These special places are the best spots to see certain birds. The woodlarks' gorgeous, fluting notes drift down from their tree perches, while Dartford warblers and stonechats scratch away from the heather and gorse.
Stay out late into the night if you want to hear the utterly bizarre, whirring noises that nightjars make in their courtship displays.
Small is beautiful. Look closely and you could see an emerald-green tiger beetle hunting for prey or a silver-studded blue butterfly, a creature every bit as pretty as it sounds.
Heathland has its own special grasses, spiders and ants. Watch a pond and you might see dragonflies and damselflies, or natterjack toads (the sand loving relative of the common toad) if you're lucky. There's much more than just heather.
Late summer is the time to admire expanses of beautiful blooming purple heather as well as wonderful butterflies and other insects. Winter is a quiet time on heathland, but spring is often filled with birdsong.