Heath

Heath is a unique shrubland habitat primarily found on free-draining, infertile, and acidic soils. Characterized by its open, low-growing woody vegetation, heathlands are often associated with high-ground moorlands, particularly in Great Britain, where the climate tends to be cooler and damper.

Globally, heaths are widespread but are rapidly diminishing, making them a rare habitat in Europe. In Australia, they form extensive and diverse communities, thriving in humid and sub-humid areas that require specific fire regimes for their maintenance.

In addition to Australia, diverse heath communities can be found in Southern Africa, the Texas chaparral, New Caledonia, central Chile, and along the Mediterranean Sea. While extensive heath areas are notable, this vegetation type also appears in scattered locations across all continents, with the exception of Antarctica.