Lowland Neutral and Base-rich Grasslands

Associated Species Action Plans

Bats

Brown hare

Dingy skipper

Associated Habitat action plans

Other lowland grasslands:
Acid grassland
Wet grassland

Woodland (scrub)

This plan covers a range of grasslands, found within the Birmingham and Black Country region, that occur on a variety of substrates from circumneutral brown soils to the calcareous limestone and lime rich spoils. Some of these grasslands have undergone a continuous management regime for hundreds of years as a mixture of grazing and cropping for hay, resulting in flower rich meadows and pastures. Others are of a more recent creation, through abandonment of mineral workings, railways and habitat creation schemes. They share several factors in common, including a low intensity management regime, with a low input of nutrients, helping to maintain their species diversity.

Many of the grasslands within this Region are a product of natural colonisation of spoil, although, there are a few areas that have not been disturbed for hundreds of years. One community type has been included which is a product of deliberate re-seeding, namely the perennial rye-grass - crested dog's-tail grasslands. This is included because it is frequently found on Public Open Space and within pastures. Where the re-seeding took place many years ago they are developing into a diverse community due to their low intensity grazing regime (mainly by tethered horses) and the low input of nutrients. One grassland type has been omitted from the plan. This is the community associated with high production agricultural grassland and usually forms a short-term monoculture and is of little benefit to wildlife.

A single grassland community can be found within Dudley, that has a close affinity with calcareous grasslands associated with the chalk of the Yorkshire Wolds , the North and South Downs and the Cotswolds. It is included within this plan because of its uniqueness to this area.

The Birmingham and Black Country Region has an estimated 4,018 ha of semi-improved neutral grassland, which is approximately 20% of all recorded habitat areas. Among the types of neutral and base-rich grasslands which can be found within the region are:

False oat-grass grasslands

This is a very common community found throughout the Region on road verges, railway embankments, abandoned sites and ungrazed areas. Typically, these are coarse, tussocky grasslands containing a variety of tall herbs, including, hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium), cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris), creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense), black knapweed (Centaurea nigra) and nettle (Urtica dioica).

Crested dog's-tail-black knapweed grassland

This community is traditionally associated with old meadows and pastures. It is very rich in flowers and contains some of the Region's rarest plants, for example, yellow rattle (Rhinanthus minor), quaking grass (Briza media), pepper-saxifrage (Silaum silaus) and adder's-tongue (Ophioglossum vulgatum). This community type has dramtically declined over the last 50 years, mainly due to changes in agricultural practices. Good examples still exist within the Region especially around Dudley, south-west Birmingham and Walsall, but they are very fragmented.

Perennial rye-grass-crested dog's-tail grassland

This is a very common community found on re-seeded Public Open Space, railway lines, road verges and pastures. It is included because areas that were re-seeded over 30 years ago and have subsequently been periodically grazed (mainly by tethered horses) are becoming diverse in wild flowers.

This colonisation may be due to the low intensity management regime. Many sites, throughout the Region, are rotationally grazed by horses with the only nutrient input being dung. The oldest examples have a diverse and colourful flora, which is similar in composition to the previously described community type, Good examples of this community type contain meadow buttercup (Ranunculus acris), bird's-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), meadow vetchling (Lathyrus pratensis) and yellow rattle (Rhinanthus minor) amongst others.

Tor-grass grassland

This community develops upon sites over limestone where grazing has ceased. It is restricted to the limestone areas in Dudley, mainly at Beacon Hill and around the town centre. It can form a very diverse community containing species that are restricted to base-rich substrates. These include hoary plantain (Plantago media), yellow-wort (Blackstonia perfoliata) and fairy flax (Linum catharticum). This community can quickly succeed to scrub and woodland if left unmanaged.

Traditionally, the main threat to these grassland communities has been from agricultural improvement into high production grass leys. Within the Region, agricultural conversion of old grasslands is still a threat, but other pressures are beginning to have an effect. These may occur when ownership changes. These factors are:

Development pressures from housing and road building schemes;
Mineral extraction;
Landscaping schemes, especially tree planting initiatives;
General neglect leading to scrub invasion;
Inappropriate mowing regimes
Overgrazing, especially by horses.

