An evaluation of the use of translocated blanket bog vegetation for heathland restoration

Published source details Standen V. & Owen M.J. (1999) An evaluation of the use of translocated blanket bog vegetation for heathland restoration. Applied Vegetation Science, 2, 181-188.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Replace blocks of vegetation after mining or peat extraction Action Link

Replace blocks of vegetation after mining or peat extraction

A before-and-after study in 1991–1997 in a historically mined blanket bog/heathland in England, UK (Standen & Owen 1999) reported that translocated bog vegetation retained its overall community composition whilst gaining new species, and that adjacent bare peat was colonized by herbs and bog-characteristic plants. These results were not tested for statistical significance. Over six years, translocated bog vegetation retained its overall bog-characteristic community (data reported as a graphical analysis). However, it did gain six additional plant species (before translocation: 15 species; six years after: 21 species) and abundance of fringed bog moss Sphagnum fimbriatum declined (in 15% of quadrats before translocation, but only 3% six years after). Bare peat between translocated strips was colonized by 28 plant species with 48% total vegetation cover, 21–31% grass/rush cover, 10–15% cover of heather Calluna vulgaris and 1–5% cover of five other bog-characteristic species. In 1991, sods (vegetation and 1 m of underlying peat) were cut from a blanket bog remnant. They were moved to eight 4 x 140 m trenches, dug in a site historically mined for coal. Dry peat was spread between the translocated strips. Plant species and vegetation cover were recorded in 1991 (before translocation) and 1997: in 100 quadrats (0.25 m²) in six translocated strips, and in 90 quadrats (1 m²) in three strips between.

(Summarised by: Nigel Taylor)