Tayside Biodiversity Partnership Local Action Plan

Calcareous and Base-Rich Grassland

NATURE CONSERVATION IMPORTANCE
Calcareous grasslands contain an exceptional diversity of plants, many of which are uncommon or rare.

Base-rich grasslands, although not as diverse as calcareous grasslands, still support a diverse range of plants, which in turn provide feeding and breeding areas for a wide range of insects (including numerous butterfly species), birds such as Black grouse Tetrao tetrix and small mammals.

It is estimated there is approximately 55,000 - 66,000 ha. calcareous grassland in the UK (including 31,000 - 41,000 ha. of lowland calcareous grassland which does not occur in Scotland). Approximately 10,000 - 13,000 ha. occurs in Scotland, the most important area being Breadalbane and Atholl in Highland Perthshire. It is not known, however, the true extent of the habitat in Tayside.

NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY CONTEXT
Calcareous Grassland - there is a Broad Habitat Statement in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan for Calcareous Grassland which has the following objective:

“Maintain calcareous grasslands in all parts of the UK where it occurs, and to restore degraded grasslands buffering and linking small,
vulnerable and discontinuous sites.”

Measures to be considered further include:

Protect from inappropriate changes in land use and management;
Encourage appropriate grazing in lowland areas and reduce the grazing in upland areas without encouraging scrub encroachment;
Consider how existing measures (ESA’s, RSS) might establish links between fragmented sites;
Provide management advice and encourage appropriate technological and other innovation.

Although written specifically for Calcareous Grassland, the above Objective and Measures are also appropriate to baserich grasslands.

Limestone Pavement is also a Key Habitat in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. The objectives of the UK Habitat Action Plan for Limestone Pavement are:

Ensure that there is no further loss to the extent of limestone pavement areas;
Ensure that there is no further deterioration in the quality of existing limestone pavement areas;
Maintain features of geological importance;
Restore and maintain a characteristic assemblage of native plant species.

CURRENT FACTORS CAUSING LOSS OR DECLINE
A number of factors are adversely affecting the upland calcareous grassland, reducing the extent of the habitat as well as diminishing the quality of the vegetation:

Agricultural intensification in the form of fertiliser applications, herbicide applications, ploughing and re-seeding are likely to still be damaging and destroying some of the calcareous grasslands. The majority of the calcareous grassland located within the Breadalbane ESA should be protected from such damage by the General Protection Measures;

Heavy grazing by sheep, cattle and horses can adversely affect species-richness and structural diversity, with the loss of tall herbs in particular. Invertebrates such as the Northern brown argus are also at risk from heavy grazing. Deer can be a problem in some areas through grazing,
trampling and nutrient enrichment. Some rare plants are now confined to inaccessible ledges;

Supplementary feeding may result in poaching and enrichment of the grasslands, encouraging ruderals such as Creeping thistle Cirsium arvense, Dock species Rumex spp. and Nettle Urtica dioica;

Very light or absent grazing results in scrub encroachment and the loss of species diversity;

The spread of Bracken Pteridium aquilinum onto calcareous grassland adversely affects species richness and can totally eliminate grasses and herbs;

Quarrying of limestone at Blair Atholl has resulted in the loss of calcareous grassland, although this is a very localised issue;

Little information is available about the effects on the habitat by tree planting and woodland regeneration, but it is known that shading by trees, particularly conifers, can adversely affect species richness on both calcareous grassland and limestone pavement;

Acidification and nitrogen enrichment caused by atmospheric deposition and climate change may have a detrimental effect on calcareous grasslands, but potential impacts have not yet been fully assessed;

Sites may be vulnerable to damage because of our lack of knowledge regarding current distribution.

MAIN THREATS TO KEY SPECIES

Mason Bee	Loss of herb-rich upland grasslands or moorland with short swards. Inappropriate grazing regimes, including cessation of grazing or grouse-moor management. Direct loss of habitat owing to afforestation. Climate change.
	UK Importance of Tayside population:	high – restricted to one site in Tayside (only one other site known in the UK)
Mountain Ringlet	No obvious threats – population fluctuates widely from natural causes.
	UK Importance of Tayside population:	high
Alpine Fleabane	Grazing pressure from deer and sheep.
	UK Importance of Tayside population:	high – all UK populations are in Tayside
Alpine Gentian	Whilst some grazing is essential, too much, together with trampling by deer and sheep, can be deleterious.
	UK Importance of Tayside population:	high – all UK populations are in Tayside
Purple Coltsfoot	Vigorous competitive vegetation can have serious detrimental effects.
	UK Importance of Tayside population:	high
Purple Oxytropis	Susceptible to over-grazing and trampling.
	UK Importance of Tayside population:	high
Date-coloured Waxcap	Improvement of grassland habitat through ploughing and/or fertiliser application. Reduction of grazing/mowing regimes leading to growth of rank vegetation.
	UK Importance of Tayside population:	high

