Vegetative encroachment
The acid grass and heather dominated swards which are typical of the managed Sandlings heaths are not a final climax community but are a stage in the succession from bare ground to woodland. The maintenance of open heathland requires active management to prevent natural succession from running it's course.

Traditionally, grazing coupled with the regular removal of materials needed by the local communities such as scrub and trees, bracken, and sands and gravels favoured the earlier stages of succession and maintained a mosaic of habitats with different stages of vegetation growth in close proximity from bare ground with short and long acid grass, through the pioneer, building, mature and degenerate phases of heather growth, to scattered scrub and larger trees.

Today this no longer happens so the future of the heaths depends largely on intervention by land managers using a mixture of traditional and modern management techniques to restore, recreate and maintain a vibrant heathland habitat.

Sustainability of heathland habitats
Management works incur costs both in terms of time and money. For heathland to have a future these management costs must be met. Many of the restoration and re-creation techniques currently in use have been brought in from other industries, usually agriculture and forestry, and carry a considerable expense. It is essential that these imported techniques are actually able to produce the required habitats or are developed further; they must also be shown to be cost effective ways of producing the desired results.

Maintenance costs for heathlands are usually much lower than restoration costs but mechanisms for maintaining restored sites must be in place. Any potential incomes from the products of management are realised where possible but more work is needed to develop markets for these products to support management work.

Sustainability is not only reflected by minimising the costs of management but can also be shown by the acceptability of the expense to the general population. Increasing the feelings of 'ownership' and responsibility amongst the local community could have a considerable effect on meeting the long term management costs of the Sandlings in the future.

Encampments
The last 10 years have shown a considerable increase in the number of travellers choosing to establish encampments on the heaths. Although there has been a long tradition of itinerant workers following the harvest and setting up temporary camps on village commons this is very different from the current situation. Modern encampments stay on a site for far longer, involve larger, heavier vehicles and tend to cause considerable erosion, compaction and possibly contamination of the heath. Other users of the heath often feel intimidated and will stop using a site. Considerable environmental damage can result from the disturbance associated with people and vehicles on areas of the heath not normally exposed to such factors. The restoration of a site after a camp site has been vacated can involve considerable time and expense.

Balancing differing needs
Heathlands are a cultural landscape: the past and possible future of heaths are inextricably linked with people. Although the harvesting of heathland products is no longer essential for anyone's survival, a great many people use the heaths for recreational and amenity purposes and many more come to appreciate the specialised fauna and flora.

Heaths can with stand a considerable level of use but a small amount of badly timed or inappropriate use can take decades to restore. Many of the important species are associated with the ground, ground nesting birds, burrowing invertebrates, pioneer plant communities establishing on bare ground. These are easily disturbed and eroded and much damage is done through carelessness and ignorance which could easily be avoided.

People can savour the beauty and tranquillity of the Sandlings and all its special qualities without causing harm or damage to the very things they have come to see, feel and enjoy. Visitor management ensures that the special areas remain peaceful and a balance is maintained at popular places to allow both residents and visitors to be met. The emphasis is on quiet pursuits with limited infrastructure to protect the natural beauty, tranquillity and quality of life in the area.

The access network is managed to a high standard providing routes for all users, that link people and places, and allow circular trips. It includes open access where it is consistent with AONB objectives . On heathland open access is managed to avoid conflict with landscape quality and nature conservation. The Countryside and Rights of Way Act allows for greater access to certain types of land but also provides a framework for managing access to sensitive areas.