Scrub

The Joint Nature Conservation Committee's Handbook for Phase 1 habitat survey describes scrub as a 'seral or climax vegetation dominated by locally native shrubs, usually less than 5m tall, occasionally with few scattered trees'. Scrub can develop under a number of different conditions but happens commonly where land has been abandoned or where management has been relaxed, e.g. brownfield sites, waste places, coal tips and marshy grasslands that are not grazed, cut or burned regularly. Birch (Betula spp.) and willows (Salix spp.) are common components but areas which have significant amounts of Bramble (Rubus fruticosus agg.) and/or Broom (Cytisus scoparius) and/or Gorse (Ulex europaeus) also qualify as scrub. Although the JNCC's definition specifies native shrubs, recombinant scrub with mixtures of native and non-native species, e.g. Buddleja (Buddleja davidii), dogwoods (Cornus spp.) and cotoneasters (Cotoneaster spp.) are common.

A particular type of scrub community develops on the limestone cliffs along the south Gower coast, which is made up of gors (Ulex spp.), Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), Wild Privet (Ligustrum vulgare) and occasionally Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica).

If they are not replanted, clearfelled coupes in conifer plantations quickly develop recombinant birch-willow scrub along with regenerating conifer species, particularly larch (Larix spp.), Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis), Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta) and Western Hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla). Small mammamls, particularly voles and shrews are also frequent.

Scrub provides an important habitat for breeding birds including summer migrants such as Willow Warbler, (Phylloscopus trochilus) Garden Warbler (Sylvia borin), Common Whitethroat  (Carruca communis) and Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla). Dense gorse scrub may support Common Linnet (Linaria cannabina) and European Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola), small mammals and reptiles.