<p>Landscapes have features that promote natural heterogeneity. Large and small landscape elements create diverse ecological niches and provide refuge for species during periods of ecological stress. Environmental conditions in the dynamic grasslands of South Africa range from hot moist summers to below freezing, dry conditions, and frequent fires during winter. Here, we assess whether landscape elements are used as refuge in fire prone grassland corridors embedded within a pine plantation landscape. This study used directional pitfall traps to sample ground dwelling arthropods around small features (porcupine holes, rocky outcrops, and streams) and large features such as neighbouring biotopes (natural forest, exotic pine plantations and wetlands) during winter and summer. All sampling was done in grassland adjacent to the focal landscape element and in the case of the control, in open grassland without landscape elements nearby. Arthropod species richness, abundance and evenness varied among landscape elements between seasons, indicating differing resource and refuge needs of arthropods during the course of a year. Overall, the edges of natural forests and pine plantations were the most important landscape elements for promoting species richness and abundance. Species composition differed between all features measured and between seasons. Natural landscape elements likely promote heterogeneity in these landscapes and so enhance biodiversity. Although, differences seen here for pine plantations should be treated with care as they are potentially introducing non-native species into this system. Natural landscape elements can play an important role in limiting the impacts of changing climates on grassland arthropods, by allowing them to tolerate periods of environmental stress and providing additional ecological niches. It is vital that a variety of natural landscape elements are included within conservation management to provide refuge during periods of environmental stress.</p>