habitats including quarries, railways and farmland.