Farmland, Grassland and Heathland

Unimproved Neutral Grassland

UK Lead Organisation: Hay Meadow, Newcastle

DEFRA (Upland hay meadows)

County Lead Organisation:

N/A

Objectives

Maintain the existing important areas of unimproved neutral grassland, encouraging appropriate management and promoting environmentally sensitive management of adjoining land.
Restore degraded areas of unimproved neutral grassland by promoting appropriate management.
Increase the amount of unimproved neutral grassland in appropriate areas by creation and re-creation.

Policy

Ensure any examples of unimproved neutral grassland that meet the required criteria are given SBI status. (SBI Grading Committee)
Ensure appropriate unimproved neutral grassland sites meeting the SSSI criteria are designated. (NE)

Protection

Management, Monitoring, Research and Survey

Seek to restore and create further areas of unimproved neutral grassland in appropriate areas. (DEFRA, FWAG, Mineral Companies, Developers, FoM, TNF and Landowners)
Ensure that no inappropriate tree planting occurs in unimproved neutral grassland. (FC)
Seek to ensure that all good examples of unimproved neutral grassland are appropriately managed through the uptake of agri-environment schemes. (DEFRA, FWAG, TNF)
Identify opportunities for habitat creation, giving priority to those that link existing sites. (SWT)
Environmental Stewardship provides grant aid for the management of unimproved grassland sites.

Advisory

Ensure that all landowners are aware of any management grants which may be available for neutral grassland e.g. Environmental Stewardship. (DEFRA, FWAG)
Promote the biodiversity and landscape value of unimproved neutral grassland to the public and landowners. (SBAP Partnership)

Further Information