Transplantation of Grasslands: I. The Importance of Traditional Management Practices

Humphries, R. N.; Horton, P. W.; Benyon, P.R.

doi:10.21000/jasmr95010186

Cited by 5 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 1 publication

(1 reference statement)

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“…The botanical composition and conservation value of grasslands in the UK coalfields had been described by Humphries, et. al., (1991) and included the communities and species of importance and particular conservation value in the South Wales Region.…”

Section: Mg5/mg8mentioning

confidence: 92%

Lessons Learnt for Harvesting Seed From Semi-Natural Grasslands in Biodiversity Mitigation and Enhancement Schemes in the South Wales Coalfield, Uk

Humphries¹

2012

JASMR

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Planning applications for surface coal mine sites in South Wales are progressively being scrutinised more in respect of biodiversity mitigation and enhancement schemes for sustainable mining. In the mid-to late-1990s a commitment to establishing an often undefined type of semi-natural grassland was sufficient. This progressed to the specification of the target type of grassland in the next decade. Recent applications are seeing the planning authority and the statutory advisers demanding details of how this will be achieved and the evidence that this is possible. Given that ratcheting of the demands is a recent experience, it is difficult for the mining companies to provide the evidence on demand in the absence of a knowledge base. The availability of local seed is one of those details now being demanded. It is a particularly insidious topic if the information is not available (as it is the basis of any grassland re-establishment proposal), and without a satisfactory answer the proposal will fail and might prejudice the coal project as a whole. The applicant needs to have a primary dedicated resource and a backup resource available, and the knowledge and ability to exploit these resources. The State coal company, British Coal, in the 1980-90's commissioned a number of research programs. One of these was an in depth investigation in the seed harvesting of grassland and fen meadow vegetation in South Wales. The results of this unpublished investigation of the early 1990's are now germane. The objective of this paper is to set out the lessons learnt from this previous work for both the practitioner and regulator. One of the findings was more than one harvest in any growing season will be required for the full range of species, and this might span the period from June to October in some cases. This has implications for the harvesting strategy, whether it is a one year seeding or multi-year seeding program, how the seed resource is harvested spatially, and cognisance of the year to year variation in viable seed production due to weather and insect damage. The recommendations suggested in this Case Study may be beneficial elsewhere where harvesting local seed is necessary for successful reclamation.

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Section: Mg5/mg8mentioning

confidence: 92%

Lessons Learnt for Harvesting Seed From Semi-Natural Grasslands in Biodiversity Mitigation and Enhancement Schemes in the South Wales Coalfield, Uk

Humphries¹

2012

JASMR

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“…Intervention during the preparation for the implementation of the translocation of habitats, and subsequently, is likely to be required on several accounts (Humphries et al, 1995;Down and Morton, 1998;Anderson, 2003;Humphries, 2016;Buckley et al, 2017). This includes the likely coppicing/pollarding of trees/shrubs to be transferred, control of invasive competitive species and browsing mammals, and the later management of the structural architecture of the developing woodland.…”

Section: Intervention As Normal Practicementioning

confidence: 99%

Case Study: Early Outcomes and Lessons Learnt From a Recently Translocated Woodland Ecosystem

Humphries¹,

Delmer²,

Hopkins³

2019

JASMR

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The translocation of wildlife habitats remains controversial in the UK and as a last resort where prime ecosystems are involved. None is more contentious as those for woodland designated as 'ancient semi-natural woodland' (i.e., have been in situ for some 400 years or more). There are very few accessible and informative first-hand reports of woodland translocation schemes from which to learn. In this paper we discuss the outcomes of the monitoring of vascular plants and invertebrates one year after translocation of part of an ancient semi-natural woodland, following the granting of planning consent to extend a nationally important aggregate resource. The monitoring in the first year following translocation has been of particular importance as it identified that the representative species, which are needed to re-establish and develop into similar woodland communities to those of the donor, are present. It demonstrates that the physical translocation of the 'whole woodland' vascular plant assemblage is more feasible than previously canvassed, and something that is equivalent to familiar woodland practices of clear-felling operations or coppice rotations. It also determined the need and focus for the proactive control of invasive species that will be needed to achieve the longer-term objective in the vicinity of both the donor woodland and the receptor site, prior to, during and after translocation. The findings are timely and of relevance, beyond the mineral extraction industry, to infrastructure and other built developments involving important woodland ecosystems.

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“…Where it is necessary to transplant thick turves (ie > I00-150mm), the thickness must be closely monitored and tightly controlled, relayed turves should be carefully pressed, regular gaps between turves must be left and carefully backfilled. Where these measures are fully implemented, traditional grazing and cutting management should be possible (Humphries et al, 1995). It should therefore be possible to maintain the nature conservation value of transplanted pastures and meadows.…”

Section: Unevennessmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In our first paper on grassland transplantation (Humphries, Horton & Benyon, 1995) we concluded that the ability to graze and/or cut the transplanted grasslands in their traditional manner was crucial to their long term success. However, from the examples we used and others we have recently described (Horton and Benyon, 1993), it is cleat that traditional management has not generally taken place, and as a result many transplants have not been as successful as they might otherwise have been.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transplantation of Grasslands: II. Improvement in Field Practices and Techniques

Humphries¹,

Benyon²

1995

ASMR

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The ability to manage grazed and cut transplanted grasslands in their traditional manner is critical for the maintenance of their nature conservation value. However, such management has generally not taken place and as a result many transplants have not been as successful as they might have been. Two principal physical constraints on the grazing and cutting of transplanted grasslands have been identified. These were, uneven surfaces, and holes or gaps between turves. Variation in turf thickness, collapse of turf edges and disintegration of turves were the most common cause of uneven surfaces. There ate a number of field practices which can be adopted to achieve an even surface to the transplanted grassland. These include close supervision, to achieve consistent turf thickness, 'back stowing' of collapsed edges, and the pressing of turves. Holes or gaps between turves result from collapse of turf edges or failure to tightly abut turves where turves ate typically 200mm or thicker. The occurrence of holes can be avoided by adopting the practice of leaving a narrow 100mm gap between the turves and back-filling with subsoil. Where the above practices have been adopted traditional grazing and cutting of transplanted grasslands has been possible.

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Transplantation of Grasslands: I. The Importance of Traditional Management Practices

Cited by 5 publications

References 1 publication

Lessons Learnt for Harvesting Seed From Semi-Natural Grasslands in Biodiversity Mitigation and Enhancement Schemes in the South Wales Coalfield, Uk

Lessons Learnt for Harvesting Seed From Semi-Natural Grasslands in Biodiversity Mitigation and Enhancement Schemes in the South Wales Coalfield, Uk

Case Study: Early Outcomes and Lessons Learnt From a Recently Translocated Woodland Ecosystem

Transplantation of Grasslands: II. Improvement in Field Practices and Techniques

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