the heath is the largest remaining area of heather dominated heath in the brecks. it contains blocks of heather of different ages as a result of rotational heather burning conducted as a management strategy. heather dominates the heath, achieving almost 100% coverage with blocks divided by rides. this allows a variety of different ground cover species to develop in different areas of the heath. in the areas of younger heather this includes species such as sheep’s sorrel "rumex acetosella" and mosses such as "polytrichum juniperinum", although in areas where heather is slightly older and growing quickly ground cover is restricted. older, established blocks of heather have greater biodiversity and include lichens as well as flowering plant species isuch as heath bedstraw "galium saxatile", lady’s bedstraw "galium verum", common speedwell "veronica officinalis" and sheep’s fescue "festuca ovina". these areas also support a wide range of insect populations.