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THE RURAL STEWARDSHIP SCHEME 8. Creation and Management
of Species Rich Grassland
| Aim: To convert arable or improved grassland
to species diverse grassland by restricting the agricultural use. Some
BAP species that may benefit: Great yellow bumblebee, Skylark. Eligible
sites: Land classed as eligible for Arable Aid Area Payments |
- Any existing grassland cover must be destroyed.
- An agreed
programme to establish a new sward must be implemented, this may include measures
to reduce fertility and address weed problems.
- The site must be sown
with a low productivity grass and herb mix agreed with SERAD to create a new sward
(see panel). Seed of local provenance should be obtained wherever possible.
- Except
during years 1 to 3, the site must not be mown or grazed between 15 April and
15 August. During years 1 to 3, on fertile sites, mowing, with disposal of cuttings,
may be required. In such cases, mowing may be permitted after 1 July with the
prior written agreement of Scottish Ministers.
Created
species-rich grassland
Photo: L. Gill - SNH - After
15 August, the grass must be grazed down or topped.
- The site must not
be used as a site for supplementary feeding of stock.
- Fertiliser, slurry
or manure must not be applied to the site.
- Pesticides may be applied
only with the prior written agreement of Scottish Ministers.
Also...
- There is a capital payment for destruction of the existing grassland
by cultivation or by herbicide application and the sowing and establishment of
a new sward of non-aggressive fine leaved grasses and a mixture of suitable flowers.
- The area must be either naturally or artificially well drained. Light
or free draining soils are considered essential to enable establishment of the
species-rich "natural" grassland desired for this option. Heavier soils or poorly
drained sites could possibly be considered for the Creation and Management of
Wetland Option
| Creation and management
of species-rich grassland | box
3.8 | | Wildflower
grassland establishment should reflect the species composition of the now rare
natural species-rich grasslands that were once widespread in Scotland. The establishment
of new grasslands depends on the ability of the desired plant species to germinate,
establish and persist. The best type to mimic is usually the characteristic grassland
of unimproved neutral soils, which typically has about twenty to twenty five species
in an area of four square metres, including a number of non-competitive grasses
(see panel). Knapweed, bird's-foot trefoil, oxeye daisy and lady's bedstraw are
some of the many plants that grow in the wild in this type of grassland. Natural
diversification is slow and uncertain in new grasslands so the seed mixture should
include a diverse mixture of species to start with and allow for the fact that
some may not persist. The high nutrient status of soil that has previously
been fertilised can limit the success of wildflower grassland creation. Also the
presence of a seed bank of competitive and invasive species in the soil may be
a hindrance. Certain measures should be taken to reduce the residual fertility
of the ex-arable soils, e.g. repeated removal of grass growth without the addition
of fertilisers. Successful establishment of the mixture depends upon good
seed-bed preparation, good control of undesirable species and careful management,
especially in the first year. Fertilisers should never be applied since they encourage
the rapid growth of a few competitive species at the expense of greater diversity.
A variety of plant species provide food and shelter for invertebrates.
In turn, seed produced by the plants and the invertebrates attract birds such
as skylark , partridge and meadow pipit. Mammals such as hares, field voles, shrews
and badgers will also use such grasslands. |
| Creation of species-rich grassland:
a suitable seed mixture? When selecting a suitable seeds mixture
to sow for the establishment of an area of species-rich grassland, you should
consider the following: - Only include plant species that occur
naturally in unimproved grassland in your region of Scotland and are available
commercially;
- Exclude those plant species that are likely to be
too competitive in the atypically fertile soil conditions that follow arable cropping;
- Seed of local provenance should be obtained wherever possible.
- A suitable seed mixture should consist of 80 to 85 percent non-aggressive
grasses and 15 to 20 percent native flowers.
|
| An EXAMPLE seed mixture that approximates
to the typical species composition of unimproved grazed hay meadows on moderately
to well-drained neutral soils in lowland Scotland is based upon the MG5 Cynosurus
cristatus - Centaurea nigra grassland community of the National Vegetation Classification
Rodwell, 1992): | | 1. Herbs
| | |
Achillea millefolium (Yarrow)
Centaurea nigra (Common knapweed)
Conopodium majus (Pignut)
Galium verum (Lady's bedstraw)
Hypochoeris radicata (Cat's ear)
Lathyrus pratensis (Meadow
vetchling)
Leontodon autumnalis (Autumn hawkbit)
Leucanthemum
vulgare (Oxeye daisy)
Lotus corniculatus (Common bird's-foot trefoil)
Plantago lanceolata (Ribwort plantain)
Prunella vulgaris (Selfheal)
Ranunculus acris (Meadow buttercup)
Rhinanthus minor (Yellow
rattle)
Rumex acetosa (Common sorrel)
Succisa pratensis
(Devil's-bit scabious)
Trifolium pratense (Red clover)
Veronica
chamaedrys (Germander speedwell)
Vicia cracca (Tufted vetch) |
| 2. Grasses |
| | Agrostis
capillaris (Common bent)
Anthoxanthum odoratum (Sweet vernal-grass)
Cynosurus cristatus (Crested dog's-tail)
Festuca rubra (Red
fescue) | < Previous | Contents | Next > | 
