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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 Government guidance or the UK Government's Condition Assessment Sheet.
Synonyms: Dirt, barren land, mud, seasonally wet bare patches, area poached by livestock, bare soil
Description: Any bare soil or other unvegetated substrate. Includes seasonally wet bare patches in fields and areas poached by livestock.
If you wish to select this habitat on a habitat selection screen, it can be found under Urban (see guide).
Top tip
Please note this habitat does not include bare ground defined by its unvegetated state (such as intertidal mud)
Assessment Questions
Is there bare soil?
Is this not an exceptional area that is a specific type of unvegetated habitat (e.g. intertidal mud)?
If YES, then it is likely Urban - Bare ground
How to Create / Enhance to a "Good" condition
How to create
There are no specific guides on how to create this habitat.
How to get a "moderate" rating
At least two of the following will be met:
Vegetation structure will be varied, providing opportunities for vertebrates and invertebrates to live, eat and breed. A single structural habitat component or vegetation type will not account for more than 80% of the total habitat area.
The habitat parcel will contain different plant species that are beneficial for wildlife; for example, flowering species will provide nectar sources for a range of invertebrates at different times of year.
Invasive non-native plant species (as listed on Schedule 9 of WCA1) and others which are to the detriment of native wildlife cover less than 5% of the total vegetated area.
How to get a "good" rating
All of the following will be met:
Vegetation structure will be varied, providing opportunities for vertebrates and invertebrates to live, eat and breed. A single structural habitat component or vegetation type will not account for more than 80% of the total habitat area.
The habitat parcel will contain different plant species that are beneficial for wildlife; for example, flowering species will provide nectar sources for a range of invertebrates at different times of year.
Invasive non-native plant species (as listed on Schedule 9 of WCA1) and others which are to the detriment of native wildlife cover less 0% of the total vegetated area.
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.