Section 4 - Technical guidance - Grassland
Several species of interest are also associated with grassland habitats pages 98-100.
Identifying grassland features
We strongly recommend that you use the keys available on our website to help you identify grassland features.
For surveyors familiar with grassland feature identification the following process can be followed when identifying which grassland features are present:
- Decide whether it is G01 - improved grassland, G02 - Semi-improved grassland or G03 - Species-rich grassland, by reading the definitions below.
- If it is G01 - mark on the FER/FEP map and only record in part 2 if there is also an historic feature present in the field
- If it is G03 - species-rich grassland, try to identify its type (G04 - G10) using the key available on our website
- If it is one of the types G04 - G10, record this in the 'feature' box - do not also record that it is G02 or G03.
- If you cannot decide which type it is or it does not meet the feature definitions just record the field as G02 or G03.
- In addition, for all types of grassland you should check to see if it matches one of the features G11 - G14. Do not record more than one of the features G11 - G14 per parcel.
- Finally, check to see if the grassland meets the definition of 'G15 - Coastal and flood plain grazing marsh' and record this in addition to the previous features. Note 'G15 - Coastal and flood plain grazing marsh' can occur on 'G01 - improved grassland'.
- If you are in an area associated with old mine workings and associated spoil heaps then check to see if the feature is 'G10 - Calaminarian grassland'.
Main grassland types G01, G02 and G03
G01 - Improved grassland
Most grass fields on agricultural land will count as G01. At least two of the following must apply:
- Grassland with a cover of rye-grasses and white clover of more than 30%.
- Sward is species-poor with eight or fewer different plant species (including grasses) per square metre.
- Cover of wild flowers (not including white clover or injurious weeds) less than 10%.
Notes
- This feature does not require a condition assessment.
- Typical wildflower species include: common sorrel, dandelion, daisy, buttercups, chickweed and common mouse-ear.
- If the grassland is a temporary ley in an arable/grass rotation and has been sown in the last five years, record it as 'A01 - Arable' but only when there is a historic environment or landscape feature (H2-H15) in the same field.
- G01 does not include species-poor acid grasslands which are widespread in Less Favoured Areas (LFA) and are found as extensive communities on the open fell and enclosed rough grazing. Such grassland should be recorded as 'M01 - Grass moorland and rough grazing', even if the grassland matches the description for G01.
- This land use type should only be recorded in part 2 of the FEP when recording a historic environment and landscape feature (H01-H15), which lies either in or adjacent to the improved grassland field.
- You will need to annotate your map with the above code wherever improved grassland occurs.
G02 - Semi-improved grassland
This type of grassland occurs on a wide range of soil conditions, and may be derived from BAP grassland habitats (features G04-G10) by agricultural improvement. Typical grasses include: cock's-foot, common bent, crested dog's-tail, false oat-grass, meadow fescue, meadow foxtail, red fescue, sweet vernal grass, timothy, tufted hair grass and yorkshire-fog.
At least two of the following must apply:
- Cover of rye-grasses and white clover between 10% and 30%
- Sward is moderately species-rich with between nine and 15 different plant species (including grasses) per square metre.
- Cover of wild flowers (not including white clover or injurious weeds) between 10% and 30%.
| Typical wild flower species include: | |
|---|---|
| Autumn hawkbit | Germander speedwell |
| Black medick | Lesser trefoil |
| Cuckooflower | Meadow buttercup |
| Bulbous buttercup | Red clover |
| Cat's-ear | Selfheal |
| Common sorrel | Yarrow |
| Field wood-rush | Ribwort plantain |
If you are on unenclosed grass moorland, check to see if the grassland matches the description for G08 - Upland calcareous grassland. If it is not G08, record it as M01 - grass moorland and rough grazing, even if the grassland matches the description for G02.
Condition assessment
- Cover of undesirable species (creeping thistle, spear thistle, curled dock, broad-leaved dock, common ragwort, common nettle, marsh ragwort, cow parsley, bracken) less than 5%.
- Cover of wild flowers and sedges throughout the sward (excluding undesirable species) more than 15%.
- Cover of bare ground (including localised areas e.g. rabbit warrens) less than 10%.
- Cover of invasive trees and shrubs must be less than 5%, or indicators of waterlogging (large sedges, rushes, reeds etc) less than 30%.
G03 - Species-rich grassland
This is a rare habitat. At least two of the following must apply:
- More than 15 different plant species (including grasses) per square metre.
