Why Grasslands Are Important
As is widely quoted but never easy to read, meadows and other species-rich grasslands now cover less than 1% of the UK. Since the 1930’s 97% of species-rich grasslands across the country have been lost, both to intensification; such as increased livestock numbers, application of slurry and artificial fertilisers, and abandonment, with rough pasture generally being more difficult to access or utilise the grazing with more continental breeds.
Well-managed grasslands support a wide range of plants, fungi, insects, reptiles and ground nesting birds such as skylarks, curlews and meadow pipits. Insect pollinators in particular need wildflower-rich grasslands to provide food (pollen and nectar), with these in turn providing food for other wildlife including birds and bats.
Over the past few years, however, this has started to shift, with growing numbers of nature reserves, farms, verges and gardens working to increase the botanical species diversity of their grasslands, and in helping to increase insect, bird and mammal numbers.
You can find a number of different species rich grasslands in the National Landscape including lowland meadows, limestone pastures, fen, floodplain meadows, orchards and verges.
Species rich grasslands are vitally important habitats:
- Home and a food supply for a vast amount of wildlife.
- Can help to prevent flooding in urban areas.
- Store and sequester carbon – playing in a huge part in mitigating against climate change.
- Produce food – look out for local produce
Find out more about managing meadows
Some links to useful info on managing and creating species rich grasslands: