Surrey's Habitats : Lowland Unimproved Neutral and Acid Grassland

Unimproved grasslands have existed for hundreds of years and include many traditionally managed hay meadows that are cut for hay and pastures that are grazed. As such, they are of particular importance to a variety of people including archaeologists, ecologists, ornithologists and entomologists.

Meadow’ and ‘mead’ are terms for grass that is mown for hay. It seems likely that haymaking was developed by the Anglo-Saxons, from the fifth century onwards. Some, old unimproved meadows still have economic uses: providing sweet hay for dairy calves and racehorses; as pastures for ponies and traditional livestock breeds; and most recently suppliers of wildflower seed.

Unimproved grasslands can support a huge variety of plants, resulting in a mass of colour at certain times of the year. More common species such as meadow buttercup Ranunculus acris and oxeye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare mingle with rarer species, which are now almost exclusively confined to this habitat, including green-winged orchid Orchis morio and adder’s-tongue fern Ophioglossum vulgatum.

It is this diversity of flora found in unimproved and semi-improved grassland that attracts a wider variety of fauna than that found in improved grasslands. Grasshoppers, butterflies and bees, among many other invertebrates, are all drawn to the cover and nourishment provided by the grasses and flowers, and are themselves food for birds, reptiles and mammals such as bats.

Immense destruction of grasslands has occurred across the UK in the past and 97% has been lost since 1930. This has been due to a number of factors, including intense agricultural improvement, heavy grazing by livestock, and the application of pesticides and herbicides. The full extent of Surrey’s decline in grasslands is unknown, but the Habitat Action Plan aims to restore many of the county’s greatly diminished grassland sites. These sites occur in four main areas: the Low Weald, the Wealden Greensand, the London Basin and the North Downs. The county contains 14 nationally important Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Definitions

Lowland meadows
These comprise most forms of species-rich grasslands found in the enclosed lowland landscapes of the UK. This includes churchyards, road verges, recreational sites and some commons.

Neutral grassland
This refers to grasslands, meadows and pastures which occur on soils that are neither acidic or base rich calcareous (chalky), nor extremely wet or dry.

Acid grassland
This typically occurs on nutrient-poor, generally free-draining soils, often found in conjunction with areas of heathland.

Unimproved grassland
This refers to land where there has not been any significant degree of agricultural intensification.

Semi-improved grassland
Where some agricultural improvement by fertilisers and grazing have led to some loss of diversity but the site still retains elements of the original unimproved habitat.

Improved grassland
Whereby a grassland has undergone significant agricultural improvement and there is very little diversity left.

Lowland Unimproved Neutral and Acid Grassland Habitat Action Plan

Reserves with this habitat