Enhancing biodiversity: managing species-rich grassland at Barns Farm, Shropshire
Karen Fisher, our farm advisor, attended a workshop about managing species-rich grassland in February 2024, at the National Trust’s Barns Farm sites in Shropshire.
The workshop was a collaboration with Buglife and Herefordshire Meadows, two organisations championing efforts to preserve and enhance biodiversity across the region.
Barns Farm grasslands – introducing rare species
Spanning over 17 hectares across four fields, the grasslands at Barns Farm near Lydbury North were established back in September 2023 as part of a concerted effort to nurture a thriving ecosystem for the rare Bilbury bumblebee which has been found in the area.
With low phosphate indices (ranging between 0 and 1), the fields presented a promising site for the establishment of some rarer plant species.
During the workshop, the approach to grassland management was explained, emphasising the importance of creating conducive conditions for the establishment of a diversity of plant species.
Grassland and grazing management
The ground was carefully scarified (cleared of debris) on alternate passes to generate bare ground, with three to four chain harrow passes to enhance seed-to-soil contact. Locally sourced seed mix was supplemented with yellow rattle from a nearby supplier, sown at a rate of 1.5g per square meter. Additionally, plug plants were used in one of the fields to evaluate their impact on establishment success.
Post-sowing, the fields underwent a grazing regime with sheep, balancing the need to prevent poaching (trampling) and compaction against maintaining an open sward conducive for seedling establishment.
It was emphasised that proper grazing management, coupled with adequate light, air, and water, plays a pivotal role in ensuring successful grassland establishment. By the end of February, the grass ideally should have reached a height between 2-5cm, providing an optimal grazing environment for livestock while safeguarding the herb seedlings.
Plant mixes
The plant mix adopted for the grasslands predominantly comprises perennial species, except for the yellow rattle, a keystone species integral to the diversity of the ley. Perennial species exhibit greater resilience to grazing pressure once an established seed bank and robust root system are in place. In contrast, the annual yellow rattle necessitates more nuanced management due to its annual lifecycle with careful management required not to overgraze.
The workshop was an inspiring, useful, practical day discussing the considerations of management practice, particularly the integral part grazing plays and the ecological principles required for a successful establishment and management of species-rich grassland.
Find out more:
Our Herbal leys guides have more information about species type, establishment and management.
