Key elements Shelter Bare ground and early-succession habitats Flower-rich habitats Scrub and scattered trees Sward structure Ecotones Large-scale mosaic LOWLAND GRASSLAND 206 priority species are associated with lowland grassland in England. This is by far the largest number associated with a lowland farmland habitat. Grassland species require a range of different sward structures, and no single type is beneficial for all. Click on image to view landscape, and then select some species or key elements Management guides for this habitat

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Shelter Shelter can be a difficult element to assess. However, sheltered sites are generally those that are open to direct sunlight but protected from excess wind by the topography or vegetation. Species requiring shelter are often found in bays of scrub, against a woodland edge or cliff face, or on sloping ground. South-facing slopes, and semi-circular bays of vegetation (such as a scalloped woodland edge adjoining grassland) open to the south, can be especially important. Go to example species Photograph: Dave Mitchell Key determining factors: Topography Succession - scrub development Disturbance – grazing; scrub and tree management. GO TO LANDSCAPERETURN TO START

Shelter – associated priority species RETURN TO STARTGO TO LANDSCAPE

Bare ground and early-succession habitats Repeated disturbance that removes vegetation creates areas of bare and sparsely-vegetated ground. Bare ground includes pebbles, exposed rock and even small carpets of lichen and moss. It invariably includes a scatter of early colonisers, many of which are food plants or provide other critical resources such as nectar and pollen. Soil that is over-compacted or churned is not as good as well-drained loosely friable soil. Bare or sparsely-vegetated ground adjoining taller vegetation is often important. Key determining factors: Disturbance – small-scale poaching by grazing animals; rabbits; erosion on the edge of tracks and paths; sandpits; excavation by machinery. Go to example species Photograph: Robert Goodison RETURN TO STARTGO TO LANDSCAPE

Bare ground and early-succession habitats – associated priority species 43% of priority species in grassland are associated with bare ground and early-succession habitats. Examples, with their requirements, are: Grey partridge - mosaic of bare ground (feeding), weedy stubble fields in winter, and long-sward grass (nests); high density of inverts and seeds. Hedgerows, uncultivated margins and scrub edge can provide suitable nesting and feeding conditions. Silver-studded blue - tight mosaic of bare ground and sparse vegetation in sheltered locations (uneven topography or within scrub); bird’s foot trefoil (foodplant); ants of the genus Lasius. Black oil beetle - a good nectar supply; mosaic of flowers; bare sand; scrub; shelter. Early gentian - base-rich, parched grassland; sparsely vegetated. Return to Bare ground and early-succesion habitats RETURN TO STARTGO TO LANDSCAPE

Flower-rich habitats Patches of tall flower-rich grasslands that are able to flower throughout the growing season can provide a source of nectar and seeds. They are often best represented by sheets of common flowering-plants, such as yellow composites and umbellifers. Photograph: Dave Mitchell RETURN TO START The diversity of species and the nature of management can also result in a complex structure that includes tussocks and sheltered bays within a matrix of other vegetation. Key determining factors: Disturbance - often found in areas such as disused sandpits or along road edges. Best managed by infrequent mowing or occasional grazing that retains some flower heads. Go to example species GO TO LANDSCAPE

Flower-rich habitats – associated priority species RETURN TO START 38% of priority species in grassland are associated with herb-rich unimproved grassland. Examples, with their requirements, are : Black oil beetle - a good nectar supply; mosaic of flowers; bare sand; scrub; shelter. Red-shanked carder bee - scrub edge and tussocks to nest in; tall-sward grassland; large-scale flower- rich resource present spring-late summer. Frog orchid - calcareous grassland; herb-rich unimproved; well-grazed and short. Felwort rust - leaves of Felwort; short/open sward. Go to Flower-rich habitats GO TO LANDSCAPE

Scrub and scattered trees Scrub is vegetation dominated by low, woody plants that typically forms an intermediate community between grass or heath and woodland. Scrub that contains gaps and shrubs of different sizes is of much greater value than scrub in large, homogenous blocks. RETURN TO START Occasional trees are beneficial as they provide further structural diversity. Species can use scrub and scattered trees for shelter, feeding, roosting and nesting. Key determining factors: Succession Disturbance - tree and scrub management. Go to example species Photograph: Tony Robinson GO TO LANDSCAPE

Scrub and scattered trees – associated priority species RETURN TO START Go to Scrub and scattered trees GO TO LANDSCAPE

