1. Professor R Neil Humphries CSci CBiol BSc MA PhD MBS MIPSS FIQ Sustainable Reclamation ASMR National Meeting, Tupelo, Ms. June 8th-15th, 2012

2. Objective - to understand more about seed collection from natural sources  Study undertaken in 1992 & 1993  5 coalfield grassland – mire/fen meadow sites in South Wales, UK, harvested early & late July  All UK Biodiversity Action Plan grasslands (NVC mesotrophic grasslands MG5 & MG8; mires M23, M24 & M25; acid grassland U5)  Emorsgate tractor-drawn suction harvester  Seed was air-dried, sieved & bagged

3. 1. Donor site species composition and their flower & seed development stages 2. Species composition of harvested seed 3. Efficacy of suction harvester 4. ‘Harvestability’ of seed

8.  Number of Key-Constant (+ Rare) Species in Harvested Seed NVCAbsentUnder Representative RepresentativeOver Representative MG5 3 (1)3 (-)2 (1)5 (-) M23 1 (1)4 (-)5 (1)1 (-) M24 3 (5)2 (-)4 (1)3 (-)

9. Need for –  Seed-burden surveys  Multiple-harvests  Adequate donor sites  More than one method of collection  Good storage and control of pests

10. Year prior to harvest and harvest year:  Determine species composition & field scale spatial variation, access, and  Species flower/seed architecture & seed ripening/shedding period(s), methods of collection  Determine areal contribution to seed yield (area / grasses & forbs) and number of harvests required (single or multiple)  Change land use to maximise seed yield (remove grazing pressure)

11. Need for multiple harvests because:  Different seed yields between years (1992 & 1993)  Species ripen at different times within years: Site (1992) NVCJuneEarly July Late July AugSept Bryntirion MG52181396 Glyn-yr- Henllan M232231566 Blaenclairch M241239610

12. Preplanning -  Access for harvest method  Species composition  Control of land use & management Adequate yield of seed (area) – Sowing Rate kg/ha Grass @10 Forbs @ 5Rushes & Sedges @ 3 Donor Size ha 81.32.3

13. More than one seed collection method available More than one because of:  Weather - dry standing crop  Access limitations (steep, patterned & soft ground)  Selective harvest of seed / seed heads (flower architecture, key species, weevil infestation)

14.  Seed collected is valuable in terms of effort and limited resource  Reduced viability through infestation by mildews and white-shouldered house moth If not sown on collection there is need for:  Drying & dry storage  Insecticide treatment

15.  Study is highly relevant to today’s drive to establish native plant grassland communities  Study provides basis for planning collection and evidence for achievability to planning authorities  Showed need for careful & informed planning, realistic & achievable programme spanning seed ripening times & a number of years, and sufficient donor resource