Lowland heathland is a scarce and declining habitat in Europe. It can best be described as open, uncultivated poor ground lacking in nutrients, generally below 300 m in altitude and dominated by various species of low-growing heather (ericaceous) shrubs and gorse. Heathland also includes associated acidic grassland, scrub, scattered trees, bog and open water amongst the predominant dwarf shrub vegetation.

The South West contains14,500 ha of lowland heathland, representing around a quarter of the UK resource, principally in Dorset, Devon and Cornwall. The South West contains a wide diversity of heathland habitat types and vegetation communities, reflecting variations in climatic conditions and geology.

The total area of lowland heathland in the UK is c58,000 ha. The South West Regional total is c14,500 ha, representing c25% of UK resource. The table below lists examples of the key heathland areas in the region.

The following are examples of species that depend on lowland heathland, some of which are of conservation concern:

The area of heathland habitat has declined dramatically in the UK by over 85% in the last 200 years, with the main losses attributed to agricultural improvement, afforestation, urban development and mineral extraction, and more recently to natural succession, where neglected heath is invaded by tree species such as birch and eventually becomes woodland. In addition, there is the ever-present threat of fires, especially as summers become potentially hotter and drier. Losses of habitat in the South West reflect this trend.

Protection for our heaths is best where they are owned and managed by groups with their best interests in mind. Some of the large sites in Dorset benefit from ownership by local authorities and wildlife groups, and from management by, for example, the RSPB's Dorset Heathland Project. A large proportion of the East Devon Pebblebeds is managed by the RSPB with co-operation from the landowners. Much of The Lizard is managed by the National Trust and English Nature.

Where not owned or managed directly by wildlife organisations, in some areas land owners are encouraged to manage the heaths themeselves with funding through various government schemes, such as Countryside Stewardship, Environmentally Sensitive Area payments and Wildlife Enhancement Schemes.

Individual plans have been produced for some areas of heathland eg East Devon (Devon Wildlife Trust and East Devon District Council), Dorset (the Dorset Heathland Strategy, produced by the Dorset Heathland Forum), and some provisions have been made in the Forest Enterprise Forest Design Plans eg in the Forest of Dean. Forest Enterprise is developing its own 'Endangered Habitats Plan' for lowland heathland in its ownership or control, which is due for completion this year.

Together the MoD and Herpetological Conservation Trust have recreated several areas of lowland heath in South Dorset (West Moors, Bovington, and Lulworth) which has been of benefit to species such as sand lizard and southern damselfly.

Some research into the possibility of heathland re-establishment has been undertaken for the main lowland heathland sites in Dorset, Devon and Cornwall. In Dorset and Cornwall, English Nature has started to develop heathland 're-creation' plans. In Devon, the RSPB, Devon Wildlife Trust and Devon County Council have co-operated to start to identify areas of heathland loss and where heathland re-establishment may be possible.