The neutral grasslands of lowland and upland hay meadows contain a high proportion of broad leaved herbaceous species relative to grasses. This gives rise to a characteristically colourful sward in summer heavily used by insects such as butterflies. These grasslands have not been affected by changes in agricultural management or land use ('improved') and typically exist as small fields within a landscape of hedges or stone walls and small woods. They are traditionally managed by taking a hay crop and aftermath grazing. 'Although soils may often be moist, but free-draining, they are not innundated to the same extent as lowland wet grasslands; seasonal flooding is a rare or unknown event.' Lowland dry acid grassland and purple moor grass and rush pasture are relatively poor in botanical diversity when compared to the hay meadows. However they may support a richly diverse fauna (invertebrates and birds) and provide further conservation interest as part of a mosaic of habitats. NVC
Unimproved dry neutral grassland MG1 to MG3; Wet grassland (and grazing marsh) MG4, MG5, MG8 to MG13; Acid grassland U1 to U6; Calcareous grassland CG1 to CG11; Improved grassland MG6 and MG7. Insert pictures
These grasslands are on the UK BAP list as priority habitats
SSSI designation covers a large number of mostly small and fragmented sites. Some of the National Nature Reserves (NNRs) also cover neutral grasslands and several ESAs contain neutral meadows which have management conditions designed to protect them. Lowland hay meadows and mountain hay meadows are listed on Annexe 1 of the EU Habitats Directive.
It has been estimated that between 1930 and 1984 the amount of semi-natural lowland grassland decreased by 97% in England and Wales. It is thought that less than 15,000ha of species rich neutral grassland remains in the UK. This is based on figures for England and Wales only as survey data was not available for Scotland and Northern Ireland. Important areas for hay meadows include Worcestershire, the Yorkshire Dales National Park and Peak District National Park (Peak Park). Little is known about the extent of acid grasslands but it is estimated that there are more than 1.2m ha within the uplands (some the product of poor management of other habitats) and up to 30,000ha in the lowlands. 'Lowland acid grassland is becoming increasingly rare in Britain.'
The decline seen at the national level in neutral unimproved grasslands is echoed in the situation at regional level. Within Derbyshire outside the Peak Park only fragments of species rich meadows remain. It was estimated that over 90% of sites surveyed as species rich in 1978 had been lost by 1983. More recent surveys carried out in 1997/98 show that ................(need to get info. about this). Within the Peak Park 50% of hay meadow sites have been lost between the mid 1980s and 1995-97 and it is projected that this rate of loss is continuing. However it is still estimated that in 1998 the Peak Park held about 20% of the national total for these sites. There is little information on the overall extent of acid grassland and rough pasture within Derbyshire or the Peak Park. Although surveys are being undertaken to assess the extent of these habitats. Within both areas the habitats have been identified as occurring most often as part of a mosaic of moorland fringe, heath or bracken and flush areas. Note: information on other areas of South Yorkshire still needs to be collected.
There is no up to date information on the extent and quality of these habitats within the Sheffield BAP area. Although records are being collated and new surveys are being undertaken to assess the extent and quality of these habitats. The following table has been taken from Sheffield City Council's Nature Conservation Strategy published in 1991. It should be noted that the figures given below include the area of Sheffield within the Peak Park rather than just the Sheffield BAP area and have been derived from Landsat information.
Table 1: Grassland and Herbaceous Communities of Parks, Farmland and Open Spaces.
