Heathland

There is a large area of Heather and Bell Heather on one side of St Paul’s Cray Road. This heathland is the most carefully managed and cosseted part of the Commons because throughout the UK and Europe, dry lowland heathland is such a rare and threatened habitat.  Every year it is weeded by hand, removing tree seedlings, Bracken and Bramble. The plants are rotationally cut in order to maintain a range of ages and to encourage flowering.  The heathland is home to the Common Lizard and Slow-worm as well as a wide variety of insects and spiders.