Grazing from June ensures next year's bloom

Most of Northern Ireland's farmland is grassland, but only a small proportion of this has an old natural sward with a variety of wild flowers and native grasses. Maintaining a rich diversity of species in these grasslands requires a delicate balance of management. The land should neither be overgrazed nor undergrazed and, at the same time, there should be no improvement by ploughing, artificial fertilisers, slurry and drainage.

The wildflowers growing in species rich grassland are a reflection of soil composition and past management practices. The beautiful and exotic orchid flourishes where artificial fertilisers and slurry have not been used. Yellow flag iris and cuckoo flower reflect damp undrained soils. The presence of taller flowers, such as ragged robin, meadow sweet and knapweed indicate that the sward has not been intensively grazed or trampled. Shorter wild flowers, such as birdsfoot trefoil and wild thyme exist because late grazing keeps rank grass growth down. This prevents the development of tough clumps of vegetation which die into straw-coloured domes in winter, swamping shorter flowers.

Almost 3,500 ha of species rich grassland is under agri-environment scheme agreement. Farmers who participate in the Countryside Management Scheme (CMS) or Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) Scheme are rewarded financially for carefully managing species rich wet grassland. However improving these fields is not permitted. Grazing or mowing is also critical. Damp fields are grazed from June until December to keep grasses short so that they do not shade out flowers the following spring or swamp the low growing plants. Grazing intensity is also important. Overgrazing reduces wildflower numbers and increases weed species, whereas undergrazing increases vigorous grasses and scrub.

Management by careful grazing, the traditional skill of the farmer, remains the best approach for maintaining these grasslands. If you would like further information on managing species rich grassland contact local Countryside Management Branch staff.

Careful grazing management of species rich grasslands is essential to ensure that their wildlife interest is maintained. Christine Butler, Countryside Management Branch, is pictured in a species rich grassland with some orchids, a wildflower that is sensitive to overgrazing, undergrazing and fertilising