Heathland & acid grassland

Total area in Lincolnshire (approx.): 628ha

Total known area within Critical Natural Asset & Basic Natural Stock Sites (approx.): 31 ha in 3 sites.

The main remnants of heath and acid grassland in Lincolnshire lie on the Fen Edge sands and gravel around Woodhall Spa; on the Coversands in the north-west of the county; and on the Trent Valley gravel deposits on the west and south-west of Lincoln. Lincoln's heaths form part of the Trent Valley complex. True heath dominated by ericaceous vegetation represents a comparatively small proportion of the total area, making it one of the rarest habitat types in the county. Heathland continues to be threatened by fragmentation and disturbance, scrub encroachment, desiccation and pollution.

Although now largely lost to agriculture and afforestation the extensive sand and gravel working in the Trent Valley area has given rise to conditions where interesting wet and dry heath vegetation has regenerated (such as Swanholme Lakes LNR/ SSSI). Small fragments of heathland and acid grassland can also be found under secondary woodland (for example in Hospital Plantation). Although these are too small to be accurately measured they have considerable potential as sites for heathland re-establishment.