© David Howard (CC BY-SA 2.0). Note the man-made gravel preventing vegetation but not allowing vegetation to grow (link).
The following is a short summary of the habitat type and how to create/enhance it to a "good" condition. For an informed position, please refer to official up-to-date UKHAB documentation or the UK Government's Condition Assessment Sheet.
Synonyms: Tracks
Land areas that have either no vegetation or less than 10% vegetation cover, resulting from human activities. The key characteristic of this habitat is the absence of a sealed surface, meaning the soil surface is not covered by impervious materials like concrete, steel, or wood.
This habitat often emerges in areas with high human activity or traffic, like paths, tracks, or fields regularly traversed by vehicles or people. These areas are typically found in both urban and rural settings.
Includes tracks mappable as area features with less than 10% vegetation cover. Direct activity leading to reduced vegetation cover includes actions like mowing or applying herbicides. Indirect activity includes the unintentional reduction of vegetation due to frequent human or vehicular traffic.
Description Assessment Questions:
- Does the land have no, or less than 10% plant cover?
- Has this been caused by direct or indirect human activity?
- Is the land unsealed with no impervious materials covering it?
If YES, then it is likely 'Urban - Artificial Unvegetated, Unsealed Surface'.
How to Create / Enhance to a "Good" condition
It is not possible to enhance this habitat. You may wish to create a new habitat or buy off-site units.
Useful Resources
Please note that this is a simple guide to help identify the habitat. For a definitive description, please refer to UKHab documentation. Joe's Blooms takes no responsibility for the content of external links.