Aims
- To halt the degradation of acid grassland in the borough
- To expand the habitat where opportunities exist
- To promote the value of acid grassland and secure the involvement of local people in its conservation
Introduction
Acid grassland generally consists of fine-leaved grasses such as common bents and fescues, with herbs such as sheeps sorrel, tormentil and heath bedstraw. This habitat frequently forms a mosaic with lowland heath and mire. It is often found over sands and gravels on acidic soils which are poor in nutrients. In Waltham Forest the habitat type is typically dry grass heath which also has patches of gorse and a little heather but does not include mire.
Nationally we have lost 95% of our semi-natural grasslands (species rich grasslands which have not been modified by extensive fertiliser use and reseeding) through development, and 'agricultural improvement'. Excluding the coastal grazing marshes and sea walls, around 2000 hectares of pastures and meadows important for conservation remain in Essex and London (this figure includes neutral grasslands). There are nearly 100 hectares of meadow of conservation importance in Waltham Forest, and about 85 hectares of this is acid grassland.
Most of the borough's acid grassland is located within Epping Forest. Years of grazing and browsing by domestic and wild animals have irrevocably shaped this habitat. Although there were many attempts to enclose the Forest a legal judgement ultimately upheld the rights of common pasturage throughout the Forest; the so-called 'intercommonage', which enabled grazing to continue until very recently. Acid grasslands are therefore of great historic and scientific value.
Current status
As a result of their history of management, and their relative lack of fragmentation, the areas of acid grassland form a reasonably coherent ecological unit. Acid grassland is entirely located in the north and east of the borough, crossing the boundaries of both Epping Forest and Redbridge Districts. In general acid grassland is adjacent to and intergrades with wood pasture.
The grasslands are found over flat or gently sloping ground on both acid gravels and areas of London Clay.
The vegetation is dominated by bent-grass (Agrostis) species with red fescue, wavy hair-grass and sheeps sorrel. Extensive patches of gorse, mat-grass and heath rush betray a long history as grazed pasture, as all of these plants are resistant to grazing. Tormentil, oval sedge, heath bedstraw and mouse-ear hawkweed are common, whilst small colonies of heather and petty whin are also present. The three main areas containing this type of vegetation are Woodford Golf Course, Leyton Flats and the Gilberts Slade/Rising Sun area. A number of other small acid grassland areas occur within Epping Forest as clearings. Some patches also remain on Chingford Golf course.
A number of large clumps of creeping willow are present on Leyton Flats, which is probably the stronghold in London for this plant. Leyton Flats is also an important location for a number of rare fungi which are associated with acid grassland.
The invertebrate diversity of the grassland is not yet well described, although the hymenoptera (bees wasps and ants) are well represented. Red Data Book (RDB) species of solitary bees and wasps inhabit the gravely soils of Leyton Flats. A number of scarce diptera (flies) have been found on Woodford Golf course. Anthills of the Yellow Meadow-ant are a particularly widespread and prominent feature of the plains. The well-drained soil on the anthills provides a microhabitat which increases plant diversity.
Specific factors affecting the habitat
Decline in cattle grazing
The cessation of cattle grazing is the major cause of decline in acid grassland habitat. The habitat has been shaped by cattle grazing which has been continuous for hundreds of years. The reduction of grazing promotes the growth of rank vegetation and scrub. Leyton Flats and Gilberts Slade were regularly grazed until the mid 1990's, but safety scares and changes in market conditions has led to increasing difficulty in securing grazing for the area. Lack of fencing along the A104 means grazing is not currently practicable.
Changes in grassland management
Those areas of acid grassland not in the management of the Corporation of London may be threatened by changes in grassland management. Drainage, pesticide use, enrichment and different mowing regimes can all result in a more uniform sward with a decline in species associated with acid grassland.
Scrub encroachment
Cessation of grazing has meant scrub is beginning to increase within the grassland areas. Unless controlled the growth of scrub and woodland species will result in loss of habitat, decline in dependant species and a reduced landscape quality.
Amenity use
The growth of leisure activities has led to pressure for increased car parking and surfaced paths. Increased use has resulted in erosion especially from bikes, walkers, and horse riding, and in disturbance to reptiles and ground-nesting birds.
Nutrient enrichment
Air pollution and dog walking may alter the plant species present by increasing the amount of available nutrients within the soil. This will favour vigorous plants to the detriment of the fine leaved acid grassland species.
Current action
Legal status
All of the areas of acid grassland described are part of Epping Forest Special Area of Conservation, to which the 1994 Habitats Directive applies. Leyton Flats, Gilberts Slade and many of the small patches are designated SSSI and although not part of the SSSI, Woodford Golf Course contains much habitat of identical quality.
