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Home , Calcareous grassland, Downland

Lowland calcareous A scarce and special habitat

English Nature is the Government agency that champions the conservation of wildlife and natural features throughout . This is one of a range of publications published by External Relations Team English Nature Northminster House Peterborough PE1 1UA www.english-nature.org.uk © English Nature 2001 Printed by W Lake (Birmingham) Ltd, 15M Printed on Evolution Satin, 75% recycled post-consumer waste paper, Elemental Chlorine Free. ISBN 1 85716 539 X Catalogue code IN6.1 Front cover pictures: Designed by Status Design Top left: Bloody crane’s-bill - Peter Wakely. working today Bottom left: Cat’s-ear pot beetle - Roger Key. & Advertising. Main: Crook Peak to Shute Shelve Hill, Somerset - Peter Wakely. for nature tomorrow “The air, especially in the evening of a hot spring day, is full of a fresh herby smell, to which many minute aromatic plants contribute...”

“The vegetation has the appearance of a beautiful tapestry worked in various shades of green, roughened with the slender dry bents standing The Devils Kneading Trough, Wye & Crundale Downs, . Whitbarrow, Cumbria. Photograph - Richard Jefferson. Photograph - Stephen Davis. out like pale yellow thread-ends from colder, wetter uplands and mountains slopes, and coastal cliffs The outcrop of and the green texture; flecked, and in (calcareous) rocks in of northern England, Wales, and headlands, although, more rarely, the United Kingdom. Fragments places splashed with brilliant colour - of lowland Northern Ireland and Scotland. there are some areas on level ground occur at lower altitudes within red, purple, blue, and yellow.” Lowland calcareous grassland is one of or plains, such as in the East Anglian this area. the United Kingdom’s rarest and most Breckland and on . threatened habitats. (Extract from W.H. Hudson, 1900 Nature in Important concentrations occur in . Longmans, Green & Co., London) Where is it found? the downs of , , Sussex, and Kent, the What is lowland calcareous Lowland calcareous grassland is found Cotswolds, the Derbyshire Dales, the grassland? on lime-rich , usually over Breckland, the limestone outcrops limestone or chalk. The soils are and coastal cliffs and headlands of Lowland calcareous grassland is made generally well-draining, and are often north and south Wales, and around up of many different kinds of shallow and infertile. Lowland Morecambe Bay. Only small areas of lime-loving plants, including grasses, calcareous grassland occurs mainly in this grassland have been found in herbs, mosses and lichens, that the warmer, drier areas of England Scotland and Northern Ireland. together provide a habitat for a wide and Wales. The calcareous grassland that occurs variety of insects and birds. This type at low levels around the coast of north of grassland is different from the Remaining areas of this grassland are west Scotland is closer in character to calcareous grassland that occurs in the now found mostly on steep valley upland calcareous grassland. © Crown copyright

2 3 The typical herbs of lowland calcareous grassland produce a glorious spectrum of colours from the spring through to early autumn. Spring and early summer produces a carpet of yellow flowers with cowslip, common bird’s-foot-trefoil, common rock-rose, kidney vetch and horseshoe vetch. White and Worms Head, Gower Coast. Photograph - David Woodfall/NHPA. Worms cream-coloured flowers of oxeye Why is it important for wildlife? Lowland calcareous grassland is daisy and dropwort are prominent remarkable for the intricate mixture of from late May onwards. Late summer The rich variety of plants and plants it contains including grasses, is the best time for purple and mauve animals which make up lowland sedges, herbs, mosses, liverworts and flowers with small scabious, autumn calcareous grassland includes many lichens. A careful search may reveal as gentian, devil’s-bit scabious, rare and scarce plants, birds and many as 40 plant species in a square clustered bellflower and dwarf thistle invertebrates. Lowland calcareous metre. Grasses such as sheep’s-fescue, producing a riot of colour. Lowland grassland thus has considerable upright brome, meadow oat-grass and calcareous are also home nature conservation value. It is also crested hair-grass are characteristic of to a large number of rare and an important part of some of the many of these grasslands. In eastern declining flowering plants. Among UK’s most attractive landscapes such Durham and the Morecambe Bay area these are the orchids which often as the rolling chalk downland of of Cumbria, the bluish tufts of blue hold a particular fascination for southern England, the coastal moor-grass are prominent in limestone people. Of the rarer species, many headlands of the north Wales coast pastures. are confined to the southern, and the limestone gorges, hills and warmer, drier areas of England. crags of the Mendips in Somerset. Examples include the early spider-orchid, whose flowers strongly Lowland calcareous grasslands have resemble the body of a large fat considerable historical value. spider and man orchid, so-named as Early spider orchid. Photograph - Stephen Davis. Prehistoric burial mounds, stone each greenish-yellow flower circles, hill-figures and Iron Age hill resembles a small human figure with the Derbyshire Dales. This orchid forts are a particular feature of chalk head, arms and legs. An exception to occurs in limestone grassland, but downland and illustrate the antiquity the generally southern distribution is can also be found on rocky slopes, of man’s association with the landscape dark-red helleborine, whose screes and in the crevices(grikes) of and its wildlife. southernmost locality in the UK is limestone pavements. Parsonage Down, Wiltshire. Photograph - Stephen Davis. 4 5 are also important lichen habitats. Lowland calcareous grassland is an important habitat for a variety of birds, insects and snails. Ground-nesting birds such as skylark, meadow pipit and lapwing are declining in number but are still relatively widespread. Rare gems include the stone curlew and quail, two of the UK’s most threatened species. The stone curlew’s plaintive

