Purple Reign

The project aims to maintain, restore and create lowland heathland habitat at Cooper’s Hill SSSI in Bedfordshire. Heathland is one of the most threatenend habitats in the UK, and at Cooper’s Hill there has been a 65% loss of heather on the site since 1950 due to the spread of bracken, birch and scrub. Work will include managing heather to maintain a varied age structure; cutting and pulling bracken; cutting back invasive trees and scrub; protecting marsh violet; repairing paths to minimise soil erosion; creating new patches of heathland on adjacent land; and making trees safe.