Assessing the Role of 'Green Hay' in the Creation of Hay Meadows at the National Botanic Garden of Wales and the Implications for the Management of Amenity Land for Biodiversity.

Flower-rich hay meadows contain some of the highest levels of biodiversity of any habitat in the world. However, as a result of agricultural intensification they have all but disappeared in the UK. It is assessed that there are only 1605 hectares of lowland hay meadows left in Wales. This is regarded as a priority conservation habitat in Wales and efforts have been made within the Waun Las National Nature Reserve at the National Botanic Garden of Wales to restore this important habitat. Meadow species can also be found growing along roadside verges and within parks and public spaces. The improved management for biodiversity of this land by local authorities and other agencies offers opportunities to expand the area of land available for meadow communities, reduce fragmentation, improve connectivity and create a genetic reservoir for recolonisation. This research aimed to establish long term monitoring plots within each meadow to assess the success of the use of ‘green hay’ as a restoration method when applied to species-poor neutral pasture, for this research project and for the long-term. The study surveyed the effects of green hay on the plant communities within two meadows Cae Derwen and Cae Gwair treated in 2016 and 2019, respectively, and compared the plant community to that found in the donor meadow, Cae Tegerianau. The results suggested that the green hay treatment increased species richness within both meadows and also showed some evidence for the development of the desired MG5 community in Cae Derwen although this was not yet established in the more recent Cae Gwair. The questionnaire of biodiversity officers at Welsh local authorities showed that a broad range of restoration techniques are being used to support biodiversity in grasslands under local authority management; that these areas are likely to expand in the future and that there is the opportunity to create considerably more species rich grassland within the public realm if the barriers surrounding public attitudes, capacity and skills, political will and investment are overcome with direction and support from the Welsh Government.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

msc

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

masters

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Wales Trinity Saint David

Year dc:date.issued

2023

Author dc:creator

• Davies, Laura

• S Amaethyddiaeth (Cyffredinol)

Dc Identifier Grantnumber

UWTSD

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.uwtsd.ac.uk:2916