North Devon grassland ‘savannah’ to become largest to be created in the UK - National Trust
The National Trust has announced its largest ever wildflower grassland project as part of its efforts to help save this threatened habitat and tackle the nature and climate crises.
In a project which will eventually create pockets of species rich grassland across 70 miles of the north Devon landscape, 86 hectares (213 acres) of land has been sown with 1.3 tonnes of specially selected seed over the past few weeks.
These fields, an area equivalent to 120 football pitches, will become ‘donor’ sites for the remainder of the project over the next eight years.
As part of the conservation charities ambitions to improve habitats for nature which benefit both wildlife and people, the project will be scaled up year-on-year to eventually improve the wildflower diversity of 1,275 hectares (3,151 acres) of grassland, equivalent to 1,786 football pitches.
Joshua Day, Project Co-ordinator at the National Trust in north Devon said: “Ninety-seven per cent of species rich grasslands – the equivalent to 4.5 million acres – have been lost nationally over the last 100 years with only one per cent remaining today. This has had a devastating impact on our native wildflowers with once common species such as eyebrights and Cowslips becoming ever rarer, and a disastrous impact on the species that are reliant on these flower rich habitats such as bumble bees and other pollinators. However, lowland grassland creation is a very effective and relatively quick way to improve habitats for wildlife and boost biodiversity. For the best chance of success it’s vital to sow the right types of plants in the right places. This will ensure we grow the right complementary wildflowers for the area which will help wildlife that already lives there, as well as attracting new species.”
The team has selected the land for this project by assessing its soil chemistry and suitability to grow different species.
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Posted On: 03/11/2022