Neutral Grassland: Key objectives

• Raise awareness of importance of semi-natural Neutral Grassland habitat for biodiversity.
• Assess and review the extent and condition of semi-natural Neutral Grassland, in Barnsley, including surveys of selected sites.
• Collect and analyse records of populations and assemblages of wildlife species in semi-natural Neutral Grassland across Barnsley.
• Ensure that all suitable semi-natural Neutral Grassland sites are designated as Local Wildlife Sites or SSSIs.
• Maintain the extent of semi-natural Neutral Grassland habitat and promote good management practice to secure favourable condition.
• Seek the creation of new, and extension of existing, semi-natural Neutral Grassland habitat
• Seek to create links and corridors between semi-natural Neutral Grassland habitats and other habitats

Roles

Landowners and managers:

• Maintain and enhance Neutral Grassland habitat through best practice in conservation management.
• Take up opportunities to restore Neutral Grassland habitat where this does not damage other priority habitats.

A number of organisations including land fill bodies may offer grants for grassland management, improvement and restoration. It can also be part of environmental land management schemes

Natural England:

• Administers environmental land management schemes for maintaining and enhancing Neutral Grassland habitat
• Where it is intended to change the use of unimproved grassland this should be subject to a change of use application to Natural England.

Barnsley council as a planning authority:

• ensures in planning decisions that the biodiversity value of grasslands are maintained and enhanced.
• sets conditions to protect grassland and require EIAs where appropriate.

Voluntary groups and volunteers

• help with meadow creation, extension and management where appropriate.
• provide information about the condition of grasslands and wildlife recorded there

What has been done?

• Some species-rich meadows have been restored or maintained by private individuals, farmers, charities and local community groups.
• New meadow at RSPB Old Moor
• Clegg’s Meadow created near Broomhill Flash. Garganey Trust 2004.
• Transpennine Trail conservation volunteers with Barnsley council rangers have been active in creating and managing wild flower grassland areas along the TPT.
• New meadow created near Broomhill Flash. Garganey Trust 2019-20
• Friends of the Earth Penistone have created a number of meadows, and continue to manage them. This includes Thurlstone Church meadow.

Proposed actions

• Publicity on importance of semi-natural grassland and its conservation, including use of environmental stewardship. 2020-
• Project to identify Neutral Grassland sites and maintain inventories of
• unimproved and semi-improved sites
• sites of high value and interest
• sites with potential to be restored to priority status. 2022-
• Conduct assessment of condition of identified sites. 2022-
• Analysis of records of wildlife species in grassland sites. Every 3-5 years.

Marking Progress

• No reduction in extent of unimproved or semi-improved grassland
• Grassland restored or created to meet priority habitat criteria.
• Grassland in conservation management / favourable condition.

Continued

• Carry out prioritised programme of enhancement and restoration through work with farmers and land owners
• Agree and carry out prioritised grassland LWS designation 2022-
• Four additional grassland LWS in positive conservation management by 2030

Neutral Grassland Actions