OPPORTUNITIES AND CURRENT ACTION
Legal Status
Approximately 4,000 ha. of calcareous grassland in Scotland are protected by SSSI status. Several sites are also found within National Nature Reserves such as Ben Lawers and Caenlochan.

A number of sites in Tayside have also been designated or proposed as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) under the EC Habitats and Species Directive. These include Tulach Hill and Glenfender Meadows, Ben Lawers, Ben Heasgarnich and Caenlochan.

Breadalbane ESA
A large proportion of the calcareous/base-rich grasslands occurring within the Breadalbane ESA boundary will be protected by the General Protection Measures. In addition individual areas within the in-bye ground will be positively managed with sensitive grazing regimes under the Tier 2 payments.

It is estimated that 2,315 ha. of in-bye herb-rich grassland is protected under the Tier 1 General Protection Measures within the Breadalbane ESA and that 1,470 ha. of in-bye herb-rich grassland receives annual payments for positive management. Although there is no detailed breakdown of grassland communities falling within the “herb-rich grassland” option, it is expected that the majority of these grasslands will be calcareous or base-rich.

Rural Stewardship Scheme/ Countryside Premium Scheme
Areas of calcareous/base rich grassland occurring in Tayside outwith the Breadalbane ESA boundary may be protected and possibly even actively managed under the previous Countryside Premium Scheme (CPS). Figures held by SEERAD cannot be separated into different grassland communities so it is not possible to confirm areas of calcareous/ base-rich grassland protected or managed under CPS.

Incentives are now available through the RSS for the protection and management of calcareous / base-rich grasslands.

Advisory Services
Conservation advisors from SAC and FWAG help farmers identify important habitats on their farm, including calcareous grasslands, and suggest appropriate management.

OBJECTIVES AND TARGETS

Objectives		Targets
1	To ensure that areas of calcareous, base-rich grassland and limestone pavement are protected from damage, and that where possible areas of this habitat are enhanced, restored and/or extended.	A target of the UK HAP is to achieve favourable condition for at least 75% of (Upland) Calcareous Grassland (i.e. 7,000 - 9,750 ha. in Scotland) through sympathetic management by 2005 or as soon as biologically practical thereafter. A target for Tayside should be between 1,000 ha. and 1,500 ha.
2	Ensure that SAC consultations and designations are concluded.
3	Ensure that SSSIs are managed to enhance/extend this habitat.	Ensure that SSSIs containing calcareous grassland are managed sympathetically and where necessary management agreements entered into. A target of the UK HAP is “By 2004, prepare and implement management plans for all SSSI and Natura 2000 sites”.
4	Establish the extent and condition of this habitat in Tayside.	Undertake a detailed survey to determine the extent and quality of calcareous grasslands and limestone pavement throughout Tayside.
5	Ensure no losses of this habitat to tree planting or natural regeneration.	Ensure that this rare habitat type is not lost to tree planting or natural regeneration of woodlands.
6	Achieve a target of 75% of calcareous grassland in favourable management by 2006 (1,000 to 1,500 ha.- best estimate).	Maintain calcareous grasslands where they occur in Tayside and attempt to restore or enhance selected areas to buffer and link small, vulnerable and discontinuous sites.
7	Encourage landowners into agri-environment schemes to positively manage calcareous and base-rich grasslands.	Encourage landowners with calcareous grassland to apply for the RSS.
8	Reduce fragmentation of areas of the habitat.
9	Establish the condition of calcareous grasslands within SSSIs, SACs and agri-environment schemes.
10	Identify successful techniques to restore degraded sites.	Encourage the restoration of degraded calcareous grasslands and limestone pavements where they buffer or link small or discontinuous sites.
11	Raise awareness of best practice through demonstration sites, farm walks and training days for land managers and advisers.	Encourage the establishment of a demonstration site, with special linkage to agri environment schemes, to develop and exhibit best practice management techniques.

Stakeholders
Landowners, managers and advisors; statutory bodies and local authorities; community councils; architects, developers and construction companies; pest controllers, local bat groups, general public.

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