cries can sometimes be heard during Perennial flax. Photograph - Peter Wakely. spring and summer in its open The quail is a small partridge-like country strongholds in the East gamebird which migrates to the Anglian Breckland and on Salisbury UK in spring, and nests in dense, Plain. They nest on sparsely tall herbage in open countryside. vegetated and bare stony ground, It is an elusive bird which is rarely and search for earthworms, woodlice seen but its distinctive call can and beetles on chalk grassland and occasionally be heard on calcareous on nearby farmland. grassland in Wiltshire and Dorset. Pasqueflower. Photograph - Stephen Davis. Pasqueflower.

Other scarce plants include the dykes or banks on the chalk. blue-flowered perennial flax which Patches, tufts and carpets of different can be found mainly in eastern types of mosses can sometimes be England from County Durham south conspicuous amongst the grasses and to , hoary rock-rose herbs in lowland calcareous which has strongholds on the grasslands. coastal of the Gower and north Wales, and the showy Drier, sparsely-vegetated calcareous purple-flowered pasqueflower grasslands on thin soils may support a occurring in central and eastern variety of lichens, notably species of England. Legend has it that the Cladonia whose intricately-branched pasqueflower sprang from the blood tufts resemble miniature trees. The of Danes on account of its name Cladonia comes from the Greek association with ancient defensive for a twig. Chalk pebbles and Stone curlew settling on nest. Photograph - Roger Wilmshurst/FLPA. 6 7 Kestrels may be seen hovering over Many typical calcareous grassland grassland searching for voles and other plants support specific plant-feeding small mammals. One may be fortunate beetles and their leaf rosettes provide to glimpse a hobby (a small falcon) essential cover for ground beetles and hawking for insects over downland on ground bugs. A variety of grasshoppers a summer’s evening in southern and crickets live in lowland calcareous England. These grasslands appear grassland. On the steep chalk and Cistus forester moth. Photograph - Roger Key. devoid of life in winter but a hunting limestone slopes in southern England hen harrier or short-eared owl hint at in July one may be lucky enough can support a rich snail fauna, the presence of voles, mice and shrews to find the uncommon rufous particularly species which are hidden amongst the grass. grasshopper. This reddish-brown able to withstand dry conditions and grasshopper has distinctive high temperatures. For example the Lowland calcareous grassland white-tipped, club-shaped antennae, round-mouthed snail lives only on Common kestrel. Photograph - J Hawkins/FLPA. Common kestrel. Photograph supports a tremendous variety of and likes to sun itself on low bushes. limestone and chalk habitats where insects and other invertebrates. Some of our scarcer butterflies, such as Short-grazed calcareous grassland it burrows into the loose . On a sunny summer’s day, one may the adonis blue, Duke of Burgundy, encounter a multitude of butterflies and northern brown argus, are found and hear the hum of foraging bees in calcareous grassland. The caterpillars and the singing of grasshoppers and of these species feed on plants which crickets. are typical of lime-rich soils, namely horseshoe vetch, cowslip and common rock-rose.

