The nineteenth century saw the introduction of many ‘exotic’ or non native species.  Some of these introductions have proved to be invasive, for example the Himalayan balsam.  Invasions have also included animals. For example, muntjac, parakeets and grey squirrels.  More recently, there have been many sightings of wallabies. Their presence is thought to be due to escapees from wildlife parks, zoos and possibly private collections. It has been suggested that some were released during the WW2 as people were unable to look after them.  On the Isle of Man, there is a thriving population of red necked wallabies, which dates back to the 1960’s.  A recent survey (2023 & 2024) using thermal imaging and drones estimates the population to be around one thousand animals, possibly more.  The grassy and woodland habitats are not dissimilar to those in Tasmania, though the climate in the Isle of Man is somewhat cooler and wetter.  Here, there are no predators and they seem to have adapted well to the somewhat cooler conditions. They feed on heather, bracken, bilberries and grasses.  The local wildlife trust is concerned that the animals may be having a detrimental effect not only on the native vegetation but also the local fauna - such as ground nesting birds.  On the plus side, there are those who think their presence helps to support the local tourism industry. Beyond the Isle of Man, there have been many sightings of wallabies across the U.K, ranging from Cornwall to Scotland.  Sightings are more common in the South.  In some areas sightings of wallabies are no longer reported as the animals are ‘common place’. The Chilterns being a possible hot spot for sightings.  However, at present it seems that there is little evidence for self sustaining populations though this might change as our climate becomes milder.  There was a small population in the Peak District but it has since died out, possibly due to a harsh winter in 2010.  This population arose from the introduction of five wallabies by a local landowner, Henry Brocklehurst,  the  wallabies formed part of his private zoo at Swythamley. Featured image : thanks to Sandid on PIxabay  

Dartmoor is famous for is diverse landscapes, many of which which sit on top of one of the largest granite areas in the country.   There are wet heaths, dry heaths, oak woodlands and blanket bogs.  The oak woodlands contribute massively to biological diversity of the area as the trees are covered with rich flora of mosses, liverworts and lichens. The SW area often experiences strong winds and has acidic soils.  The biodiversity of the area explains why it has been designated as a Special Area of Conservation.  It is one of our National Parks, which attracts many thousands of visitors.  A ‘normal‘ feature of heath and moorland is swathes of heather.   Due to its tolerance of acidic conditions and relative infertility, heather is generally a prominent member of the local flora.  This was once true of the moorland communities on Dartmoor, but the situation is changing. The change is due to a grass - known as purple moor grass (Molinia caerulea). Molinia is native to the UK but is also found in Europe, Asia and parts of Africa. It grows well on acid soils with a pH between 3.5 and 5, and it too can tolerate poor soils. During of the last 50 years,  Molinia has spread extensively in Dartmoor, Exmoor, the Pennines, the Peak District, the Yorkshire Dales and  parts of Wales.  Sadly, areas of purple moor grass support little in terms of insect or indeed bird life.  Herbivores like sheep and cattle tend to avoid it preferring other sources of vegetation, such as heather.  Indeed its nutritional value is not great and actually falls as summer progresses.  The grass is relatively unaffected by fungal / bacterial disease.  It forms deep roots and tussocks, which help protect its buds. The cover of heather on Dartmoor has fallen substantially in recent times, and in places has been replaced by an expanse of purple moor grass.  The features that made Dartmoor special are being lost. Possible factors contributing to changes on the moor: The practice of burning the moorland to encourage fresh shoots for sheep, cows, livestock.  Fires destroys many species but the young shoots of Molinia are ‘protected’ to a degree within the tussocks, and the deep roots also help ensure survival. Nitrogen deposition may be another factor.   A range of nitrogen compounds from farming (fertilisers, animal waste), traffic emissions and industry are released into the atmosphere and are deposited in significant amounts (circa 29 kg per hectare / year). Changes to moorland drainage.  As peat dries, the purple moor grass seems to thrive. There are limited funds available to the National Park for maintenance / repair. The subsidies (termed Headage payments) paid to farmers for the number of animals that graze on the moor. The combined effect of the above means that the moorland ecosystem is struggling, losing its integrity and climate changes (e.g. hotter, drier summers) do not help.   Essentially, the moorland is dying. There are places where the natural vegetation / flora of heather, bilberry and mountain ash are to be found, which suggests that restoration might be possible. What can be done? Create dams and embankments to retain water so that areas become wetter, and plant clumps of the moss - Sphagnum, which is vital for peat formation.  The water / wetness would also help reduce the risk of fire. Plant trees, like those found in woodland areas of the moor, which once established would tend to shade out the purple moor grass. Reducing the grazing pressure on the moorlands. Further reading https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jul/16/dartmoor-is-dying-how-the-uks-national-parks-turned-into-biodiversity-deserts https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jul/15/sheep-destroying-british-habitats-taxpayers-dartmoor-farming https://dartmoorpreservation.co.uk/is-dartmoor-dying/

