Action Plan: Lowland Meadows & Pastures

Lowland meadows and pastures are neutral grasslands which are species rich and generally occur below 250m altitude. Lowland meadows and pastures are most commonly found in agricultural locations but can sometimes be found in non-agricultural settings such as roadside verges, churchyards, and recreational sites. Species rich grasslands have declined by around 97% over the past 50 years, largely due to changes in agricultural practices, and there is now an estimated 15,000ha remaining in the UK. Agricultural use of fertilisers, slurry, herbicides, and drainage improvements have contributed to the decreasing number of species found in lowland meadows and pastures, and there has also been a decline in the perceived agricultural value of species rich grassland in farming practices. Urban development can pose a threat to lowland meadows and pastures, particularly those situated on village edges, and these areas are least likely to have been affected by agricultural improvements. Lowland meadows and pastures need to be appropriately managed as abandonment or mismanagement could lead to rank over-growth which may cause a threat to endangered species. Some small and isolated lowland grassland sites along with other degraded sites which have suffered damage through inappropriate management are now being restored and improved to ensure regeneration of habitats and reduce existing threats.