Managing Scrubby Pavements

Recognizing scrubby pavement

Wooded and open pavement reflect opposite ends of a continuum; scrubby pavement may have features of either, or both, open and woody pavement. Scrubby species typically include hazel and juniper reaching a height of around ten feet.

Views through this type of pavement are limited and progress is likely to be impeded. A mixture of features is typical with bare grey rock and deep black grikes. 'Trees with skirts' and shrubs are commonly found. Mossy clints are normally restricted to small patches. Scrubby pavement can grade into open or wooded pavement.

Features of a well-managed scrubby pavement

• mosaic of scrub, grassland, open and wooded pavement,
• transitions between open and wooded pavement (these gradations are botanically the richest),
• abundant juniper and hazel stands,

How to manage scrubby pavement

• Scrubby pavement, especially that dominated by hazel or juniper, is valuable in its' own right and conservation objectives should aim to retain it, rather than change it into wooded or open pavement.
• Invasive species such as Blackthorn, Cotoneaster, Gorse or Bramble should be removed where they are shading out pavement flora.
• If woodland cover is encroaching, coppice management should be considered.