Farmland, Grassland and Heathland

Lowland Wet Grassland

Objectives

Maintain the existing important areas of lowland wet grassland by encouraging appropriate management.
Restore degraded areas of lowland wet grassland by promoting appropriate management.
Increase the amount of lowland wet grassland in appropriate areas by creation and re-creation.

Targets

Prevent any further loss of important (grade 1 SBI or better) lowland wet grassland.
To place into management 1500ha of lowland wet grassland by 2010.
Create 500ha of lowland wet grassland in target areas by 2010.
Of the above: create sixty hectares of wet grassland (in extensive blocks over twenty hectares) in the Trent / Tame valley through restoration of mineral workings and the Central Rivers Project.

Total achievements to date (MONTH YEAR - MONTH YEAR)

282.63ha of wet grassland have been created so far with the 2010 target of 200ha complete.
412ha have been placed into appropriate management through the Countryside Stewardship, and National Forest Tender Schemes and by various organisations.

Current Action

Protection and Policy

Lowland wet grassland has been listed as a costed Key Habitat in the UK Steering Group report.
A number of sites containing unimproved lowland wet grassland have been notified as SSSIs.
A number of sites containing unimproved lowland wet grassland have been classified as Grade 1 SBIs.

Management, Research and Survey

A Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and FWAG project has targeted landowners of wet grassland in the Sow and Trent Valley to take up Countryside Stewardship Schemes.
Severn Trent and EA are undertaking wet grassland restoration along the Trent in Stafford Borough.
Countryside Stewardship Scheme provides grant aid for the management of wet pasture.
An RSPB scheme (in partnership with English Nature) currently operates within the County providing information and part-funding to landowners wishing to manage wet grassland for wading birds through Countryside Stewardship.
A grassland restoration strategy (unpublished) has been produced by SWT to determine areas of potential restoration for the County.
A 'Restoring Power to the Wetlands' project (managed by Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and funded by Powergen) operates in the east of Staffordshire.

Wet Grassland, Staffordshire Moorlands

Action Plan

UK Lead Organisation:

English Nature [Coastal and Floodplain Grazing Marsh]

County Lead Organisation:

N/A

Policy

Ensure any examples of lowland wet grassland that meet the required criteria are given SBI status. (SBI Grading Committee)
Ensure appropriate lowland wet grassland sites meeting the SSSI criteria are designated. (EN)
Promote the use of Sustainable Drainage Systems in all new development from 2001. (SBAP Partnership)

Management

Seek to restore and create further areas of lowland wet grassland in appropriate areas. (DEFRA, FWAG, Mineral Companies, SWMHP, Developers, FoM, TNF, Landowners)
Seek to target all remaining lowland wet grassland for grant aid, such as Countryside Stewardship. (DEFRA, FWAG)
Seek restoration / creation of grassland at a strategic level through restoration of gravel pits along the Trent and Tame corridors. (CRP)
Identify four hydrological units in excess of ten hectares for restoration. (Minerals Companies)
Seek to reinstate 'natural washlands' through flood storage. (EA, IDB)
Ensure that flood defence schemes are undertaken in an ecologically sensitive manner. (EA, IDB)
Identify opportunities for habitat creation, giving priority to those that link existing sites. (SWT)

Monitoring and Research

Repeat Lowland Breeding Wader Survey at regular intervals to assess population changes on lowland wet grassland. (WMBC)
Re-survey all good examples of lowland wet grassland in 2005 and 2010 to assess their condition. (SBAP Partnership)
Carry out research into the effect of ground water abstraction on marshy grassland and review abstraction licences accordingly. (EA)
Ensure water level management plans are produced for all lowland wet grassland SSSIs. (EN, IDB)
Seek to monitor the creation, restoration and management of this habitat throughout the County. (SWT)

Advisory

Ensure that all landowners are aware of any management grants available for lowland wet grassland. (DEFRA, FWAG)
Promote the biodiversity and landscape value of lowland wet grassland to children, the public and landowners. (SBAP Partnership)

Complementary Plans