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Different types of grasslands, such as meadows and parks, can be full of wildflowers and fungi, benefitting people, nature and climate.
Discover the wealth of benefits provided by these biodiverse habitats and why we need to take action to make the most of our grasslands.
Healthy grasslands, rich in wild plants and fungi, can provide so many ecosystem services and benefits. With the right management, they can support wildlife, store more carbon, produce nutritious food, provide clean air and water, plus so much more.
Yet, we’ve lost almost all of our most biodiverse grasslands. We need governments in England, Scotland, and Wales to take action to manage, restore, and create grasslands that are rich in wild plants and fungi – making the most of our grasslands for people, nature, and climate.
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Extreme weather resilience
Diverse plant species help to cope with droughts, with deep roots accessing nutrients and water[1]
Natural beauty and cultural heritage
Filled with colour and life, grasslands enrich our landscape and culture, inspiring art & crafts
Cleaner air and water
Reducing fertiliser and pesticide use benefits our health and the natural environment[2]
Health & wellbeing
Access to green spaces improves peoples’ mental & physical health[3]
Healthier Soil
Diverse plants, fungi & microorganisms support healthy soils & their ecosystems, reducing soil erosion[4]
Climate change mitigation
Carbon is safely stored in the undisturbed soils of permanent grasslands[5]
Natural flood defence
Absorbent soils of floodplain meadows[6] and other grasslands slow the flow of floodwaters
Better, joined-up habitats
Providing food, shelter and connected corridors for wildlife across the landscape [7]
Increased pollination
More wildflowers help pollinators thrive [8]
Animal health & nutritious food
Livestock grazing on diverse plant species are healthier[9] & produce more nutritious food[10]
Cooler environment
In heatwaves, wild plants & fungi retain moisture, absorb heat[11] & provide shade for wildlife
[1] Grassland Resistance and Resilience after Drought Depends on Management Intensity and Species Richness | PLOS ONE
[2] Grassland ecosystem services: a systematic review of research advances and future directions | SpringerLink
[3] Improving access to greenspace: 2020 review (publishing.service.gov.uk)
[4] Frontiers | Managing Grazing to Restore Soil Health, Ecosystem Function, and Ecosystem Services (frontiersin.org)
[5] Briefing Document_Grasslands
[6] The natural capital of floodplains: management, protection and restoration to deliver greater benefits – Open Research Online
[7] Lowland Grassland Management Handbook (Second edition) – GRASSLAND (naturalengland.org.uk)
[8] Historical nectar assessment reveals the fall and rise of floral resources in Britain | Nature
[9] Microsoft Word – Is the rye-grass always greener FINAL (magnificentmeadows.org.uk)
[10] the-human-health-benefits.pdf (pastureforlife.org)
[11] Urban green space cooling effect in cities – ScienceDirect
A more than 10 years programme of increasing the population of the Fen Orchid in the UK lead by Plantlife.
After a big government announcement, our experts have been delving into the details on the latest funding changes for farmers.
As governments continue to undervalue grasslands, Plantlife is calling on policymakers to help farmers make sustainable choices.
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