Meadow monitoring: an annual health check for a threatened habitat
As many people know, wildflower meadows are an incredibly important habitat in the UK – and also one of the most threatened. Nearly all of the UK’s wildflower-rich meadows have been lost as farming practices have changed over the past century.
In the East Central region, we work to protect this habitat on several of our reserves, through a management regime of grazing, cutting and removing cut vegetation. Contrary to what you might think, wildflowers tend to benefit from nutrient-poor soil. Removing the cuttings each year helps reduce nutrient levels over time, which makes it more difficult for coarse grasses like cock’s-foot (Dactylus glomerata) or Yorkshire fog (Holcus Lanatus) to dominate.
To help us assess the condition of the meadows, year-on-year – and see how well our management is working – each summer we undertake vegetation monitoring to find out what plants are present. In this effort we are very lucky to work with a fantastic group of volunteers, whose botanical knowledge and ID skills have been honed over many years of surveying.
To gather the data, we place a 1x1m quadrat on the ground at random locations across the site, then look at what plants are present within the square. Some of these are positive ‘indicator species’ that point to a good condition, while others indicate the opposite.
Repeating this process across the site enables us to build a picture of the site’s condition as a whole and helps highlight any issues that might need attention, such as the presence of invasive non-native species – but also rare and valuable species that we want to protect.
Some of the highlights this year included betony (Stachys officinalis, pictured), butterfly orchids (Platanthera chlorantha), great burnet (Sanguisorba officinalis) and fairy flax (Linum catharticum).
Now is the perfect time to see a lot of these flowers in bloom – and to spot the many butterflies, bumblebees and other insects that make use of them. But they don’t flower for long, so catch them while you can! Check out the links below for some of our favourite meadow reserves.
Patrick Endall, East Central Reserves Ranger
Help protect Scotland’s wildlife
Our work to save Scotland’s wildlife is made possible thanks to the generosity of our members and supporters.
Join today from just £3 a month to help protect the species you love.
Preface
As many people know, wildflower meadows are an incredibly important habitat in the UK – and also one of the most threatened. Nearly all of the UK’s wildflower-rich meadows have …