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Projects
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Wiltshire chalk grassland project
The RSPB has been working with landowners in Wiltshire to maintain and restore chalk grassland, much of which was lost during and after the last world war. Wiltshire holds 75% of the remaining chalk grassland - now a rare habitat - in the UK today. Wiltshire is characterised by chalk grassland studded with flowers and butterflies, and with skylarks singing overhead. But little of this nationally important habitat remains. With as many as 40 plants per square metre, chalk grassland is on a par with the rainforests in terms of the number of species of flora and fauna it supports. From meadow ants to orchids to the rare stone-curlew, chalk grassland is host to many rare and threatened species that are adapted to nutrient-poor, chalky soils. Bringing it back through partnershipSince the Second World War, around 80% of the UK’s chalk grassland has been lost under the plough. Remaining patches are often on steep slopes, and through neglect, are lost through invasion of scrub and coarse grasses. 'Many bird species that were once common on 'downland' are now confined to the few available remaining areas' By re-introducing grazing to restore neglected sites, important wildlife can be maintained. In rural areas, grazing is important, both to the local economy and to maintain the aesthetic value of grassland sites for the benefit of the local community. By working together with landowners, farmers, graziers and local people, through partnership in the Wiltshire Grazing Project RSPB aims to protect Wiltshire’s heritage grasslands and the rare species, such as the stone-curlew, that depend on them. Wiltshire is a keystoneSeveral declining species of farmland bird inhabit chalk grassland, such as the stone-curlew and skylark. Many nationally rare butterflies, such as Adonis blue and silver-spotted skipper, depend on flowers and grasses only found on chalk downland, such as horseshoe vetch and sheep’s fescue, and are now confined to the few remaining areas. Due to habitat fragmentation, many of the characteristic downland species are vulnerable to local extinction. Today, the UK holds just 39,500 hectares of chalk grassland. Of this, 75% is found in Wiltshire, which hosts some of the best sites in the country; Parsonage Down, Porton Down and Salisbury Plain which at 13,000 hectares is the largest expanse of chalk grassland found in north-west Europe. The main cause of decline in chalk grassland is change in usage. Ploughing, neglect, under-grazing, over-grazing and poaching by animal hooves in wet weather have all contributed. Areas that could not be reached by plough, such as steep slopes, became abandoned and neglected, isolated in a sea of arable farmland. It is not viable to get grazing animals to these areas, so they have become overgrown with scrub and the grassland has been lost. Enrichment of the soil makes chalk grassland suitable for coarse grasses to invade the habitat forcing out other species of more important conservation interest. Planning for the futureEventually, if left unmanaged, scrub species invade the grassland choking out the finer flora until succession reverts the grassland to woodland. A UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) was formulated in 1995 as a framework for action across the country to protect and maintain the remaining chalk (calcareous) grassland habitat and its species. From this came a Habitat Action Plan with the following objectives:
The latter target has already been exceeded by some 7,000 hectares. For more details, see the ‘Chalk grassland’ download on this page. Last modified: 23 January 2004 | Back to basicsDownloads
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Minsmere RSPB Reserve, general view of Boomacre Mere - David Tipling (rspb-images.com)
Hummingbird hawkmoth - Steve Round
Tree sparrow perched on branch in woodland - Sue Tranter (rspb-images.com, Ref: 1018091)