Scottish moorlands often stretch uninterrupted towards the horizon, a mosaic of greens and browns. The tallest plants growing only ankle high. but even so, walking may require careful attention. There are hummocks covered in heather (Calluna vulgaris) and / or cotton grass (Eriophorum spp.) but inbetween, there may be somewhat soggy patches of sphagnum moss.  Lying beneath the moss, heather and sedge is peat – this is a nutrient-poor, but carbon rich mass of partly decayed organic matter.   Plants growing in the bogs are rooted in the peat, but are also contributing to ‘new peat’ as they grow. As their leaves wither and die, they drop into the acidic and watery surroundings – a process that has been going on for possibly for millennia . Read more...

Some 90% of the world's plants, including many food crops, rely on animals for pollination (as opposed to wind or even rarer water pollination). The contribution of honey bees and bumblebees to these pollination services is vital but they are at risk due to: the effects of disease,  climate change  effects of pesticides and  habitat loss / destruction. Whilst it is sometimes possible to help hives / colonies of the ‘domesticated’ honeybee suffering from parasites / disease, ‘helping’ wild populations is a much more difficult proposition. Read more...

The honey fungus (Armillaria mellea) is a plant pathogen, found across the world. It colonises and kills a variety of trees and woody plants, producing yellow-brown mushrooms that appear above ground.  These are the fruiting bodies of a much larger organism, that can spread over large distances underground.  The honey fungus can grow and spread by means of rhizomorphs.  These act as a system of underground structures that invade and decompose wood and roots.  They allow the fungus to infect, spread and survive for long periods of time.  Once the honey fungus is present in a garden, it can be managed but rarely eradicated. Read more...

In autumn 2016 my wife and I visited a small wood for sale on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors. We had seen a few other sites but this held more promise as it was part moorland, part regenerating ex-forestry land.  The three things that made it of particularly interest to us were that: it was only twenty minutes away from home; it had a small natural pond; and it had some open space for planting new trees.  As a green person at heart, I often pick up acorns on walks and pop them in a pot.  I was however running short of space and needed somewhere to plant them! Dan, from Woodlands.co.uk, met us on site and explained that the management plan favoured planting oak trees so that made it ideal for us. After a few months of paperwork, we received the key to the padlock of the woodland gate just before Christmas. A nicer present could not have been had. Read more...

What’s so special about heather moorland to beekeepers?  Heather is a small plant known scientifically as Calluna vulgaris, or more commonly ling heather.  As the beekeeping season is winding down elsewhere, the small purple flowers that are a characteristic feature of moorland’s stunning scenery are just opening.  The nectar they produce results in a highly sought after and delicious honey, making it worth all the hard work (both on the part of the bees and the beekeeper) that goes into producing it. Read more...

There are a number of shrubs that have branched woody stems, which can grow to about one metre in height; and are associated with heaths and bogs.  There is heather, bilberry, cowberry, crowberry and bearberry.   However, the actual height of these plants is dependent on their level of exposure to the elements (elevation and aspect) -  particularly wind, the nature of the soil (its pH, nutrient and water status) and the level of grazing by herbivores (deer, sheep, rabbits). Read more...