Epping Forest is owned by the Corporation of London and protected under the Epping Forest Act 1878 as Public Open Space. The areas of acid grassland are identified as Metropolitan Green Belt and Principal Sites of Nature Conservation as defined in Waltham Forests Unitary Development Plan, 1996.
Management and restoration
The grasslands and heaths owe their existence and diversity to grazing. Cattle grazing is the ideal management tool for these areas, as it provides a varied sward height for different plants and insects and can create areas of bare ground for seedling establishment.
The Corporation of London's Epping Forest Team manage most of the acid grassland in Waltham Forest. Because of the difficulties and delay in securing cattle grazing, an interim mowing regime has been adopted to maintain the grasslands until such times that extensive grazing returns. This accepts the following provisos:
Mowing alone reduces grassland flower diversity and encourages coarse grasses.
Some Forest plants like Spiny Rest-harrow, Petty Whin, and Pepper Saxifrage are adapted to grazing but can be damaged and decline under a mowing regime.
Anthills cannot be mown.
Mowing on grasslands and heathlands reduces the insect diversity.
Mowing creates a problem of 'green waste' disposal.
Woodford and Chingford Golf courses cannot be easily managed by cattle grazing and as such need a detailed management plan to safeguard the areas of rough. The Corporation of London is currently drawing up such a plan. Recent Oak scrub is currently being removed from Woodford Golf Course, and overgrown gorse is being brought into a coppice rotation.
A National Vegetation Classification description is planned for 2001. This will provide information against which changes in species can be measured.
The Epping Forest Conservation Volunteers and the Epping Forest Centenary Trust both work on the various acid grassland areas from time to time.
Mechanisms targeting the habitat
London Acid Grassland Habitat Plan
Lowland Dry Acid Grassland
Epping Forest Management Plan
Waltham Forest Unitary Development Plan
Key species
Birds - skylark, meadow pipit, tree pipit, green woodpecker
Invertebrates - meadow ant, small heath
Plants - creeping willow, petty whin, tormentil, heath rush, heath grass
Objectives, action and targets
| Action | Target date | Lead | Other partners |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assess status of invertebrates | Nov 2002 | C of L | FHC |
| Carry out National Vegetation Survey | Sept 2002 | C of L | EN |
| Carry out a hydrological survey of Leyton Flats and produce a water level management plan | Dec 2002 | E A | C of L Consultants |
| Action | Target date | Lead | Other partners |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fence along A104 to reduce risk to graziers (area to be fenced is outside LBWF) | Mar 2002 | C of L | EFCV |
| Produce list of available graziers in Essex/ London Area | Nov 2001 | WFBAPP | EN |
| Encourage commoners to take up grazing in Epping Forest | Dec 2001 | C of L | |
| Consider reintroducing species known to have been lost, e.g. petty whin, tormentil, heath rush if locally available. | Once grazing is initiated | English Nature | C of L WFBAPP GLA |
| Action | Target date | Lead | Other partners |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reintroduce grazing (provisos as above) | 2005 | C of L | |
| Remove 90% of scrub invasion from Gilberts Slade. | 2004 | C of L, EFCV |
BTCV, LBCV |
| Identify and map scrub on Leyton Flats including scrub to be maintained. | Dec 2001 | WFBAPP | |
| Schedule scrub removal where needed on Leyton Flats. 25% removal of undesirable scrub in 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005. | 2005 | C of L | |
| Clear main areas of scrub from Woodford Golf Course | Apr 2002 | C of L, EFCV | BTCV, LBCV |
| Map and define areas for acid grassland expansion throughout the borough | Dec 2002 | WFBAPP | C of L |
| Action | Target date | Lead | Other partners |
|---|---|---|---|
| Draw up a management plan for Woodford and Chingford Golf Courses | Mar 2002 | GC managers C of L |
|
| Appropriate assessment to be undertaken before granting consent for developments in vicinity which may directly or indirectly affect acid grassland. | Aug 2001 | LBWF, LBR | LBWF, C of L EN, LBR EFDC |
| Produce an Air Quality Management Action Plan | Oct 2002 | LBWF | Env. Health All LBWF Depts |
| Action | Target date | Lead | Other partners |
|---|---|---|---|
| Produce interpretation panels for key entrance points to increase awareness of site | Sept 2002 | C of L LBWF |
|
| Produce leaflet aimed at existing/new users | Sept 2002 | C of L LBWF |
|
| Identify and raise awareness of all user groups | Feb 2002 | WFBAPP | User groups |
| Produce newspaper articles to increase awareness | 1 per year | WFBAPP | |
Put HAPs on councils web site and make links with other
web sites |
Nov 2001 | LBWF | |
| Promote local conservation groups and encourage volunteering | ongoing | WFBAPP | BTCV |