3.1 Legal status

Quality grassland at Illey Pastures have been notified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest by English Nature under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981. Other quality grasslands form part of the Regions network of SINCs and SLINCs and receive protection within the Unitary Development Plans and local strategies produced by the various Local Authorities.

3.2 Management, research and guidance

There is a national Lowland Meadows Habitat Action Plan, which sets out the targets for the management, restoration and creation of lowland hay meadows. This is supplemented by numerous guides on management and restoration of grasslands produced by the national agencies.

Locally, within Wolverhampton, several trials on the re-creation of grasslands have been conducted by Wolverhampton University.

More research and survey work is required on the local distribution and integrity of all community types to be found within the Region. This research could form the basis for the production of best practice guidelines on management, enhancement and restoration of grasslands.

Wildlife Trust Grassland Handbook

English Nature Grassland Inventory

OBJECTIVE	TARGET
Produce a detailed grassland inventory for the region.	2006
Bring all grasslands of nature conservation interest into favourable management.	2006
Identify "flagship" species which require grassland management and initiate management	2006
Protect and increase the grassland resource through the re-establishment of appropriate grassland communities.	2011
Create a grassland forum of people interested in grassland creation, restoration and management in order to collate information and target research into all aspects of grassland ecology relevant to the Region.	2002
Increase public awareness of grasslands through the publication of best practice leaflets on management, re-creation and restoration.	Ongoing

ACTION	Potential Deliverers		YEARS							Meets objective No.
ACTION	Lead	Partner	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2011	Meets objective No.
5.1 Policy and legislation
Seek the inclusion of effective measures for habitat protection in the preparation of UDPs and other policy documents	LAs	EN. WT	As Unitary Development Plans and other policy documents are prepared							4
Create a grassland forum of interested parties to protect and enhance grassland resource	EN	ALL								5
5.2 Habitat safeguard and management
Produce best practice management guidelines for grassland owners	WT	EN, LA, LO, FWAG								2
Encourage best management practice through provision of advice to land owners and managers	EN	LA, LO, WT, FWAG								2
Initiate management with management plans on designated sites	LA	WT, EN								2
Identify sites for restoration / establishment of appropriate grassland communities and increase grassland resource by 10% area	EN	ALL								4
Identify species as "flagship" species which require management of grassland habitat and initiate appropriate management	EN	WT, BC, RSPB, LA, LO								3
5.3 Advice
Provide information and advice to site owners / managers as to habitat value and management	EN	All								2
5.5 Future research and monitoring
Undertake survey to determine extent of habitat area, value, state and management and produce detailed Grassland inventory	WT	EN, LAs								1
Support initiatives to identify best management practice	ALL									2
5.6 Publicity
Promote awareness and positive perception of habitat	ALL									6
5.7 Links to other action plans
Other grassland action plans, Woodland, particularly scrub

This Biodiversity Action Plan will be implemented over 10 years with a first review after 5 years. A group will be set up to co-ordinate implementation and to report to the Biodiversity Steering Group. This group will meet at a minimum on a yearly basis.

This grassland forum would act as a central point in assessing and developing new targets for the grasslands as well as providing a point of contact for landowners and other practitioners.

Review will be carried out in conjunction with related Habitat and Species Action Plans as appropriate.

Review will consist of measuring achievement of targets. The group will, with the support of the Steering Group, develop and implement appropriate monitoring methods, which will inform the review process.

The Action Plan will be revised and updated in the light of review results and any relevant changes in circumstances and/or additional information which becomes available during the review period.

In line with national guidance, the Steering Group will report to the UK Steering Group.

This plan should be reviewed at 5 yearly intervals.

Rodwell, J.S. (ed.) (1992) British Plant Communities Vol 3 - Grassland and Montane Communities. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

Printing of this publication for educational purposes is permitted, provided that copies are not made or distributed for commercial gain, and the title of the publication and its date appear. To copy otherwise, or to republish, requires specific permission from the Steering Group.