68
at 17% frequency in (the southern plot and 40% in the wetter northern plot. Heath Wood-rush
(Luzula multiflora), similarly, has increased from 0% to 17%. Meanwhile, an important
heathland species not recorded from Long Running at all in recent times. Mat Grass (Nardus
stricta) has reappeared, as it has on the scrapes (see above), presumably from an old seed-bank.
Overall the number of heathland plant species per quadrat has increased around 1.5 times
(Tables 3b & 4b above) and on the site as a whole the number of species has increased from around
11 to 16.
Discussion
'Control' area
Unfortunately, a true 'control' area was not set-aside and no surveys were carried out in
locations outside the fenced area. Therefore, interpretation of the results needs to bear this
deviation from strict scientific method in mind. However, in the immediate vicinity of the fenced
area no new Heather or sedge seedlings have been observed in recent examinations for tree
clearance work. There has also been a clear increase in Birch and Oak sapling height and in the
number of new tree seedlings. From general observations Purple Moor-grass coverage remains
unchanged outside the grazed area and the tussocks remain as dense and high as at the beginning
of the grazing trial in 1995. Certainly no gaps have opened up amongst the tussocks and the
grass litter layer remains thick.
Diversity
The results show that scraping of the turf and topsoil had an immediate impact and increased
floral diversity, including bringing back species which had become extinct on the site. The
results also show that grazing has had a significant role to play as a restoration tool. Furthermore
grazing has been an essential maintenance tool, maintaining the diversity of the scrape flora as
well as that of the wider heath, and preventing the invasion of Birch or the dominance of Purple
Moor-grass.
Cattle grazing
The Longhom cattle have been a great success and have illustrated the importance of using
appropriate breeds and ages of stock for conservation work (see also Oates 1993). They have
been able to graze very rough, nutritionally-poor vegetation including the removal of the dead
grass litter between tussocks in the early part of the grazing season. They also have had a
significant physical impact, creating bare ground and breaking up the 30cm high Purple Moor-
grass tussocks. The factor that was predicted as being especially important in controlling Purple
Moor-grass was to graze early in the season (Gimingham 1992) when the grass is growing at its
maximum rate (May - early lune). This has proved to be the case at Long Running and control
has been demonstrably effective.
The cattle have kept on top of woody regrowth particularly Birch which can now only be found
as small seedlings invading the bare ground. There was no significant increase in frequency of
Birch in the scrapes and only small increases in frequency in Birch on the heath as a whole. This
increase was only in the numbers of new seedlings and none of the seedlings recorded in 1994
had grown larger by 1998. This is in stark contrast to the southern part of Long Running heath
which, although cleared of Birch in the early 1990's, is now dominated by 2 metre high
saplings.
During the trial cattle were grazed for the whole summer (until end of August/ September) in flie
first 3 years (1995 - 1997) when they were being used as a restoration tool (see Table 1 above).
In 1998 and 1999 the cattle were taken off by the middle or end of July, resulting in only 11 -
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 16 (1999)