| Flower Rich Meadows & Pastures - Devon |
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| Extent/Distribution The meadows and pastures encompassed by this Plan are those which occur on generally well-drained soils, albeit in association with some marshy communities, which are neither particularly base-rich nor acid (ÔmesotrophicÕ). Flower-rich meadows and pastures are a product of traditional farming practices over centuries, but survive only where the land is unimproved, having received little or no inputs of artificial fertilisers or herbicides, nor having been re-seeded, nor ploughed in recent years. Today the vast majority of grassland in Devon has been ÔimprovedÕ by these means. In a largely pastoral county like Devon most remaining flower-rich fields are grazed, though a hay crop is taken in some cases. Most of the remaining examples in Devon occur as rather isolated or inaccessible parcels of land, often on steep slopes, which have escaped agricultural improvement because they do not warrant the investment required. Such situations occur for example on the Blackdown Hills and some parts of South Devon and the Dartmoor fringes. A few examples on the Culm Measures have arisen through partial drainage or cultivation earlier this century of land which had been much wetter. Roadside verges often support flower-rich grassland, being relatively undisturbed and not subject to intense management, although these too are vulnerable to inappropriate management. The total UK resource of this habitat is estimated as 15000 ha. Devon is estimated to hold approximately 2000 ha, but this habitat may be under-recorded due to the isolated and fragmented nature of the remaining resource. In addition, and outside the definition of this Action Plan, are areas of coastal neutral grassland. The habitat is thinly scattered across Devon, although the following areas have concentrations: Dartmoor; the area around Two Bridges, Postbridge, and Princetown contains fields traditionally managed as hay meadows. South Hams and Teignbridge, particularly on steep and inaccessible slopes. Blackdown Hills, on slopes, and associated with mires, surrounded by bushy hedgerows. Culm Measures; areas of the habitat are found within the mosaic of Culm Grassland, scrub, woodland and heathland that characterises this area. Exmoor fringe zone of North and Mid Devon. Devon has a very substantial resource of roadside verges; approximately 14,000 km of roads, corresponding to about 2,000 ha of roadside verge. However, of this very large resource, the area which is species-rich is relatively small and localised in distribution. Insufficiently attractive payments through agri-environment schemes for retention of permanent pasture under sympathetic extensive management regimes, compared with current levels of mainstream subsidy support for more intensive land uses. Agri-environment grant schemes not yet widely available enough to cover all good examples of the habitat. Low market prices for finished beef animals and falling milk prices, coupled with high land prices and input costs have provided an overwhelming pressure on DevonÕs farmers to intensify grassland management. This pressure to intensify has been supported historically by CAP price support, although this has been mitigated since 1992 by the introduction of sheep and suckler cow headage payments, linked to quotas and by an extensification top-up paid on the suckler cow and beef payments where stocking levels are below a prescribed level. Until March 1996, a demand for more slowly matured beef provided economic support to extensive systems. However, following the BSE crisis, all beef animals have to be finished under 30 months old, undermining the viability of extensive grazing systems. The lack of a clear definition of what is a "proper" management regime to maintain flower-rich meadows and pastures is a weakness of current management prescriptions. We know that regular/annual inputs of even small amounts of inorganic fertiliser can lead to loss of species diversity, but there is evidence that cessation of all fertiliser inputs is incompatible with the maintenance of species richness. Anecdotal information suggests that periodic application of farmyard manure will maintain high species richness. Use of slurry on fields, instead of, and in greater quantity than, traditional farmyard manuring. There is an associated problem in that Farm Waste Management Plan objectives dictate that slurry should not be put on prime agricultural land next to rivers to avoid it polluting water courses, but instead should be applied to "lower quality" land away from rivers. If "lower quality" land is interpreted by some land managers as ecologically important grasslands, then these may be degraded by any ensuing nutrient enrichment. A move from hay to silage production, with earlier and more frequent cutting has resulted in fewer flower-rich meadows. Not only is the change from hay to silage damaging but also it may be that the speed of contemporary hay-making, the lack of periodic late cutting and the lack of seed transported by machinery between fields are also key factors. Over-grazing by stock can significantly reduce the value of grassland to invertebrates and hence the mammals and birds which feed upon them. This said, the Extensification Premium, available through the Suckler Cow Premium and Special Beef Premium Schemes, has led to the mitigation of over-grazing on some sites. Objective 1 Ensure no net loss or degradation of the Devon resource of flower-rich meadows and pastures Targets Secure existing areas of flower-rich meadows and pastures in sustainable management regimes; 60% of all sites (>0.5 ha) by 2005; 100% by 2010. Objective 2 Establish low-intensity management on improved or semi-improved grassland sites, in order to link with and extend existing unimproved flower-rich meadows and pastures Target Favourable management on 600 ha by 2010, targeting Dartmoor, Blackdowns, South Hams and Teignbridge and the Culm Measures. Note: Full restoration to species-rich unimproved status is a long-term target, outside the time-frame of this plan. Objective 3 Foster greater understanding and appreciation by farmers and land managers of the specialness and value of flower-rich meadows and pastures in Devon. Target Ongoing Objective 4 Increase opportunities for public contact with, and appreciation of, flower-rich meadows and pastures Target Ongoing [ see above ] Some SSSIs are managed through English Nature management agreements,
with the Wildlife Enhancement Scheme being extended to cover more sites.
Devon Wildlife Trust owns and manages Nature Reserves which include
areas of flower-rich meadows and pastures. ENÕs Reserves Enhancement
Scheme supports conservation bodiesÕ costs in managing these Reserves. Dartmoor National Park Authority has established management agreements with landowners over many hay meadows, and carries out research into their management Policy and legislation Ensure planning policies protect important grassland sites from inappropriate
development requiring planning permission, by linking to CWS data and
other sources of information. Promote targeting of flower-rich meadows and pastures in Countryside
Stewardship and ESA policy, by 2005.PARTNERS: MAFF, FRCA NFU, FWAG,
DWT, RSPB Review the need for grassland extensification elements in ESAs and
CS schemes, including the possibility of a pilot grassland extensification
CS Special Project. By 1999. Management
{Management} Research and monitoring
{Research} Education and awareness
raising
{Education} {Progress} |
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