Why we annually cut the meadows.

Over the next few weeks we will be carrying out Grassland Management on certain areas of Hilsea Lines.

1.    Meadow management.



Flowering meadow



Yellow Rattle



All grasslands need sympathetic management, without this the fine grasses and flowers become crowded out by the tallest plants and toughest grasses. Eventually scrub such as bramble, hawthorn or blackthorn replaces the flowers and grasses. Grasslands provide a very diverse habitat that can support an exceptional variety of plants and invertebrates. These in turn support large populations of birds, reptiles, and mammals.

The grassland areas at Hilsea Lines are managed by an annual ‘cut and collect’ at the end of the summer, when the majority of plants have set seed. This method maximises the floral diversity, as removing the cut vegetation prevents the build up of nutrients that would favour vigorous pernicious plants and scrub species.

2.    Scrub Management.



Volunteers cutting back scrub invasion

Scrub and bramble have encroached onto areas of grassland reducing the biodiversity of the area. Scrub will be prevented from encroaching further onto the grassland through rotational cutting back to allow the natural wildflower meadow to develop. A certain amount of the scrub is left for nesting and also as a food source for small animals and invertebrates. In large areas of scrub channels are cut through allowing grassland species to move from one grassland area to another.