Grasslands, Meadows
and Pasture Habitat Audit
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the complete Audit
Summary
This audit covers
areas of unimproved and semi-improved neutral grassland.
Traditionally, neutral grasslands were managed as hay meadows
or pasture, but today these terms are used rather loosely
to describe a variety of grassland types. Generally pastures
are grazed for most or all of the year, whilst meadows are
allowed to grow through spring and early summer and are
then cut during June and July - the cuttings being dried
and removed for hay. In London many grasslands may also
be managed for informal recreation or as playing fields.
Although
the area of neutral grassland has been considerably reduced
over the years, it is still relatively widespread throughout
London and is a significant habitat type in many outer London
Boroughs. The City of London is the only borough
that does not have any significant areas of neutral grassland.
There are approximately
11,000 hectares of neutral grassland in London - a considerable
area when compared with the meagre acid grassland resource
of just 1,200 hectares.
It
has been suggested that the loss of neutral grasslands in
the lowlands represents the greatest reduction of wildlife
habitat over the last 45 years. Between 1930 and 1984 semi-natural
lowland grassland decreased by an estimated 97 in England
and Wales, leaving just 3 undamaged by intensification.
The extent and quality of the neutral grassland in London
has shown a similar decline. Although neutral grasslands
are still relatively common in London, unimproved
(species-rich) neutral grasslands are particularly rare.
This
habitat is a high priority for action due to the severe
decline in quantity and quality of this habitat nationally
and the relatively large neutral grassland resource found
within London.
Several
areas of relatively species-rich neutral grassland could
be restored by relaxation of mowing regimes in some of London’s
older public parks and open spaces. Relaxation or modification
of mowing regimes should be implemented after thorough survey
to ensure that the areas that revert to a more natural
sward are the most species-rich areas. Uncut areas of
perennial ryegrass (the typical constituent of amenity swards)
are of little value to people or wildlife. Rough grassland
has already been restored in parts of some London parks
with very beneficial results.
The
restoration of a sympathetic grazing regime would be particularly
beneficial to many neutral grassland sites. Although the
botanical interest of several good quality grasslands in
London is maintained by mowing or hay-making this is not
usually the most beneficial management technique for biodiversity
generally. Grazing is a more subtle form of management and
creates a much wider range of micro-habitats which can be
exploited by invertebrates and plant species which need
gaps in the sward.
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the full Audit - this is only
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