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Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust Biodiversity Matters II

The Conservation Strategy of the Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust 2006-2016

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Unimproved flower rich grasslands are now very rare. There is now less than 2000 hectares in Wales and less than 20ha in Montgomeryshire. These small fragments of unimproved grassland hold some of the county’s rarest plants including Green-winged Orchid, Pepper-saxifrage, Spreading Bellflower and Whorled Caraway.

In Montgomeryshire fewer than 40 meadows have escaped undamaged. Road verges now provide the last strong holds for species rich unimproved grassland in the county and it is vital that they are managed appropriately by the Local Authority.

What are the threats to our unimproved grassland?

• Extensive use of fertiliser, reseeding, the switch to silage production and high livestock stocking rates in the summer months.
• Continued over-grazing.
• Inappropriate road verge management.

Flower Rich Grassland Action Plan

Action

• We will manage our grassland nature reserves appropriately to maintain favourable condition.
• Encourage the creation of flower rich grassland at carefully targeted sites.
• Encourage the Local authority and Welsh Assembly Government to create species rich road verges.
• Encourage others to manage their grasslands appropriately to benefit BAP species.
• Identify new neutral grassland Wildlife Sites and Road Verge Nature Reserves.
• Establish a network of species rich grassland Wildlife Sites and Private Nature Reserves.

Advice

• Provide information to landholders and managers about grassland conservation management.
• Give advice to landholders about creating and maintaining species rich grasslands.
• Advise the local authority and their contractors about appropriate management of road verges.

Survey and Monitoring

• Establish systematic monitoring of neutral grassland sites on a five year rolling programme.
• Undertake specialist surveys for English Whitebeam and Grizzled Skipper.
• Monitor the condition of road verges using volunteers.

Lobbying

• Lobby for both non and statutorily protected sites to be managed and monitored appropriately.
• Lobby for non statutory sites such as Wildlife sites to be afforded protection in the planning system.
• Ensure that valuable road verge habitat is managed sympathetically.