Following a site meeting to assess the land condition and formulate a management plan, soil samples from potential heather regeneration sites are taken which, with experience and knowledge of the land use in the past, helps to determine the type and rate of re-seeding needed to ensure a site specific and cost-effective solution. A combination of spraying, burning and mulching is then used to prepare the ground in order to reduce the competition from existing plant communities.
The company supplies a large amount of heather seed as part of its work and where possible this is sourced locally through a network of collectors across the North of England from seed-rich sites with a history of heather vigour. It is then cleaned and prevernalised for speedy germination. When the soil is ready, a specially adapted and unique Pisten Bully vehicle is used to spray the treated heather seed directly on to the prepared ground. Using this terrestrial method, the seed is applied from a distance no greater than one metre above the ground.
Wind blown seed loss is eliminated and the extensive costs of aerial application is not incurred. In addition to standard seed application, ground can be pre treated with the addition of local strains, of micro organisms which promote vigorous growth of heather seedlings to encourage quick ground coverage.
Depending on the time of year, new heather shoots can be seen six to twelve months after sowing and selective grazing is then usually possible after 5 years, when the benefits of heather re-seeding become apparent.
