Grasslands cover more land in the UK than any other habitat type, and yet it is well known that these species-rich habitats have been in decline for many years, through habitat fragmentation, development and loss of traditional management.
Within our land management plan, we are seeking to halt and reverse these worrying trends, to restore the species-rich habitats that grasslands offer. Read on for more information about these habitats and how we're managing them. You can also read our short management guides
hereAcid Grassland
The main ridge and upper slopes of the Hills, from End Hill to Chase End Hill, contain distinctive upland grassland communities that are dominated by acid grasslands. Together the upland acid grasslands cover an area of 102 hectares (9%) of the Trust’s holding. The acid grasslands of the Hills and Commons are a distinctive and nationally important feature. Structure varies with some of the plant communities being short and diverse with lichens and moss (U1) grading into taller, more tussocky swards (U2 and U4) on mid/lower slopes and on thicker soils. In places grasslands grade into heath with bilberry in the north and common ling in the south.
How we manage: Existing management involves extensive livestock grazing with sheep and cattle utilising temporary electric fencing. Areas of bracken are rolled twice where safe. Some topping is undertaken where necessary.
Calcareous Grassland
The diverse geology of the Hills contains several areas of more calcareous rock types and resulting calcareous grassland species. This species-rich sward is a mix of herbs and fine grasses including Rock Rose, sheeps Fescue and Wild thyme. This habitat covers a large area at Hangmans hill, over the Warren House Volcanics, and smaller areas on Castlemorton Common that grade in and out of neutral and acid grasslands. It supports the nationally scarce Spring Cinquefoil. Together they total about 3ha.
How we manage: Existing management is extensive livestock grazing with periodic scrub work, which is maintaining the habitat well.
Neutral Grassland
The neutral grasslands are found on the flat lower areas of common and verge. They are more accessible and more easily managed with machinery than the upland grasslands. Historically they have been grazed by livestock and cut for hay. In summer stands grasses, herbs and flowers including several orchid species are present within these mesotrophic grassland communities (MG5 and MG6).
Regular hay cutting has created a grassland community akin to traditional hay meadows (MG5 Cynasurus cristatus-Centaurea nigra). They include a wide variety of grasses such as Common Bent, Crested Dog’s tail and a substantial proportion of herbs including Bird’s Foot Trefoil, Common Knapweed and White Clover. More uncommon species are Downy Oat Grass Helictotrichon pubescens, Common Spotted and Southern Marsh Orchids Dactylorhiza fuchsia and D. praetermissa and their hybrid. This community covers about 15 hectares (1.3%) and makes a colourful summer display that is much appreciated by local people on sites including Malvern Common.
How we manage: The majority of these grasslands are cut for hay in late summer / autumn. This is successfully maintaining species-rich swards and keeping the area open for the public. None of the sites are aftermath grazed.