Sward structure Grassland swards have a range of structures, each of which are important for different species. Many species require more than one structure within a mosaic. Short swards Tall swards and tussocks Open swards Key determining factors: Soil/Air/Water Quality Disturbance Succession Photograph: Tony Robinson RETURN TO STARTGO TO LANDSCAPE

Short swards Short swards are those that are only a few centimetres high. Many vascular plants can survive in quite small patches of short grassland, whereas more extensive short swards are favoured by some species of bird. Photograph: Tony Robinson RETURN TO START Many invertebrates require smaller areas of short sward set within a mosaic of taller vegetation. Go to example species Go to Sward structure GO TO LANDSCAPE

Short swards – associated priority species 44% of priority species in grassland are associated with short-swards. Examples, with their requirements, are: RETURN TO START Deptford pink - short grassland; herb rich; unimproved; bare ground; well-drained. Slender bedstraw - herb rich; unimproved; short-sward chalk grassland; open grassland. Lapwing - spring-tilled arable land; extensive open short grassland, ideally damp with winter flooding and abundant invertebrates. Return to Short swards Go to Sward structure GO TO LANDSCAPE

Tall swards and tussocks These swards are particularly favoured by invertebrates and certain bird species. Tall swards are often required all year round to provide a plentiful supply of nectar, pollen, food- plants, seeds, dead seed heads and prey items. Hay-making, which is very beneficial to certain plant species, inevitably disrupts this continuity. So, it is helpful if some herb-rich habitats can be retained, either around the margins of a hay meadow or in close proximity, whichever is the most appropriate.herb-rich habitats Occasional tussocks (and meadow ant nests) provide further structural diversity and a microclimate very different from their surroundings. Occasional tussocks, or tussocky areas within a wider mosaic, should be considered as very beneficial. Go to example speciesGo to example species Go to Sward structureGo to Sward structure Photographs: Wayne Davies/David Smallshire RETURN TO STARTGO TO LANDSCAPE

Tall swards and tussocks – associated priority species 18% of priority species on grassland are associated with tall swards or tussocks. Examples, with their requirements, are: RETURN TO STARTGO TO LANDSCAPE

Open swards Open swards can be short or tall, but are characterised by tiny open spaces between plants (as opposed to a thick carpet of grass and other vegetation). These conditions are necessary for invertebrates and some shorter-growing plant species. Go to example species Go to Sward structure Photograph: Dave Mitchell RETURN TO STARTGO TO LANDSCAPE

Open swards – associated priority species 37% of priority species in grassland are associated with open swards. Examples, with their requirements, are: RETURN TO START Large blue butterly - well-drained grassland; very short turf; open sward; wild thyme (foodplant) ; ants. Pasque flower - well-drained calcareous soil; steep south-facing slope; unimproved, herb-rich, open sward (not shaded by scrub). Reindeer lichen - heath-grass-rock interface; open short sward. Return to Open swards Go to Sward structure GO TO LANDSCAPE

Ecotones These are the gradation between two adjoining habitats, for example grassland and woodland. Ecotones should not be severe; there should be a gradual change from one habitat to the other. The wider and more varied the structure the better. Go to example species Photograph: Tony Robinson RETURN TO START Key determining factors: Succession Disturbance - various types of management that encourage a transition from grassland to other habitats. GO TO LANDSCAPE

Ecotones – associated priority species RETURN TO STARTGO TO LANDSCAPE

Large-scale mosaic This refers to the juxtaposition of different habitats within a landscape. For example, wetland and woodlands adjacent to grassland. Such mosaics are largely required by highly- mobile terrestrial species, and can include both priority and non-priority habitats. In lowland farmland the mosaic might include hedgerows, hedgerow trees, ponds, ditches, and areas of cultivation. Key determining factors: Scale Go to example species RETURN TO STARTGO TO LANDSCAPE Photograph: Tony Robinson

Large-scale mosaic – associated priority species RETURN TO STARTGO TO LANDSCAPE

The lowland grassland management handbook Natural England illustrated grassland guides Conservation management advice for your livestock business Promoting habitat mosaics for invertebrates - chalk downland RSPB Land management advice handbooks A management guide for birds on lowland farmland The wet grassland guide Managing priority habitats for invertebrates (Buglife) Lowland calcareous grasslandLowland calcareous grassland ; Lowland dry acid grassland ; Lowland meadows ; Purple moor grass and rush pasturesLowland dry acid grasslandLowland meadowsPurple moor grass and rush pastures Note: after opening some documents, you may need to exit the slideshow in order to view them. RETURN TO START Management guides GO TO LANDSCAPE