- The cover of wild flowers (excluding white clover or injurious weeds) is usually more than 30% during the summer months.
- Cover of rye grasses is generally less than 10% and there will be a wide range of other grass species such as crested hair-grass, heath-grass, meadow oat-grass, sheep's fescue, upright brome, quaking-grass or yellow oat-grass. Wild flower species will include at least some of the species listed in the BAP grasslands boxes on the next few pages.
Condition assessment
Only use this condition assessment if you have not been able to identify the species-rich grassland to the grassland types (G04-G10).
- Cover of undesirable species (creeping thistle, spear thistle, curled dock, broad-leaved dock, common ragwort, common nettle, marsh ragwort, cow parsley, bracken) less than 5%.
- Cover of wild flowers and sedges throughout the sward (excluding undesirable species) more than 20%.
- Cover of bare ground (including localised areas e.g. rabbit warrens) less than 10%.
BAP Grassland and other habitats
G04 - Lowland calcareous grassland - BAP habitat
Species-rich, semi-natural grassland on chalk and limestone in the lowlands and upland fringe, generally below 300 metres in altitude. Managed primarily by grazing.
Typical grasses include: blue moor-grass, cock's-foot, common bent, crested hair-grass, downy oat-grass, meadow oat-grass, quaking-grass, sheep's fescue, tor-grass, upright brome, yellow oat-grass.
- If at least two of the following wild flower indicator species are at least frequent and another three at least occasional in the sward then the grassland fully meets the definition and its condition should then assessed according the criteria identified below.
- If only three indicator species are occasional in the sward or four species are present at a lower frequency (but not limited to field edges or corners) then the habitat meets this definition but must be recorded as being in condition 'C'. N.B. In the notes column please record that the feature failed on condition criteria 5.
| Indicator species | ||
|---|---|---|
| Betony | Greater knapweed | Purple milk-vetch |
| Bloody cranesbill | Hairy violet | Rough/Lesser hawkbit |
| Carline thistle | Harebell | Salad burnet |
| Clustered bellflower | Hoary plantain | Saw-wort |
| Common bird's-foot-trefoil | Hoary rock-rose | Small scabious |
| Common rock-rose | Horseshoe vetch | Squinancywort |
| Cowslip | Kidney vetch | Dwarf thistle |
| Dropwort | Lady's bedstraw | Thyme-leaved sandwort |
| Devil's-bit scabious | Milkworts | Wild basil |
| Eyebright | Mouse-ear hawkweed | Wild marjoram |
| Fairy flax | Orchids | Wild thyme |
| Gentians | Oxeye daisy | Yellow-wort |
Condition assessment
- Cover of undesirable species (creeping thistle, spear thistle, curled dock, broad-leaved dock, common ragwort, common nettle) less than 5%.
- Cover of wild flowers and sedges throughout the sward (excluding undesirable species) more than 30%.
- Cover of bare ground (including localised areas e.g. rabbit warrens) less than 10%.
- Cover of invasive trees and shrubs must be less than 5%.
- Cover of indicator species is not sufficient to fully meet the feature definition
G05 - Lowland (dry) acid grassland - BAP habitat
Semi-natural grassland generally dominated by fine-leaved grasses on nutrient-poor, free-draining soils in the lowlands and enclosed upland fringe. Mosses and/or lichens are sometimes frequent. Managed primarily by grazing. Some sites may be species-poor (dominated, for example, by bristle bent or wavy hair-grass). However lowland acid grassland is a scarce resource and any site is likely to be considered of high value.
Typical grasses include: common bent, early hair-grass, heath-grass, sheep's fescue, sweet vernal-grass, wavy hair-grass.
- If at least one of the following wild flower indicator species are frequent and another three at least occasional in the sward then the grassland fully meets the definition for this habitat.
- If three indicator species are occasional, or four are present at lower frequency (but not limited to field corners or edges) then the habitat meets this definition but must be recorded as being in condition 'C'. N.B. In the notes column please record that the feature failed on condition criteria 5.
| Indicator species | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bell heather | Harebell | Purple milk-vetch |
| Betony | Heath bedstraw | Rough/Lesser hawkbit |
| Bilberry | Heath speedwell | Saw-wort |
| Bird's-foot | Heather | Sheep's-bit |
| Biting stonecrop | Lady's bedstraw | Sheep's sorrel |
| Bitter-vetch | Devil's-bit scabious | Shepherd's cress |
| Blue fleabane | Lousewort | Thymes |
| Buck's-horn plantain | Lichens | Tormentil |
| Common bird's-foot-trefoil | Maiden pink | Violets |
| Common centaury | Milkwort | Wild strawberry |
| Common rock-rose | Mouse-ear hawkweed | Wood anemone |
| Common stork's-bill | Parsley-pierts | Wood sage |
Sometimes occurs in a mosaic with Lowland heathland (see M03).
