CALCAREOUS GRASSLAND

Calcareous grassland: species-rich grassland on limestone outcrops with shallow soils. Characteristic species are crested hair-grass, blue-grass, hawkweed, fairy flax, carnation sedge, lady's mantle, thyme, and lady's bedstraw. Species with a high frequency are yarrow, bent-grass, daisy, crested dog's-tail grass, cat's ear, bird's-foot trefoil, plantain, devil's-bit scabious, clover and fescue grass.

Habitat examples: Click on an image to enlarge.
     
Calcareous grassland: distribution in Northern Ireland.
Calcareous grassland is a rare habitat covering less than 0.1% of NI (936 ha), (Table below). It is found mainly in the Fermanagh District (0.5%).
Calcareous grassland: predicted distribution map (1998).
Calcareous grassland: net change 1991 - 1998.
Calcareous grassland decreased significantly in area by 7% (-73 ha) in Fermanagh District.
Calcareous grassland: summary of losses and gains 1991 - 1998.

Calcareous grassland: main losses and gains 1991 - 1998.
Loss of Calcareous grassland was mainly by scrub colonisation or conversion to agricultural grassland. Habitats in the losses and gains table below are linked to their descriptors and NI data. Full details of all losses and gains are given in the technical report.
 
Losses
(1991 - 98)		 Habitats Gains
(1991 - 98)
km  % km  %
29 3       Scrub - scattered 0    
3 <1       Wet heath mosaic 12 <1  
16 2       Perennial ryegrass 0    
31 3 *     Other agricultural grassland 0    
Note : % = percentage of 1991 habitat area.
           * = indicates significant transition (p = 0.05).
          nc = not calculated.
 
BACK - to Seminatural vegetation