As well as butterflies, a wide range of moths live on calcareous grassland. The day-flying cistus forester, found at scattered localities in England and Wales may sometimes be seen feeding on the flowers of wild thyme and common rock-rose in June and early July. Plant-feeding insects are abundant in calcareous grassland and include a rich array of beetles, particularly weevils and leaf beetles. Adonis blue. Photograph - Stephen Davis. Rufous grasshopper. Photograph - Martin Wendler/NHPA. 8 9 This decline is mostly due to intensification of farming by conversion to arable or ploughing and re-seeding with vigorous agricultural grasses. The application of fertilisers and herbicides has resulted in the loss or decline of characteristic species. The slower growing plants which

Anthills, Porton Down, Wiltshire. Photograph - Stephen Davis. Anthills, Porton Down, Wiltshire. comprise calcareous grasslands are A small, white oval-shaped, eyeless unable to compete with more vigorous grasses and herbs which thrive when woodlouse with the delightful the soil fertility is raised by fertiliser scientific name of Platyarthrus application. hoffmanseggi can sometimes be found in ants nests in calcareous grassland, Abandonment of grazing with farm particularly in south-east England. livestock has also played a part in this decline. A lack of grazing allows coarse Sheep grazing, Martin Down, Hampshire. Photograph - Peter Wakely. Why is it now scarce? grasses to dominate, swamping Only about 41, 000 hectares of for maintaining the wildlife value of low-growing grasses and herbs, and lowland calcareous grassland remain calcareous grassland in some areas, As with other types of species-rich eventually everything disappears under in the UK. This area is only tiny especially where there is no grassland, lowland calcareous scrub and trees. (<1 %) compared to the 5 million livestock. grassland suffered substantial losses in hectares of agriculturally improved the 20th Century. For example, in species-poor grassland. The plants and animals of calcareous Dorset, 50% of calcareous (chalk) grassland have differing requirements grassland was lost between the How can it be conserved? as far as turf height and amount of mid-1950s and the early 1990s. bare ground are concerned. These Individual areas of calcareous For centuries, these grasslands have factors are in turn, dependent on the grassland have also become smaller provided pasture for grazing animals number and type of grazing animals and more fragmented and increasingly particularly sheep and cattle. and the timing of grazing. Short turf surrounded and isolated by arable Grazing is also vital for conserving and plenty of bare ground is required land and heavily fertilised grassland. the unique flora and fauna of in drier calcareous grassland to A survey of calcareous (chalk) calcareous grassland. In some areas provide places where small, grassland in the Wolds such as Breckland, rabbit farming in short-lived plants can grow and ripen found that 66% of sites were less warrens and occasional shallow seed. Many types of lichens, mosses than one hectare in size and none cultivation were formerly traditional and liverworts also thrive in open, was more than 10 hectares in size. practices. Rabbits remain important bare areas. Scrub invasion, Folkestone to Etchinghill , Kent. 10 Photograph - Richard Jefferson. 11 and introduction of grazing animals. Stewardship, and Tir Gofal schemes. The importance of lowland calcareous However, grassland scrub can also be These schemes offer financial grassland is recognised by its listing as important for the wildlife it supports, incentives to landowners to manage a priority habitat in the Government’s particularly insects and birds. It may land for nature and landscape UK Biodiversity Action Plan. therefore be appropriate to retain conservation, and also include An action plan for lowland calcareous some scrub on grassland and ensure incentives to re-create habitats of grassland was published in 1998 as Duke of Burgundy. Photograph - Stephen Davis. that it is managed, for example by wildlife interest. Soils that are part of this initiative. The plan sets Certain types of insects need loose, periodic coppicing or cutting. shallow, lime-rich and infertile offer out a range of actions and targets bare soil as places for burrowing and the best opportunity to create which should help conserve and nesting, feeding or basking. Many There are various ways in which calcareous grassland. If areas of this expand the habitat for the benefit of species of insects, however, require a lowland calcareous grassland is grassland occur nearby, then allowing future generations. mixture of shorter turf and longer conserved in the UK. The most plants to spread-in naturally is the turf for feeding and shelter, such as important areas for nature preferred option. Alternatively, Further reading the rare wart-biter bush-cricket, conservation are designated as Sites native plant species can be while others, such as the hazel pot or Areas of Special Scientific Interest introduced as seed or young plants. CROFTS, A. & JEFFERSON, R.G. 1999. beetle need patches of scrub amongst (SSSIs/ASSIs) where funds are The Lowland Grassland Management the grassland. The Duke of Burgundy available to farmers and landowners Handbook. 