Acid grassland is widespread in the uplands where it exists largely as extensive species-poor communities on the open fell or enclosed rough grazing. On the open fell, record it as M01 - Grass moorland and rough grazing. Where it is species-rich and enclosed it should be recorded as G08. Such sites would generally be dominated by sheep's fescue and common bent with a high proportion of herbs such as betony, devil's-bit scabious, bitter vetch, harebell, heath bedstraw, lady's bedstraw and mountain pansy.
Condition assessment
- Cover of undesirable species (creeping thistle, spear thistle, curled dock, broad-leaved dock, common ragwort, common nettle, rosebay willowherb, marsh thistle, musk thistle, greater plantain) less than 5%.
- Cover of bare ground (including localised areas e.g. rabbit warrens) less than 10%.
- Cover of scrub and bramble less than 5%.
- Cover of coarse grass species, such as yorkshire-fog and cock's-foot, must be less than 20%.
- Cover of indicator species is not sufficient to fully meet the feature definition.
G06 - Lowland meadows - BAP habitat
Species-rich, semi-natural grassland (meadows or pastures) on free-draining, neutral soils in the lowlands and upland fringes, including species-rich flood plain grassland. Managed by cutting and/or grazing.
Typical grasses include: cock's-foot, common bent, crested dog's-tail, red fescue, meadow fescue, sweet vernal-grass, yellow oat-grass, yorkshire-fog.
- If at least two of the following wildflower indicator species are frequent and another two at least occasional in the sward then the grassland fully meets the definition for this habitat.
- If three indicator species are occasional or four are present at lower frequencies (but not limited to field edges or corners) then the grassland meets the definition but it must be recorded as being in condition 'C'. N.B. In the notes column please record that the feature failed on condition criteria 5.
| Indicator species | ||
|---|---|---|
| Agrimony | Eyebrights | Orchids |
| Autumn hawkbit | Goat's-beard | Oxeye daisy |
| Betony | Great burnet | Pepper-saxifrage |
| Bitter vetch | Greater bird's-foot trefoil | Ragged-robin |
| Common knapweed | Lady's bedstraw | Salad burnet |
| Bugle | Lady's-mantles | Saw-wort |
| Burnet-saxifrage | Marsh/Fen bedstraw | Sneezewort |
| Common bird's-foot-trefoil | Marsh-marigold | Tormentil |
| Common bistort | Marsh valerian | Water avens |
| Common meadow-rue | Meadow vetchling | Water mint |
| Cowslip | Meadowsweet | Wood anemone |
| Devil's-bit scabious | Milkworts | Yellow rattle |
| Dropwort | Narrow-leaved water-dropwort | Small blue-green sedges |
| Dyer's greenweed | Rough hawkbit | |
Note
- If this occurs on a flood plain also record it as 'G15 - Coastal and flood plain grazing marsh'.
Condition assessment
- Cover of undesirable species (creeping thistle, spear thistle, curled dock, broad-leaved dock, common ragwort, common nettle, marsh ragwort, cow parsley, bracken) less than 5%.
- Cover of wild flowers and sedges throughout the sward (excluding undesirable species) more than 20%.
- Cover of bare ground (including localised areas e.g. rabbit warrens) less than 10%.
- Cover of invasive trees and shrubs must be less than 5%, or indicators of waterlogging (large sedges, rushes, reeds etc) less than 20%.
- Cover of indicator species is not sufficient to fully meet the feature definition.
G07 - Purple Moor-grass and rush pastures - BAP habitat
Species-rich, semi-natural grassland with abundant purple moor-grass and/or jointed rushes (sharp-flowered rush, jointed rush or blunt-flowered rush), on poorly drained neutral and acidic soils of the lowlands and upland fringe. Often associated with springs, seepage lines and slopes surrounding waterlogged depressions and hollows.
Typical grasses include: creeping bent, crested dog's-tail, floating sweet-grass, marsh foxtail, purple moor-grass, red fescue, sweet vernal-grass.
- If at least two of the following wildflower indicator species are frequent and another two at least occasional in the sward then the grassland fully meets the habitat definition.
- If either three indicator species are occasional or four desirable species are present (but not limited to field edges and corners) then the feature meets this habitat definition but must be recorded as being in condition 'C'. N.B. In the notes column please record that the feature failed on condition criteria 5.
| Indicator species | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bog asphodel | Lesser spearwort | Orchids |
| Bog mosses | Lesser water-parsnip | Ragged-robin |
| Bog pimpernel | Lousewort | Rough hawkbit |
| Bugle | Marsh/Fen bedstraw | Saw-wort |
| Common valerian | Marsh cinquefoil | Sneezewort |
| Common meadow-rue | Marsh hawk's-beard | Tormentil |
| Cross-leaved heath | Marsh-marigold | Water avens |
| Devil's-bit scabious globeflower | Marsh pennywort | Water mint |
| Great burnet | Marsh valerian | Whorled caraway |
| Greater bird's-foot-trefoils | Marsh violet | Wild angelica |
| Hemp-agrimony | Meadow thistle | Small blue-green sedges |
| Jointed rushes | Meadowsweet | |
Condition assessment
- Cover of undesirable species (creeping thistle, spear thistle, curled dock, broad-leaved dock, common ragwort, common nettle, cow parsley, marsh thistle, marsh ragwort) less than 10%.
- Cover of large sedge species must be less than 30%, and cover of large grasses, e.g. Tufted Hair-grass, reeds, must be less than 20%.
- Cover of invasive trees and shrubs must be less than 5%.
- Cover of non-jointed rushes (soft, hard and/or compact) must be less than 50%.
- Cover of indicator species is not sufficient to fully meet the feature definition.
G08 - Upland calcareous grassland - BAP habitat
Species-rich, semi-natural grassland generally dominated by fine-leaved grasses, on calcareous soils over carboniferous limestone in upland areas. Managed primarily by grazing. Often occurs in parts of large scale enclosures with other less species-rich grassland types.
Typical grasses include: blue moor-grass, common bent, crested hair-grass, meadow oat-grass, red fescue, sheep's fescue, sweet vernal-grass, quaking-grass.
- If at least two of the following wildflower indicator species are frequent and another two at least occasional in the sward then the grassland fully meets this feature definition.
- If three indicator species are occasional or four are present (but not limited to field corners or edges) then the grassland meets this definition but must be recorded as being in condition 'C'. N.B. In the notes column please record that the feature failed on condition criteria 5.
| Indicator species | ||
|---|---|---|
| Alpine bistort | Fairy flax | Mountain everlasting |
| Bird's-eye primrose | Gentians | Mouse-ear hawkweed |
| Carline thistle | Grass-of-parnassus | Rough hawkbit |
| Common bird's-foot-trefoil | Harebell | Salad burnet |
| Common butterwort | Hoary rock-rose | Small scabious |
| Common rock-rose | Hoary whitlowgrass | Squinancywort |
| Dropwort | Horseshoe vetch | Wild thyme |
| Devil's-bit scabious | Lesser clubmoss | Yellow saxifrage |
| Eyebrights | Mossy saxifrage | Small sedges |
Condition assessment
- Cover of bare ground (including localised areas e.g. rabbit warrens) less than 10%.
- Cover of undesirable species (creeping thistle, spear thistle, curled dock, broad-leaved dock, common ragwort, common nettle, false oat-grass) less than 10%.
- Cover of wild flowers and sedges throughout the sward (excluding undesirable species) more than 20%.
- Cover of herbs indicative of nutrient enrichment (daisy, creeping buttercup) less than 25%.
- Cover of indicator species is not sufficient to fully meet the feature definition.
G09 - Upland hay meadows - BAP habitat
Species-rich enclosed neutral grasslands on free-draining or moist neutral soils in the North Pennines and Cumbrian uplands. Cut for hay, with aftermath grazing.
Typical grasses include: cock's-foot, common bent, crested dog's-tail, red fescue, rough meadow-grass, soft brome, sweet vernal-grass, yorkshire-fog.
- If at least two of the following wildflower indicator species are frequent and another two at least occasional in the sward then the grassland fully meets this definition.
- If three indicators are at least occasional or four species are present (but not limited to field corners or edges) then the grassland meets this definition but must be recorded as being in condition 'C'. N.B. In the notes column please record that the feature failed on condition criteria 5.
| Indicator species | ||
|---|---|---|
| Common bird's-foot-trefoil | Hawkbits | Ragged robin |
| Common knapweed | Lady's-mantles | Saw-wort |
| Bugle | Marsh-marigold | Sneezewort |
| Burnet-saxifrage | Marsh valerian | Tormentil |
| Common bistort | Meadow vetchling | Water avens |
| Devil's-bit scabious | Meadowsweet | Wood anemone |
| Globeflower | Melancholy thistle | Wood crane's-bill |
| Eyebrights | Orchids | Yellow rattle |
| Great burnet | Pignut | Small blue-green sedges |
Condition assessment
- Cover of wild flowers and sedges throughout the sward (excluding undesirable species) more than 30%.
- Cover of undesirable species (creeping thistle, spear thistle, curled dock, broad-leaved dock, common ragwort, common nettle, cow parsley) less than 10%.
- Cover of bare ground less than 10%.
- Cover of non-jointed rushes (soft, hard, compact) must be less than 50%.
- Cover of indicator species is not sufficient to fully meet the feature definition.
G10 - Calaminarian grassland
Generally short open vegetation of fine-leaved grasses, flowers, mosses and lichens on spoil and gravel from mineral extraction, or associated with metal-rich ultrabasic exposures. A very rare habitat type found only in the North Pennines, Yorkshire Dales, Derbyshire and the Mendips.
Typical grasses include: common bent, red fescue, sheep's fescue, sweet vernal-grass.
- If one or more of the following wild flower indicator species are occasional in the sward then the grassland fully meets this definition.
- If none of these species are found then the grassland meets the definition but must be recorded as being in condition 'C'. N.B. In the notes column please record that the feature failed on condition criteria 4.
| Indicator species |
|---|
| Alpine penny-cress |
| Mountain pansy |
| Pyrenean scurvygrass |
| Sea campion |
| Spring sandwort |
| Thrift |
Condition assessment
- Cover of bare ground, including cobbles, gravel and encrusting lichens must be between 20% and 90%.
- Cover of undesirable species (creeping thistle, spear thistle, curled dock, broad-leaved dock, common ragwort, common nettle, cow parsley, hogweed, coarse grasses) less than 10%.
- Cover of trees and scrub less than 5%.
- No indicator species present.
Grassland habitats for birds or invertebrates
G11 - Habitat for invertebrates
Record this feature if any of the following invertebrates have been recorded from the field
- any UK BAP Priority Species (e.g. hornet robberfly)
- any species protected under schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (e.g. mole cricket)
- any Red Data Book species or any Nationally Notable species.
or
If you do not have any invertebrate species information, record the feature if at least four of the following microhabitats are present:
- Areas of vertical or near vertical, exposed soil (e.g. on river banks).
- Free draining light soils.
- At least some areas of species-rich semi-natural vegetation (no evidence of improvement using inorganic fertilisers).
- Frequent, small patches of bare ground.
- Occasional to abundant anthills.
- Patches of mixed, scattered scrub.
- One or more ancient or veteran trees.
- Unpolluted, natural springs and flushes; or other temporary or permanent water bodies with low nutrient status.
- Variable vegetation structure with frequent patches of tussocks (more than five centimetres above surrounding grassland) and short (under three centimetres) turf, with tussocks remaining in place over winter.
- Abundant seed or flower production throughout the year.
- Dry stone walls or other walls with soft, friable mortar.
Condition assessment
If one of the following conditions applies, you can record the feature as condition A, otherwise record it as condition B:
- The cover of grass, rush or sedge tussocks is between 5% and 40%. or
- Flowering heads of wild flowers, especially clovers, vetches and plants of the daisy family are frequent between 1 April and 31 August. or
- The cover of scrub is between 5% and 20%, has a mixed composition and age structure and is distributed in more than one block.
G12 - Habitat for breeding waders - lowland
This feature will normally occur on G15 - Coastal and flood plain grazing marsh. Record this grassland feature if any of the following wading birds regularly breed in the field - curlew, redshank, snipe, black-tailed godwit, ruff, lapwing or oystercatcher.
or
If you do not have any bird information, record the feature if all of the following conditions apply:
- The field is in a flood plain and/or is bounded by at least one ditch through which water levels can be controlled and/or is naturally poorly drained such that water continually lies on the surface of parts of the field up to the middle of May.
