Abstract
The aims of this project are: review and summarize information from the European literature and other primary and secondary data sources to identify the habitat conditions required for the existence, restoration or re-creation of fens, ‘purple moor-grass and rush pastures’. Specifically the review will examine: the physio-chemical conditions, including topography, soils and hydrology under which existing fen, purple moor-grass and/or rush pasture habitats occur or may be restored; past and present land management practices of existing and restored habitats; restoration/re-creation methods including details of initial targeting and subsequent management techniques (e.g. seed introduction, soil/hydrological management and vegetation management). Based on the results from the review a field survey/study will be designed to characterise the state/condition of a range of restoration sites compared with reference site conditions. The main features of a potential decision support system for targeting the restoration and re-creation of fen, purple moor-grass and rush pasture habitats, which could be used as guidance for scheme advisers, will be outlined.
United Kingdom