Pastures New ... and Old

This topic takes look at grassland ecosystems, highlighting their definition, diverse classifications, and ecological importance. It explains that most UK grasslands are "semi-natural," having developed from Neolithic human activity, and are biodiversity hotspots crucial for pollinators and threatened species, despite significant historical loss. The threads then focus on grassland sites in the Sidmouth area, detailing their various classifications, from valuable "unimproved" sites to those actively "recovering" from past agricultural "improvement," with vegetative analysis revealing historical land use. Finally, the topic explores restoration efforts and prompts reflection on whether human stewardship is essential for maintaining these culturally shaped and ecologically vital habitats.

The articles in this thread address the following questions:

• What is the primary characteristic used to define a grassland?

• How do semi-natural grasslands in the UK typically originate?

• What differentiates unimproved grassland from improved grassland?

• What is a key indicator of species-rich unimproved grassland?

• Why are areas like mown lawns and sports pitches in The Byes not classified as grassland habitat sites?

• What does the high average number of neutral soil plants recorded on Sidmouth grassland sites suggest about their history?

• Why is the presence of scrub species on grassland sites in Sidmouth considered not unusual?

• What does the presence of a large number of "weeds of cultivation" on sites like The Knowle indicate about their past use?

• Which Sidmouth grassland site is noted for an extensive population of waxcap fungi and is still grazed by sheep?

• What is the primary reason for the correlation between the total plant species recorded and the size of the grassland sites in Sidmouth?