MIXED SPECIES GRASSLAND

Mixed species grassland: longer-established grazed swards on well-drained soils usually with ryegrass and crested dogs-tail grass. Species with a higher frequency than in other types of agricultural grassland are bent-grass, white clover, sweet vernal-grass, daisy, plantain and self-heal.
Habitat examples: Click on an image to enlarge.
     
Mixed species grassland: distribution in Northern Ireland.
Mixed species grassland covers 1.7% (23,684 ha) of NI (Table below). It is more common in the Mourne AONB (2.5%), Antrim Coast & Glens AONB (3.5%), North Derry AONB (6.6%) and Slieve Gullion (4.9%).
Mixed species grassland: predicted distribution map (1998).
Mixed species grassland: net change 1991 - 1998.
Mixed species grassland cover decreased significantly in lowland landscapes by 45% (-14,165 ha) and also in upland landscapes by 52% (-7,044 ha) throughout NI.
Mixed species grassland: summary of losses and gains 1991 - 1998.

Mixed species grassland: main losses and gains 1991 - 1998.
The main losses in Mixed species grassland were to Perennial ryegrass and Other 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)
ha  % ha  %
234 <1       Broadleaf plantation woodland 6 <1  
74 <1       Coniferous plantation 0    
202 <1       Species-rich dry grassland 339 5  
142 <1       Species-rich wet grassland 387 2  
20 <1       Bent/fescue grassland 131 1  
83 <1 *     Tall herb/ruderal 76 <1  
1 <1       Bracken - scattered 65 2  
1 <1       Gorse heath - scattered 119 3  
449 1       Cereals 0    
106 <1       Other crops/vegetables 194 1  
346 <1 *     Italian/perennial ryegrass 205 <1  
226 <1       Ploughed land 28 <1  
16666 37 *     Perennial ryegrass 3553 <1 *
12419 28 *     Other agricultural grassland 5674 2 *
241 <1 *     Buildings/curtilage nc    
827 2       Bare ground/surfaces nc    
Note : % = percentage of 1991 habitat area.
           * = indicates significant transition (p = 0.05).
          nc = not calculated.
 
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