History on the Heath

History on the Heath

September 6, 2016

Petersfield Heath was invaded last weekend by a host of colourful characters who brought the history of our lowland heath to life through our Secrets of the Heath event.

Visitors to the two day event learnt that heathland only exists because of human activity which started back in stone age times when flint implements aided the felling of trees.

Successive eras saw the heath being used for grazing, heather cutting, turf cutting  and collecting firewood. Being a relatively impoverished soil type, heathland was not suitable for conventional farming and thus was (and still is) often considered ideal country to practise military operations. These uses of our lowland heath were brought to vivid life at the event, bringing the story right up to date with explanations of how reintroducing grazing animals is replicating their historical management.

The Heathlands Reunited project was officially launched at the event. Led by the National Park Authority with 10 partner organisations, the project aims to create and improve heathland at 41 sites – covering an area greater than 1,200 football pitches over the next five years.