Heathland management machinery Amphibian and Reptile Conservation

ARC applied for £11,664.00 to purchase a BCS two-wheeled tractor along with essential attachments. This equipment supported vital habitat management work, including the creation of bare ground—an important requirement for many species, particularly the Sand Lizard. Sand Lizards relied on exposed sandy areas to incubate their eggs and are a highly protected species under both the European Protected Species (EPS) regulations and the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP).

The equipment also enabled effective heather cutting and grassland management, allowing ARC to carry out seasonal maintenance that enhanced habitat quality and promoted greater plant and wildlife diversity, especially for key species such as the Natterjack toad and invertebrates such as the Heath Tiger beetle, Heath Sand Wasps and Mottled Bee Fly.

In addition, the targeted heathland areas were high fire-risk zones. The machinery was essential in creating and maintaining firebreaks, which played a crucial role in reducing wildfire risk and protecting these sensitive landscapes.