Improved grassland: Fertilised, species-poor pastures for livestock (dominant in lowlands).

Semi-natural grassland: Species-rich meadows and pastures (e.g., chalk grassland in South Downs with orchids, knapweed); now rare (<3% of original extent).

Heathland & Moorland (acidic, nutrient-poor soils)

Lowland heath: Heather, gorse, dwarf shrubs — e.g., New Forest, Dorset Heaths (critically endangered habitat).

Upland moorland: Heather, bilberry, cotton grass; covers large areas of Scotland, N. England, Wales (used for grouse shooting & sheep grazing).

Wetland Vegetation

Fens & marshes: Reeds, sedges, rushes (e.g., The Broads, Somerset Levels).

Bogs: Sphagnum moss, cotton grass, sundew — especially in western uplands (e.g., Flow Country, Scotland — Europe’s largest blanket bog).

Coastal Vegetation

Salt marshes (e.g., Spartina, sea lavender), sand dunes (marram grass), and maritime cliffs (sea thrift, scurvy grass).

Influencing Factors:

Climate: High rainfall supports lush growth; milder west → more acidic soils & moorland; drier east → chalk grassland/arable.

Geology & Soil: Limestone (rich flora), chalk (calcicoles), granite/sandstone (acid-loving plants).

Human Impact:

~6,000 years of deforestation (for farming, fuel, shipbuilding).

Enclosure, intensive farming, urbanisation reduced natural habitats.

Conservation efforts now focus on rewilding, peatland restoration, and native tree planting.

🌿 Notable Species:

Iconic: Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), Heather (Calluna vulgaris).

Endemic: Scottish bluebell variant, Sorbus (whitebeam) species in UK.

Key native tree species (with Russian):

Oak — дуб

Ash — ясень

Beech — бук

Birch — берёза

Scots pine — сосна обыкновенная (европейская)

Alder — ольха

Hazel — лещина

Rowan / Mountain ash — рябина

Holly — падуб

Hawthorn — боярышник

Woodland (GB) = лес/лесок/древесная растительность — typically smaller or less dense than "forest" (лес in Russian).

Forest (in UK place names, e.g., New Forest) often refers to historic hunting grounds — may be heath, grassland, or mixed woodland, not necessarily dense trees.

Deciduous woodland

Лиственный лес

Dominated by broadleaf trees that shed leaves in winter (e.g., oak, ash, beech). The natural climax vegetation of lowland GB.

Oak woodland

Дубрава

Oak (Quercus robur or Q. petraea) dominated; rich ground flora (bluebells, wood anemone). Found across England, Wales, parts of Scotland.

Beech woodland

Буковый лес

Often on chalk/limestone soils (e.g., Chilterns, South Downs). Dense canopy, shady — fewer understory plants.

Ash–maple woodland

Ясеньево-клённый лес

Common on base-rich, moist soils (e.g., limestone dales). Includes wych elm, hazel. Threatened by ash dieback.

Birch woodland

Березняк

Pioneer woodland on poorer/acid soils; silver birch (Betula pendula) or downy birch (B. pubescens), especially in uplands & Scotland.

Caledonian pine forest

Каледонский сосновый лес

Scotland’s only native coniferous forest; Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) + birch, rowan, juniper. Remnant of ancient wildwood (e.g., Cairngorms).

Wet woodland (carr)

Влажный лес (ольхово-ивовый лес)

Waterlogged soils; alder (Alnus glutinosa), willow (Salix spp.), downy birch. Supports otters, marsh plants.

Upland oak–birch woodland

Горный дубово-берёзовый лес

Found in western uplands (Wales, Lake District, W. Scotland); stunted, wind-pruned; high rainfall, acidic soils.

Scrub woodland / thicket

Заросли / кустарниковый лес

Transitional stage (e.g., hawthorn, blackthorn, gorse); important for birds & insects. Often in abandoned farmland.

Ancient woodland (not a type, but a designation)

Древний лес

Land continuously wooded since ≥1600 (England/Wales) or ≥1750 (Scotland). High biodiversity; indicator species: bluebell, wood sorrel, herb paris.

Wildlife in GB

Mammals

Native: Red deer, roe deer, otter, red fox, badger, hedgehog, red squirrel (mainly Scotland/N. England), pipistrelle bats.

