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National action plan -
Lowland meadows
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Vision statement
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Although re-creation targets for lowland meadows have been exceeded, the maintenance and restoration targets have not been met. Under-management is clearly a major concern, specifically under-grazing and abandonment, but some sites are still also affected by overgrazing and agricultural improvement.
Underlying causes of under-management are still thought to be largely due to current agricultural economics and policies, exacerbated by problems such as BSE and Foot & Mouth disease, leading to a reluctance to keep stock (large stock in particular) on pasture perceived to have little nutritional value. Nutrient-enrichment through fertilizer application is still a concern, but is very difficult to monitor. In addition, the extent to which atmospheric nutrient deposition and climate change is affecting the composition of our lowland neutral grassland sites is a largely unknown quantity. Further landscape ecology studies aimed at spatial planning for defragmentation are also needed.
At the broad scale, the long-term solution undoubtedly lies in the area of major policy changes to further encourage environmentally friendly farming systems. Influencing livestock policy will be essential, together with positive niche marketing and branding schemes to favour environmentally friendly enterprises. Grazing schemes are proving their worth. Schemes such as GAP in England, and now PONT in Wales are producing very promising results, but now need much more secure financial backing.
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Latest UK status
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| Value |
Units |
Accuracy of estimate |
Date assessed |
Comments |
| 10521 |
Hectares |
Partial survey |
2005 |
No new data sources for habitat extent have been made available since 2005, CS2007 is not sufficiently accurate (sample size too small) for this habitat. Therefore the 2005 value is still the best estimate available. This figure was based upon survey, but adjusted for likely losses. It is probable that losses have continued since 2005 (see trend - declining, but slowing), therefore this figure is probably an overestimate. LBAP data was not used in the 2005 estimates; however, LBAP submissions were used to determine the likely trend. |
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More status information including Country values >
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Latest UK trend
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| Trend |
Accuracy of estimate |
Date assessed |
Comments |
| Declining (slowing) |
Best guess |
2008 |
There is still no UK-wide co-ordinated programme of habitat surveillance on which assessments of changes in extent and condition can be based. CS2007 results are not sufficiently accurate as the sample size for this habitat was too small.
From comments and data provided by LBAPs, local teams and projects it appears that there is still an on-going loss of extent and condition of habitat (see T1 and T2). Although considerable efforts have been made to improve management (T3) and to restore lowland meadows (see T4), the majority of this area will be restoration in progress which may take many years to achieve priority habitat status; re-creation of habitat through habitat expansion (T5) will take even longer. There are currently limited data available on the success or otherwise of AE restoration/expansion initiatives, therefore it has to be assumed that only a small percentage of the area under restoration / expansion has currently achieved BAP status. This percentage would be expected to rise over the next decade and beyond, with continuing favourable management. |
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More trend information including Country values >
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Targets
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| Code |
Text |
UK Status |
Assessment date |
| T1 |
Maintain the current extent of Lowland Meadows in the UK. (Target represents no loss of BAP habitat). |
Target not achieved |
2008 |
| T2 |
Maintain at least the current condition of Lowland Meadows. |
Some progress (behind schedule) |
2008 |
| T3 |
Achieve favourable or recovering condition for 7,088ha of Lowland Meadow by 2010. |
Some progress (on schedule) |
2008 |
| T4 |
Restore 1,736 ha of Lowland Meadow from semi-improved or neglected grassland, which no longer meets the priority habitat definition by 2010. |
Some progress (on schedule) |
2008 |
| T5 |
Re-establish 345 ha of grassland of wildlife value from arable or improved grassland, by 2010. |
Some progress (on schedule) |
2008 |
| T6 |
260 ha (75%) of re-established area to be adjacent to existing Lowland Meadows or other semi-natural habitat by 2010. (Refer to T5) |
Progress unknown |
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| T7 |
170 ha (50%) of re-established area to contribute to resultant habitat patches of 2 ha or more of Lowland Meadow by 2010. Where ever practicable bigger patches should be created. (Refer to T5) |
Progress unknown |
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More target information including country values and progress reports >
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Work programme
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No work plan actions have been linked to this national plan.
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