2nd edition. Peterborough: was primarily a woodland butterfly to undertake conservation English Nature/The Wildlife Trusts. until the beginning of the 20th management. Some of these sites are HILLIER, S.H., WALTON, D.W.H. & Century when it began to occur also nature reserves managed by the WELLS, D.A. eds. 1990. Calcareous more widely on calcareous statutory conservation agencies or Grasslands - Ecology and Management. grassland. The caterpillars have a voluntary conservation organisations. Huntingdon: Bluntisham Books. requirement for a mixture of longer A selection of sites have been grassland and scrub, in contrast to recognised as being of international LOUSLEY, J.E. 1950. Wild flowers of many of the scarcer butterflies importance for nature conservation Chalk and Limestone. New Naturalist occurring in this habitat which prefer and have been proposed as candidate No. 16. London: Collins. short grassland turf. Some birds such Special Areas of Conservation UK BIODIVERSITY GROUP 1998. UK as the meadow pipit require longer (SAC) under European Community Biodiversity Group. Tranche 2 Action grass for nesting or hunting for prey. legislation. Plans. Volume II. Terrestrial and freshwater habitats. Peterborough: English Nature & Lowland calcareous grassland that Many lowland calcareous grassland UK Biodiversity Group. has become dominated by rank sites have been entered into vegetation and scrub due to an Environmental Land Management MARREN, P. 1999. Britian’s rare absence of grazing can often be Schemes such as the Environmentally flowers. London: T & A.D. Poyser Children at Barnack Hills & Holes, Peterborough. restored by scrub removal, mowing Sensitive Areas (ESAs), Countryside Photograph - Richard Wright. 12 13 Contact names and addresses Department of the Environment, Ministry of , Fisheries & habitats. Transport and the Regions Food/Farming and Rural Royal Society for the Butterfly Conservation TollgateHouse, Houlton Street, Conservation Agency Protection of Birds PO Box 444, Wareham, Bristol, BS2 9DJ. Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, The Lodge, Sandy, Dorset, BH20 5YA. Tel: 0117 9878883. London, SW1P 3JR. , SG19 2DL. Tel: 01929 400209 Co-ordinates implementation of the UK Tel: 0207 238 3000 Tel: 01767 680551 Charitable body concerned with the Biodiversity Action Plan. Contact for information on Charitable body concerned with the conservation of butterflies and moths and Environmental Land Management conservation of wild birds and their their habitats. English Nature Schemes in England. habitats. Northminster House, Countryside Agency Peterborough PE1 1UA. National Assembly for Wales Scottish Executive Rural Affairs John Dower House, Crescent Place, Tel: 01733 455000 Agriculture Department Department Cheltenham, GL50 3RA. Contact for all matters concerning nature Crown Buildings, Cathays Park, Pentland House, 47 Robb’s Loan, Tel: 01242 521381 conservation, Sites of Special Scientific Cardiff, CF1 3NQ. Edinburgh, EH14 1TY. Contact for National Parks, Areas of Interest and the Wildlife Enhancement Tel: 029 20825111 Tel: 0131 556 8400 Outstanding Natural Beauty and a wide Scheme. Lead agency for the conservation Contact for information on ESAs in Contact for information on range of countryside matters . of lowland calcareous grassland under the Wales. Environmental Land Management UK Biodiversity Action Plan. Schemes in Scotland. Countryside Council for Wales National Trust Plas Penrhos, Ffordd Penrhos, Environment & Heritage Service 33 Sheep Street, Cirencester, Scottish Natural Heritage Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2LQ . Commonwealth House, 35 Castle Gloucestershire, GL7 1QW. 12 Hope Terrace, Tel: 01248 385500. Street, Belfast, Northern Ireland, Tel: 01285 651818 Edinburgh, EH9 2AS. Contact for all matters concerning BT1 1GU. Charitable body concerned with the Tel: 0131 446 2277 countryside conservation, Sites of Special Tel 028 90251477 conservation of places of historic interest Contact for all matters concerning Scientific Interest in Wales and the Tir Contact for matters relating to the and natural beauty in England, Wales countryside conservation and Sites of Gofal Scheme . conservation of the natural and built and Northern Ireland. Special Scientific Interest in Scotland. heritage including responsibility for Areas Department of Agriculture and Rural Plantlife The Wildlife Trusts of Special Scientific Interest. Development Northern Ireland 21 Elizabeth Street, UK office, The Kiln, Waterside, Countryside Management Division, Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group London, SW1W 9RP. Mather Road, Newark, NG24 1WT. Dundonald House, Upper The National Agricultural Centre, Tel: 0207 808 0100 Tel: 01636 677711. Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 3SB. Stoneleigh, Kenilworth, Charitable body concerned with the Voluntary conservation organisation Tel: 028 90520100 Warwicks, CV8 2RX. conservation of wild plants and their concerned with the conservation of wildlife Contact for information on Tel: 01203 696699 throughout the UK. Contact for Environmental Land Management Charitable organisation providing farm information on Local Wildlife Trusts. Schemes in Northern Ireland . conservation advice throughout the UK.

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