Reintroduced/Expanding: Beaver (now in England, Scotland, Wales), pine marten (Scotland/Wales), wild boar (feral populations in SE England).

Absent naturally: Wolves, bears, lynx (extinct centuries ago); no large native predators today.

🦅 Birds (≈600 species recorded; ~250 breed)

Woodland: Robin, blue tit, great spotted woodpecker, nuthatch.

Upland/moorland: Red grouse, golden eagle (mainly Scotland), peregrine falcon, curlew.

Coastal/seabirds: Puffin, gannet, kittiwake, oystercatcher.

Winter migrants: Brent goose, whooper swan.

🐸 Reptiles & Amphibians (6 native species each)

Reptiles: Common lizard, slow worm (legless lizard), adder (only venomous snake), grass snake.

Amphibians: Common frog, toad, newts (smooth, palmate, great crested* — protected).

🦋 Invertebrates

Rich insect diversity: ~2,500 butterfly/moth species (e.g., peacock butterfly, emperor moth).

UK priority species: Stag beetle, hazel dormouse (technically a mammal), freshwater pearl mussel.

🐟 Freshwater & Marine

Rivers/lakes: Atlantic salmon, brown trout, otter, water vole (declining).

Coastal: Grey seal, harbour porpoise, bottlenose dolphin (e.g., Moray Firth), basking shark.

🌿 Key Habitats & Conservation

Threatened ecosystems: Ancient woodland, peat bogs, chalk grassland, heathland.

Protected areas: National Parks, SSSIs (Sites of Special Scientific Interest), Marine Conservation Zones.

Challenges: Habitat loss, climate change, invasive species (e.g., grey squirrel, signal crayfish, Japanese knotweed).

💡 Fun fact: The red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) and hedgehog are national symbols of native wildlife conservation efforts.

Оставшиеся нацпарки (описаны Лох Ломонд и Сноудония)

They cover around 10% of GB’s land area. Northern Ireland has no National Parks (though it has Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the proposed Causeway Coast & Glens National Park under discussion).

England (10 National Parks)

Peak District (1951) – First UK NP; moorlands, gritstone edges, dales; near Manchester/Sheffield.

Lake District (1951) – Mountains, glacial lakes; England’s highest peak (Scafell Pike); UNESCO World Heritage site.

Dartmoor (1951) – Granite moorland, tors, wild ponies; SW England.

Exmoor (1954) – Heather moorland, coastal cliffs; Devon/Somerset.

North York Moors (1952) – Heather moorland, coastline, ancient woodlands.

Yorkshire Dales (1954; extended 2016) – Limestone scenery, waterfalls, caves (e.g., Malham Cove).

Northumberland (1956) – Remote, darkest skies in England; Cheviot Hills, Hadrian’s Wall edge.

The Broads (1989, technically a "Special Protection Area" but equivalent status) – Network of rivers/lakes; wetland wildlife; Norfolk/Suffolk.

New Forest (2005) – Ancient woodland, heathland, free-roaming ponies; Hampshire.

South Downs (2010) – Rolling chalk hills, white cliffs (Seven Sisters), cultural landscape; Hampshire to East Sussex.

Wales (3 National Parks)

Snowdonia (Eryri) (1951) – Wales’ highest peak (Snowdon), glacial valleys, Welsh-speaking heartland.

Pembrokeshire Coast (1952) – Only UK NP designated primarily for its coastline; dramatic cliffs, beaches, islands.

Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog) (1957) – Sandstone/moorland plateau, waterfalls (e.g., Sgwd yr Eira), Dark Sky Reserve.

Scotland (2 National Parks):

Loch Lomond & The Trossachs (2002) – Lakes (lochs), mountains, forests; gateway to Highlands; near Glasgow.

Cairngorms (2003; expanded 2010) – Largest UK NP (≈40% of Scotland’s total NP area); high mountains, ancient Caledonian pine forest, rare wildlife (e.g., capercaillie, red squirrel).

✅ Key Features Across All:

Focus on conserving natural beauty, wildlife, and cultural heritage.

Sustainable tourism and supporting local communities are core aims.

Not "wilderness" — most include farms, villages, and working landscapes.

Managed by independent National Park Authorities.