calcareous grassland

Features from Wildlife magazine Wildlife articles 2008 -- Spring 2008 -- ::Severn Barrage ::The Variety of life ::A year at Willsbridge ::Willsbridge comes of age ::Reaching out - Willsbridge ::Round the reserves Wildlife articles 2007 -- Autumn 2007 -- ::Thinking BIG ::Watery webs:the pond network ::Wildlife in the landscape ::Variety of life ::How to be a climate friend ::Seasonal stroll - Walborough ::Round the reserves -- Summer 2007 -- ::The Folly Farm appeal ::Weston Big Wood-biodiversity at its best ::The variety of life ::How to capture a butterfly ::How to get to know an orchid ::Seasonal stroll - WestonBigWood ::Reserves update -- Spring 2007 -- ::Folly Farm - a very special place ::Making a difference at Folly Farm ::How find the magic at Folly Farm ::Seasonal stroll at Folly Farm ::Magic spots at Folly Farm ::Batscapes ::Climate challenge ::Variety of Life - the Ponways project ::Round the reserves Wildlife articles 2006 -- Autumn 2006 -- ::The Severn Estuary ::Bird Watch results ::How to identify garden birds ::Making space for wildlife ::How does your garden grow? ::Round the reserves -- Summer 2006 -- ::Going for green ::Stand up and be counted ::Happy birthday NSLMP ::Holi day - a riot of spring colour ::Avon's species-rich grassland ::How to photograph dragonflies ::The Big Switch ::Round the reserves -- Spring 2006 -- ::How to identify winter water birds ::Make 2006 the year you... ::Invasive invasion ::Sowing the seeds: Willsbridge Mill ::Round the reserves Wildlife articles 2005 -- Autumn 2005 -- ::Indentify common funghi ::Build a hedgehog hideaway ::Big Bird Watch ::Champions for wildlife ::Round the reserves ::Seeds of the futre: Willsbridge Mill -- Summer 2005 -- ::Restoring Folly Farm ::How to become bee-friendly ::How to identify the butterflies of spring ::Save our seas ::The variety of life: hedgerows ::Round the reserves ::25 Ways to make a difference -- Spring 2005 -- ::The variety of life: water voles ::The Avon Biodiversity Action Plan ::How to take really good wildlife photos ::How to help your garden grow ::Round the reserves ::Seasonal strolls: Browns Folly ::Sowing the seeds: for wildlife for people ::Sowing the seeds: looking back

The variety of life

Avon's species-rich grasslands

Think of the classic greensward, bejewelled heathland, wildflower meadow, grasslands studded with herbs and flowers - the best of summertime! These species-rich grassland include the three UK priority grassland habitats present in Avon:

• Lowland calcareous grasslands is found on the Mendip hills, Avon Gorge and the Cotswolds and supports a particularly rich flora, such as yellow wort, rock rose, wild thyme
  and marjoram.
• Lowland acid grassland is found to the north and east of Bristol. Plants found here include heath spotted orchid, tormentil and gorse.
• Neutral grassland (also called lowland meadow) is found in the vale around Chew Valley, and the lower slopes of the Cotswold and Mendip hills. Characteristic plants are betony, devils bit scabious, yellow rattle and corky fruited water dropwort.

The development and maintenance of species-rich grassland depends on the soil profile being undisturbed, having a low nutrient cycle, and having a grazing or cutting regime which prevent invasion by scrub and eventually woodland.

Wildlife wealth
Species-rich grasslands are of immense conservation value because of the great variety of plants and animals they support many of which are in serious decline at a national level. This includes mammals such as greater horseshoe bat and hare, many birds, like skylark, and linnet invertebrates including rare butterflies such as pearl bordered and marsh fritillaries. Our remaining old grassland sites provide a strong link with our farming heritage and traditional landscapes, adding colour to the landscape and contributing to the character of the area.

Sharp decline
However, there have been substantial losses of this species-rich grassland over the last 50 years, mainly as a result of intensive farming. Species-rich grasslands have either been converted to arable production or to intensive grazing and silage through herbiciding, ploughing and reseeding with species such as high yielding rye grass. Plant biodiversity decreases as fertilisers increase soil nutrients to artificial levels, which promotes growth of a few grass species which out-compete flowering plants. Silage is cut earlier and more frequently than hay, reducing the time available for flowering plants to set seed, and eventually they are lost from the grasslands. High grazing levels also prevent flowering plants from setting seed.
The value of these habitats for animal species also reduces, with, for example, more frequent cuts reducing the survival of ground nesting birds like the skylark and their young.

Losing ground
A further threat for remaining areas is scrub invasion, as sites unsuitable for grazing with commercial livestock are undergrazed or abandoned. This results in coarse grasses smothering flowering plants, which is followed by invasion of scrub and bracken. Traditional breeds of sheep and cattle are those most suited to grazing the species-rich grasslands, but because they too have become more scarce they are more expensive to obtain which in turn makes it harder for landowners to keep them. Other threats include over-grazing with commercial livestock, local pollution due to ground water contamination, slurry spreading, and herbicide and fertiliser drift.

The picture today
By the early 1980s species-rich grasslands had declined by 97% over the previous 50 years in lowland England and Wales. Today only about 40,000 ha of lowland calcareous grassland remains in the United Kingdom, of which between 500 - 1000 ha is found in the Avon area. Surviving species-rich grasslands are now usually found in small isolated fragments, reducing the possibility of seed dispersal
between sites.

Traditional land management practices have survived better in Avon and the South West than in many other parts of the country, and this area is a stronghold for wildflower-rich grassland. However, even here grasslands are being lost due to lack of traditional management.

Taking Action
There are some solutions to this loss at hand. The UK Biodiversity Action Plan has set targets for maintenance and restoration, aiming to restore1000 ha of lowland calcareous grassland, 500 ha of lowland meadow and 500 ha of lowland acid grassland by 2010. The Avon Biodiversity Action Plan has also set targets. We aim to maintain and enhance quality and extent of existing known resource through appropriate management and protection, and restore species-rich grassland on appropriate sites.

Regional grazing schemes aimed at conserving species-rich grassland sites are beginning to show success, with the help of The Grazing Animals Project (GAP) which was formed to help land managers get the desired level of grazing on wildlife sites, providing practical support to graziers, wildlife site managers and conservation advisors across the UK. For example the Cotswold Grazing Project has successfully reintroduced grazing at a number of species-rich
grassland locations.

The need for a similar project in Avon has been identified by the Avon Biodiversity Partnership and plans are now underway to secure funding. This project will be managed by the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) and will offer a 'matchmaker' service, bringing together sites that require grazing with local graziers who need extra land. and also give help and advice to ensure that grazing is economically sustainable. It is hoped that much of this work will be funded through agri-environment schemes.What is the Avon Biodiversity Action Plan?

The Avon BAP is the first over-arching conservation strategy for the former county of Avon. It has a ten year timescale. The plan's production was led by the Trust and the three main aims of the plan are:

1. To focus action on habitats and species that are of particular value in Avon, within the national context
2. To encourage a common approach to biodiversity conservation and sharing of best-practice in Avon
3. To encourage education and community action as an integral part of the biodiversity process

Further information: contact Lucy Rogers, Biodiversity Development Officer, email lucyrogers@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk or see www.avon-biodiversity.org.uk/