Evaluating the success of upland hay meadow restoration in the North Pennines, UK, using green hay transfer

1. Traditionally managed mesotrophic species-rich upland hay meadows
conforming to the National Vegetation Classification (NVC) MG3b, are one
of the rarest grassland types in the UK, with substantial declines in
botanical diversity over the last 50 years. Intensive spring grazing,
earlier cut dates and increases in soil fertility causes a decline in
characteristic positive indicator species in MG3b meadows, shifting
communities from species-rich MG3b, to NVC MG6 meadows, and finally to
species-poor NVC MG7 meadows.  2. The North Pennines Area of
Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Partnership’s Hay Time project aimed to
improve the knowledge of upland hay meadows, and to investigate the
success of seed addition of key positive indicator species. A
landscape-scale restoration programme was undertaken between 2006 and
2012, harvesting seed from 82 species-rich donor meadows and spreading
seed onto 89 receptor meadows (2282ha). Seed was harvested as green hay,
using two types of donors: an MG6 donor (classed as restoration, with
species such as Rhinanthus minor), or using an MG3b donor (classed as
enhancement, with species such as Geranium sylvaticum). All 89 meadows
were monitored, with a baseline botanical survey, and a repeat survey
three to five years after seed addition. In addition, 41 meadows that did
not have seed addition were monitored (controls).  3.
Species-richness, diversity and floristic composition improved in 77
meadows three to five years after seed addition. Eighteen plant species
had an increase in frequency in the receptor meadows but did not increase
in frequency in the control meadows. The most successful were eight
positive indicators which were annuals or fast-growing perennial plants
(Anthoxanthum odoratum, Euphrasia spp., Myosotis discolor, Plantago
lanceolata, Ranunculus acris, R. minor, Trifolium dubium and Trifolium
pratense). However, rarer characteristic MG3b plants such as Alchemilla
spp., G. sylvaticum, and Cirsium heterophyllum showed little signs of
establishing. 4. Botanical evidence is demonstrating that seed addition
using green hay is a successful way of restoring meadows to an MG6
community. What is now needed is an effective method to establish
characteristic MG3b plants. Hand-collecting seeds and establishing plug
plants, alongside seed addition and maintaining traditional management
practises is one possible way forward.