- The field is larger than ten hectares or part of a block of fields larger than ten hectares with no hedges or low (less than two metres) hedges. Smaller fields, between two hectares and ten hectares, can be counted if they have an uneven surface (humps, hollows, drains, etc.) or are within one kilometre of inter-tidal mudflats or salt-marsh.
- The field is not beside a main road or crossed by power lines or rights of way (unless it is larger than ten hectares).
If you know which particular waders breed at the site you can record these also - see species features (page 98).
If you record this feature you do not need to also assess if it is G13.
Condition assessment
- The cover of rushes must be less than 40% and on the remainder the cover of grass or sedge tussocks is between 5% and 60%.
- Average sward height during April and May is between five centimetres and 15 centimetres, unless the land has been shut for hay. (The sward should consist of patches of taller and shorter vegetation.)
- The ground is wet between March and May so that either: a) water lies continually on the surface of more than 5% of the field; or b) a six-inch nail can easily be pushed in to the ground over more than 10% of the field.
G13 - Habitat for wintering waders and wildfowl
This feature will normally occur on 'G15 - Coastal and flood plain grazing marsh'. Record this feature if any of the following birds regularly feed or roost in the field during the winter months (November - February).
- Geese - barnacle goose, brent goose, bean goose, pink-footed goose, white-fronted goose
- Swans - whooper swan, bewick's swan
- Ducks - wigeon, shoveller, gadwall, pintail
- Wading birds - black-tailed godwit, curlew, golden plover, redshank.
or
If you do not have any bird information, record the feature if all of the following conditions apply:
- The field is in a flood plain and/or is bounded by at least one ditch through which water levels can be controlled and/or is naturally poorly drained such that water continually lies on the surface of parts of the field throughout the winter.
- The field is larger than ten hectares or part of a block of fields larger than ten hectares with no hedges or low (less than two metres) hedges. Smaller fields, between two hectares and ten hectares, can be counted if they have an uneven surface (humps, hollows, drains, etc.) or are within one kilometre of inter-tidal mudflats or salt-marsh.
- The field is not beside a main road or crossed by power lines or rights of way (unless it is larger than ten hectares).
If you know which particular birds breed at the site you can record these also - see species features (page 98).
Condition assessment
- The cover of rushes must be less than 40% and on the remainder the cover of grass or sedge tussocks must be between 5% and 60%.
- The sward height must be between five centimetres and 15 centimetres in November.
- There is standing water on more than 5% of the field and the ground is wet (a six-inch nail can easily be pushed in) on more than 50% of the field between November and February.
G14 - Habitat for breeding waders - upland
This feature will apply to enclosed wet grassland, usually in the moorland fringe. Record this feature if any of the following birds regularly breed in the field - curlew, redshank, snipe, lapwing.
or
If you do not have any bird information, record the feature if all of the following conditions apply:
- The ground is wet (a six-inch nail can easily be pushed in) on more than 10% of the field between March and May.
- The field is larger than ten hectares or part of a block of fields larger than ten hectares with no hedges or low (less than two metres) hedges. Smaller fields, between three hectares and ten hectares, can be counted if they have an uneven surface (humps, hollows, drains, etc.), have no boundaries with tall (higher than two metres) hedges or woodland and are within 0.5 kilometre of some standing water (scrapes or flushes) between March and May.
- The field is not beside a main road or crossed by power lines or rights of way.
If you know which particular waders use the site you can record these also - see species features (page 98).
Condition assessment
- The cover of rushes must be less than 40% and on the remainder the cover of tussocks of grass or sedge must be between 5% and 60%.
- Average sward height during April and May must be between five centimetres and 15 centimetres, unless the land has been shut for hay. (The sward should consist of patches of taller and shorter vegetation.)
- In-field scrub cover must be zero.
G15 - Coastal and flood plain grazing marsh - BAP habitat
Periodically flooded pasture, or meadow with ditches which maintain the water levels, containing standing brackish or fresh water. The ditches are often especially rich in plants and invertebrates. Almost all areas are grazed but some are cut for hay or silage. The main grassland is often not very species-rich.
G12 and G13, habitat for breeding or wintering birds respectively, are also likely to present in these areas. The feature 'F08 - Wet ditch' (page 57) should be recorded if present.
Condition assessment
- Cover of undesirable species (creeping thistle, spear thistle, curled dock, broad-leaved dock, common ragwort, marsh ragwort, common nettle) less than 5%.
- In-field scrub cover must be zero and scrub cover over the ditches must be less than 10%.
Page last modified:
7 December, 2005
Page published: 3 March, 2005