In terms of biodiversity conservation, grassland habitats, such as meadows and chalk grassland, may not at first glance seem that significant, but they can be incredibly rich diverse landscapes. The type of grassland varies depending on several different factors including the soil type, water level, and type of management. Grassland habitats are key for biodiversity conservation as they contain a larger variety of plant life, including rare wildflowers such as meadow clary (Salvia pratensis) and snake’s head fritillary (Fritillaria meleagris) as well as more common plants such as cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris), common daisy (Bellis perennis), and red clover (Trifolium pratense). Diverse grassland can also support a range of animal species, from providing shelter and food for many invertebrate species such as pollinators and butterflies to breeding areas for ground-nesting birds, for example, snipe (Gallinago gallinago) and lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), and habitats for reptiles like the grass snake (Natrix Helvetica) and small mammals such as the field vole (Microtus agrestis). These habitats are also key hunting grounds for many predatory bird species such as barn owls (Tyto alba).
The importance of grassland habitats
The importance of grassland habitats