Type |
Area |
Land cover |
Comments on distribution |
| a. Amenity grassland | 2337ha | 6.4% | High in the North, South East and around Mosborough; low in Stocksbridge, South West, Central area and Peak Park |
| b. 'Improved' grassland | 4036ha | 11.1% | High in Stocksbridge, North West and South West; low in East end, South East and Central area. |
| ci. 'Unimproved' grassland (dry semi-natural) | 1555ha | 4.3% | High in the Peak Park, North West and Stocksbridge; low in East end, South East and Central area. |
| cii. 'Unimproved' grassland (wet semi-natural) note: includes marshes/mires but not blanket bog,wet heathland and moorland. | 722ha | 2% | High in the Peak Park, North West, South West and Stocksbridge; low in the South East, East end and Central areas. |
| d. Tall herbaceous vegetation (including bracken) | 1088ha | 3% | High in Mosborough; low in Peak Park and Stocksbridge areas. |
| e. Low herbaceous vegetation | 1118ha | 3.1% | High in the Central area and East end; low in the Peak Park, Mosborough, High Green and Stocksbridge areas. |
Unimproved grassland was identified as a Priority 'At Risk' habitat type in the Nature Conservation Strategy accounting for around 6% of land cover. It should be noted however that a high proportion was within the Peak Park and is outside the scope of the Sheffield BAP. Within the Sheffield BAP area there are x SSSIs which contain unimproved grassland.
This is the most serious cause of loss or declineas grasslands are 'improved' and traditional management is abandoned. These changes may also have a serious effect on the birds and invertebrates which depend on the grassland for breeding.
Small sites on the urban fringe or within cities may be lost through development or neglect as management is abandoned. Sites may come under increasing pressure as recreation areas where management is inappropriate through for example intensive mowing and tidiness. Vandalism and tipping also contribute to a decline in value.
This may lead to sites no longer being viable to manage and minimise the chance of natural re-colonisation of some species. It can lead to the loss of the mosaic of habitats which contribute towards maintaining diversity and have a serious impact on the populations of some fauna.
1. Nationally, neutral grassland sites have been designated as SSSIs and some fall within NNRs. Acid grasslands may also form part of SSSIs. Schemes such as the Countryside Stewardship Scheme support the appropriate management of unimproved grasslands.
2. Some sites are protected as nature reserves managed by Wildlife Trusts and other NGOs.
3. Regionally and locally surveys are underway to assess the extent and quality of these habitats.
4. At a local level, where possible, sympathetic management of some urban and urban fringe sites is being implemented to increase the conservation value of the grasslands.
Target: initial survey to be completed by end 2000.
Target: initial survey to be completed by end 2000.
Target: Increase the conservation value by 50% by 2004.
Target: Ensure that all land owners and land managers understand the management requiremants for the habitat by 2001; and that there has been a 'significant' increase in the understanding of the value of these habitats by the general public by 2004.
Target: Set up a site database and monitoring scheme for these habitats by 2001.
a. Support the enforcement of current legislation and policy.
b. Campaign for the creation of tougher legislation to prevent further deterioration and loss of the habitat.
c. Ensure that all unimproved grassland is identified in Part II of Sheffield's UDP (Unitary Development Plan).
a. Ensure that the protection and enhancement of the habitats are taken into account when considering the impact of any planning or development proposals which may threaten existing or potential sites.
b. Ensure the production of management plans for all hay meadow and lowland dry acid grasland sites and encourage the production of plans for the other habitats.
c. Establish and maintain links with the land owners and land managers of these sites.
d. Ensure that a recording and monitoring system is set up to cover these sites.
e. Consider the establishment or re-establishment of more species rich grasslands.
a. Support the production of policy and good practice guidelines for the establishment and maintenance of these habitats.
b. Develop and maintain links and an information exchange between all interested groups.
c. Support training on the conservation and management of these habitats.
a. Undertake a programme of surveys to identify current and potential areas of these habitats.
b. Support more detailed studies and monitoring exercises on the effects of management and restoration of these habitats.
c. Establish a local database and monitoring scheme for these habitats.
d. Contribute towards the establishment and maintenance of national and regional databases by sharing records, the results of surveys and monitoring exercises.
a. Develop an information campaign to raise awareness amongst the general public through displays, leaflets, talks and the local media.
b. At easily accessible sites develop an interpretation package around the conservation value of the habitats.
c. Publicise the results of work and encourage the dissemination of information between all interested individuals, groups, statutory bodies and the City Council.
d. Support any initiatives to promote a wider and more sympathetic understanding of the conservation value of the habitats.