Arable Reversion any ideas
Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 9:30 pm
Does anyone know of any good reports, articals in journals about arable reversion?
Ex-arable to chalk grassland. Habitat Management News in British Wildlife?
I am doing some research for my BA, about an area of ex-arable land at the foot of the South Downs. The 50 acre field has been bought by local residents to prevent potential development, it was last cultivated in 2005.
Most residents would like to revert it, or at least part of it, to a species rich grassland to act as a buffer to the adjacent ancient chalk grassland SSSI where there is also good range of butterfly species.
Some wish to alow it to natural regeneration/revert, just grazing and topping the field.
Some would like to collect local seed from the downs and buy a native wild flower mix to distribute in the field and graze it.
Some would like to spray out all invasive species, plough it and sow a mixed grass and clover mix and roll it. Then graze it.
There is quite a bit of debate going on!
I would be very pleased to hear from anyone who may have some experience or knowledge about arable reversion.
I am going through various papers and reports as well as doing vegetation surveys.
Crispin
Ex-arable to chalk grassland. Habitat Management News in British Wildlife?
I am doing some research for my BA, about an area of ex-arable land at the foot of the South Downs. The 50 acre field has been bought by local residents to prevent potential development, it was last cultivated in 2005.
Most residents would like to revert it, or at least part of it, to a species rich grassland to act as a buffer to the adjacent ancient chalk grassland SSSI where there is also good range of butterfly species.
Some wish to alow it to natural regeneration/revert, just grazing and topping the field.
Some would like to collect local seed from the downs and buy a native wild flower mix to distribute in the field and graze it.
Some would like to spray out all invasive species, plough it and sow a mixed grass and clover mix and roll it. Then graze it.
There is quite a bit of debate going on!
I would be very pleased to hear from anyone who may have some experience or knowledge about arable reversion.
I am going through various papers and reports as well as doing vegetation surveys.
Crispin