UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Habitat Descriptions
Lowland Calcareous Grassland
From: UK Biodiversity Action Plan; Priority Habitat Descriptions. BRIG (ed. Ant Maddock) 2008.
This document is available from: http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-5706
For more information about the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) visit http://www.jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-5155
Please note: this document was uploaded in November 2016, and replaces an earlier version, in order to correct a broken web-link. No other changes have been made. The earlier version can be viewed and downloaded from The National Archives: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20150302161254/http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page5706
Lowland Calcareous Grassland The definition of the habitat as given in the pre-existing Habitat Action Plan (https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110303145955/http://www.ukbap.org.uk/UKPl ans.aspx?ID=12) has been amended to: include examples of NVC CG10 Festuca ovina-Agrostis capillaris-Thymus praecox grassland where they clearly occur below the upper limits of agricultural enclosure; and exclude examples of CG1 Festuca ovina-Carlina vulgaris grassland and CG2 Festuca ovina-Avenula pratensis grassland where these clearly occur above the upper limits of enclosure. In Northern Ireland, enclosed calcareous grassland (mainly CG9 and CG10) is very limited and similar floristically to unenclosed grassland. For practical purposes all calcareous grassland in Northern Ireland is treated as Upland Calcareous Grassland. Following the 2007 review, occurrences of this habitat on roadside verges are also covered by the definition.