Editing Nethermost Pike (section)

==Biological interest==
[[File:Salix lapponum L.jpg|thumb|right|One third of the English population of ''Salix lapponum'' is found in Nethermost Cove.]]
The summit and surrounding areas of Nethermost Pike contain many species and communities which are of biological interest. North east of the summit is Nethermost Cove which contains some of England's best [[tundra|arctic-alpine]] and tall-herb vegetation, including one third of the English population of [[Salix lapponum|Downy Willow]] (''Salix lapponum'').<ref>{{cite web | title=Information for Helvellyn and Fairfield - Unit 13 | url=http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/special/sssi/unit_details.cfm?situnt_id=1018592 | work=Natural England | access-date=3 January 2009}}</ref> Similarly Ruthwaite Cove contains Arctic-alpine and tall-herb communities, and it is believed that the cove may contain very rare species of plants in very small, and therefore precarious, populations.<ref>{{cite web | title=Information for Helvellyn and Fairfield - Unit 14 | url=http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/special/sssi/unit_details.cfm?situnt_id=1018595 | work=Natural England | access-date=3 January 2009}}</ref> The lower eastern slopes form Grisedale Common, a large expanse of dwarf shrub heath.<ref name="unit 15">{{cite web | title=Information for Helvellyn and Fairfield - Unit 15 | url=http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/special/sssi/unit_details.cfm?situnt_id=1018598 | work=Natural England | access-date=3 January 2009}}</ref> The lower slopes are grazed by sheep, which has a significant effect on the type of vegetation which grows. Certain areas, such as Eagle Crag, are inaccessible to sheep due to their steep slopes.<ref>{{cite web | title=Information for Helvellyn and Fairfield - Unit 16 | url=http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/special/sssi/unit_details.cfm?situnt_id=1018601 | work=Natural England | access-date=3 January 2009}}</ref>

The summit and eastern slopes of Nethermost Pike are part of the [[List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Cumbria|Helvellyn and Fairfield]] [[Site of Special Scientific Interest]] (SSSI). This SSSI covers {{convert|2418.8|ha}} centred on the Helvellyn range and Fairfield, and was designated in 1975 because of the area's geological and biological features.<ref name="SSSI"/><ref>{{cite web | title = Helvellyn and Faifield site map | url = http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271002237%27 | website= Defra.gov.uk MAGIC map | access-date = 9 August 2014}}</ref> [[Natural England]], which is responsible for choosing SSSIs, tries to ensure that the management and use of the area is sustainable.

[[Overgrazing]] by sheep in Grisedale Common has damaged the vegetation to the extent that it has needed careful management. Since 2003 grazing has been limited to one [[Domestic sheep|ewe]] per hectare ({{Convert|1|ha|acre|1|disp=out}}) in summer and 0.6 ewe in winter. In summer sheep are also flushed from the coves, (Nethermost and Ruthwaite) as they contain vegetation which is susceptible to damage from summer grazing. The vegetation structure has started to improve; however, recovery is slowest on the higher land and the summit is still heavily grazed.<ref name="unit 15"/> The summit suffers erosion from the large number of walkers who climb Nethermost Pike. The use of fewer footpaths would help reduce the disturbance to the summit species.<ref name="unit 11"/>