Reasons for decline

Meadows can be dried out by over-deepening of adjacent ditches resulting in the loss of water-loving plants (Photo credit: Emma Rothero).

As with other lowland semi-natural grasslands of wildlife interest, species-rich floodplain meadow has sustained large but unquantifiable losses over the last 50 years, primarily as a result of agricultural intensification. More recently gravel extraction, urban and industrial development, water abstraction and lack of management have added to the pressures and losses.

Of all lowland grassland types of conservation importance, meadows have historically been most vulnerable to agricultural improvement. This is because they are typically located on flat ground which can be easily drained and ploughed, and they have naturally high levels of soil fertility because of their long history of flooding, with sediment and nutrient deposition.

Built development has caused the loss of meadows directly in the past. It can also bring unexpected indirect impacts. In some cases, it can change the local water table to an extent that it impacts on sensitive meadow communities; in other cases the development of large numbers of houses so close to meadows, can bring damaging activities such as vandalism, burning, tipping and driving.

A lack of management is probably now one of the greatest threats facing meadows, with poorly maintained ditches, failure to take an annual hay cut and a lack of grazing animals often contributing to an overall decline of species richness on a site.

The recent increase in very wet summers has led to a number of management problems including the inability to take a hay cut as the ground is too wet for machinery, and the increase in the number of dominating invasive species such as some of the larger sedges. These problems, if not managed, may well lead to a decline in the quality of meadows across the country.