Chalk Grassland action plan

Aims
1. To co-ordinate the protection, management and restoration of London's chalk grassland.
2. To ensure that the need for habitat restoration and management of London's chalk grasslands is widely understood and accepted.
3. To enable the public to enjoy chalk grassland.



Chalk grassland develops on shallow lime-rich soils that are nutrient-poor and free-draining. These occur in London mainly on parts of the North Downs in the south and Chilterns in the west. They support a wide array of wildflowers, butterflies, grasshoppers and other invertebrates, many of which are restricted to chalk soils.

London's suburban development during the inter-war period led to expansion of residential areas onto the chalk. The establishment of the Metropolitan Green Belt in 1949 prevented further significant loss through development. Many tracts became secured by public authorities and retained as public open spaces. However, much of the rest was of declining value as pasture, and landowners have since converted much of the remaining chalk to arable land or intensive horse pasture. Recently, the identification of chalk grasslands as important resources for biodiversity has led to establishment of chalk grassland nature reserves in an effort to restore and conserve them. Scrub-clearance remains a key issue for managers.

Contact
The Lead for this habitat is London Borough of Bromley.
Ewa Prokop
Countryside Management Officer
Department Environmental Services
Bromley Council
Civic Centre, Stockwell Close
Bromley, BR1 3UH

Tel: 020 8313 4665
Email: [email protected]