Our Local Grasslands
The habitats map on our local wildlife habitats page shows grassland areas and designations. There are areas of grassland in our area that are yet to be formally surveyed
( phase 1 habitat survey and we will seek to achieve this. )
Unimproved Grasslands
From the CAONB Publication
Cotswold Limestone Grassland - Conservation and management :
( see link to CAONB publications below for a number of helpul guides )
What is Unimproved Limestone Grassland?
Unimproved limestone grassland is wildflower rich grassland
that has not been affected by modern farming methods.
The grassland has not been ‘improved’ with fertilizer or
herbicides or reseeded to produce more grass for agriculture.
It is found on shallow, free draining and alkaline soils.
Unimproved limestone grassland is an important wildlife habitat
because it sustains a wide range of plants and invertebrates
such as butterflies and rare snails. The Cotswolds Area of
Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) contains a nationally
significant proportion (over 50%) of the UK’s total Jurassic
unimproved limestone grassland. For this reason, conserving
and managing the limestone grassland is a high priority.
Natural England Illustrated guide to lowland chalk and limestone grassland (TIN082)
Natural England Guide to lowland grassland management
Quote from Chapter 1 "The handbook is directed at organisations and individuals managing unimproved semi-natural grasslands for conservation purposes and those responsible for advising managers of such grasslands including farmers. In addition, there is scope for using the information in the handbook to produce a range of material for use by a wider group of land managers. The handbook should be a useful core text for both conservation and agricultural courses at further education institutes."
"1.2 Aims
The aims of the second edition of the Grassland Management Handbook can be summarised as follows:
“ To help land managers and advisers to achieve best practice for nature conservation in grassland
management.
“ To set out the various options available to the manager and adviser.
“ To assist in the choice between these options.
“ To provide basic practical information about procedures, methods, equipment and the ways to
achieve good management.
“ To list the most useful sources from which more detailed guidance can be obtained on specific matters.
link to the handbook on line
"1.2 Aims
The aims of the second edition of the Grassland Management Handbook can be summarised as follows:
“ To help land managers and advisers to achieve best practice for nature conservation in grassland
management.
“ To set out the various options available to the manager and adviser.
“ To assist in the choice between these options.
“ To provide basic practical information about procedures, methods, equipment and the ways to
achieve good management.
“ To list the most useful sources from which more detailed guidance can be obtained on specific matters.
link to the handbook on line
The Grasslands Trust
This organsiation was established in 2002 to address the crisis facing our wild-flower rich grasslands.They launched an in depth report on the state of England's grasslands in 2011. See Nature's Tapestry Report. You can download a copy from this link.
Save Our Magnificent Meadows is:
See link here
Our local contact is Eleanor Reast see http://www.cotswoldsaonb.org.uk/conservation-board/staff/
Eleanor gave a talk in Freshford Memorial Hall in March 2017. As a result we now have now formed a Wildflower Meadow support Group for those seeking to progress in wildflower improvement in our parishes. Link Here
- Targeting just under 6,000 hectares of wildflower meadows and grasslands in nine strategic landscapes across the UK
- Giving people all over the UK the chance to visit, enjoy and learn about our wildflower meadows and grasslands
- Raising awareness of the desperate plight of wildflower meadows and grasslands and equipping communities with the knowledge and skills to reverse this devastating trend.
See link here
Our local contact is Eleanor Reast see http://www.cotswoldsaonb.org.uk/conservation-board/staff/
Eleanor gave a talk in Freshford Memorial Hall in March 2017. As a result we now have now formed a Wildflower Meadow support Group for those seeking to progress in wildflower improvement in our parishes. Link Here
Cut&Chew
Cut&Chew is the Beds, Cambs and Northhants' Grasslands Project and has further information including coming soon a page on enhancing and creating grasslands
Ongoing research
In the early days of this group the beloved Dr Alan Dodge, former Senior Lecturer in the Department of Biology & Biochemistry. Alan was our local historian and shares his findings. They show more arable use than as is the case today.