DRY GRASSLANDS AND
HEATHS
The Vision
Species-rich grasslands and heaths are now very
rare in the county and the most important requirement for the remaining sites is
to ensure that they are adequately managed and conserved for future
generations. There is scope for the creation of dry grassland habitats of
wildlife value particularly on the limestone and on former quarry sites. There
is also some scope for creating species-rich grasslands using wild flower seed,
but seed mixes need to be carefully considered prior to implementation.
Heathlands were formerly much more extensive
than they are today. There is a great need to restore those remaining fragments
and to create new areas of heathland and acid grassland.
The Habitats
Dry meadows and pastures are found on limestone
and ironstone outcrops, and on neutral soils in the county. Such habitats are
very difficult to re-create and great efforts are needed to conserve the
remaining sites. Schemes such as Countryside Stewardship have a vital role to
play. Many of the remaining grasslands of wildlife interest are now found on
road verges and disused railways. The restoration and management of these
habitats is vitally important to the overall strategy.
Heathland is a habitat normally found on acid
sandy soils and contains species such as heather and heath bedstraw. Where
surface geology is mixed, heathland can also be found overlying limestone. As
well as having wildlife value there is also considerable historical interest in
these habitats in Northamptonshire.
Habitat Action Plans have been produced for the
following semi-natural grassland and heathland habitats:
·
Lowland
Calcareous Grassland
·
Acid Grassland and Heathland
Wet grasslands are not included in this section
and have been allocated to the Rivers and Wetlands section.
General Actions
To implement the Habitat Plans and fulfil the
Vision the following actions will need to be taken:
·
Advise all owners of County Wildlife Site
grasslands and heaths on appropriate management
·
Target Countryside Stewardship to County
Wildlife Site grasslands
·
Locate local sources of native wildflower seed
for habitat creation and restoration schemes
·
Promote the creation of new areas of limestone
grassland
·
Promote the creation of new species-rich hay
meadows
·
Develop the strategy to conserve wildlife on
road verges
·
Offer advice to existing heathland landowners
on appropriate management techniques
·
Promote the restoration of existing heathland
fragments
·
Promote projects which create new areas of
heathland