Moorland

Moorland or moor is a type of habitat found in upland areas in temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands and montane grasslands and shrublands biomes, characterised by low-growing vegetation on acidic soils. Moorland nowadays generally means uncultivated hill land (such as Dartmoor in South West England), but the Old English mōr also refers to low-lying wetlands (such as Sedgemoor, also SW England). It is closely related to heath although experts disagree on precisely what distinguishes the types of vegetation. Generally, moor refers to highland, high rainfall zones, whereas heath refers to lowland zones which are more likely to be the result of human activity.

Moorland habitats are most extensive in the neotropics and tropical Africa but also occur in northern and western Europe, Northern Australia, North America, Central Asia, and the Indian subcontinent. Most of the world's moorlands are very diverse ecosystems. In the extensive moorlands of the tropics biodiversity can be extremely high. Moorland also bears a relationship to tundra (where the subsoil is permafrost or permanently frozen soil), appearing as the tundra retreats and inhabiting the area between the permafrost and the natural tree zone. The boundary between tundra and moorland constantly shifts with climate change.

Moorland (disambiguation)

Moorland is a type of habitat found in upland areas.

Moorland may also refer to:

Places

In England:

In the United States:

Other

See also

HM Prison Moorland

HM Prison Moorland (formerly HM Prison Moorland Closed) is a Category C men's prison and Young Offenders Institution, near Hatfield Woodhouse in South Yorkshire, England. The prison is operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service, and is jointly managed with the nearby Hatfield Prison.

History

In March 2005, Moorland Prison was subjected to rioting when more than 40 inmates refused to return to their cells. It took four hours and the intervention of staff and officers from neighbouring institutions to quell the situation.

In August 2006, a report from Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons stated that both Moorland and Hatfield Prisons were well managed, and provided "a safe and respectful environment" for inmates and staff, but the report also claimed that the regime at Moorland Prison was "over-punitive and under-motivating".

On 14 July 2011, it was announced that HMP & YOI Moorland would be put out to tender, accepting bids from private companies and HM Prison Service for the management of the establishment.