At 33 sites, an Onset UA-002-64 HOBO Pendant temperature and light data logger (HOBO, n.d.) was secured to the bottom of a central site-marker and placed into the soil to measure ground temperature continuously. At the remaining two sites, a Tiny Tag TGP-4500 Temperature and Humidity data logger was used, placed in the soil following the same method. Data loggers were buried into the top layer of soil to reduce the impact of high exposure to light on the temperature of the data logger and data was downloaded at the end of the entire survey period.

Each survey period, soil moisture was recorded using a Lutron Soil Moisture meter (PMS-714) placed haphazardly four times per site within the 2-metre vegetation survey radials to a depth of approximately 10 centimetres.

Relative humidity percentage was measured at the central marker using a Kestrel 3000 Weather meter once per survey period. The average of the soil moisture readings and the ground temperatures were calculated for each site to provide a single mean reading per site over the entire survey period.

Carabid beetles were caught in pitfall traps - four per site across the 35 sites (traps in restored heathlands were described as either 'ridges' or 'furrows' depending on the microtopography). Traps consisted of two cups, the inner of which contained water with a drop of detergent, set flush to the ground. A square of wire netting was pegged over the cup to prevent larger bycatch. Beetles were collected in May, June, July and August, across a period of 3 day in each month.