Upland limestone pastures

How

Upland limestone pastures can be grazed for most or all of the year, however grazing management will vary according to the location and altitude of the pasture. It is important to consider how different habitats within a pasture will respond to grazing, for example wetter areas may be damaged with heavy winter grazing. The proportions of these different habitats will also alter the quantity and nutritional value of forage available to livestock and hence the stocking rate and period.

Livestock selection

Upland limestone pastures provide good grazing for both sheep and cattle. Cattle create a more varied sward which benefits invertebrates and ground-nesting birds, and also enables more wildflowers to flower and set seed. Cattle are also better able to graze areas of coarse grasses such as mat-grass, blue moorgrass and tor grass, so can help to manage or reduce these more unpalatable species. Sheep will preferentially graze the more wildflower-rich ‘sweeter’ areas, leaving other areas relatively untouched.

Grazing calendar

As limestone pastures generally have thin, free draining soils they can be grazed at most times of the year without damaging the land. Reducing or ideally removing grazing for a 4-8 week period in the spring/summer will allow many plants to flower, which in turn provides valuable pollen and nectar for bees and other insects. Cattle are often the best grazing animal for this period as they are less likely to graze off flower heads. Reduced spring/summer grazing also reduces potential damage to ground-nesting birds and produces a more varied sward for a range of invertebrates, such as web spinning spiders.

Grazing off grass growth in autumn and winter is ideal as this is less likely to have an impact on wildlife. It is important to avoid significant poaching of the ground. Some taller grown tussocks should be left as winter cover for invertebrates. Spring grazing can be useful to manage more unpalatable grasses such as mat-grass and tor grass, however care must be taken to avoid grazing off early flowers such as orchids, and to prevent the trampling of nests.

Stocking rates

Stocking levels will depend on the proportion of different habitats present, however suggested stocking levels are 2 ewe/ha (or cattle equivalents), reducing to 0-1 ewe/ha for a 4-8 week period in the spring/summer. Grazing may be higher later in the year in order to remove the vegetation and create a varied sward height. Intensive or ‘mob’ grazing can also be undertaken, to remove any excess grass growth.

Grazing impacts on other habitats of limestone pastures

A range of other habitats can be found alongside the limestone grasslands. Areas of scattered scrub which can develop on steep slopes, limestone pavements and scree provide valuable food, nesting sites and shelter for birds and insects. A cattle-only grazing regime can allow some scrub regeneration, however sheep will readily browse young tree/scrub seedlings. Cattle-only grazing regimes will also allow wildflower and fern growth on areas of limestone pavement and scree, as unlike sheep, cattle will rarely move onto and graze these rocky areas.

Limestone flushes need some grazing to prevent them becoming dominated by vigorous growing sedges and rushes. Grazing must be carefully managed to prevent flushes becoming heavily poached. Providing alternative water supplies can help to prevent livestock concentrating around flushes and other wet habitats.

Areas of limestone heath and other heather/bilberry habitats may be susceptible to autumn/winter grazing as livestock move from grazing unpalatable grasses to more nutritious ‘dwarf shrubs’, so animals may need to be removed in early autumn.

Other farming management

Fertlisers, farmyard manure and lime should not be applied to upland limestone pastures as this will increase fertility to the detriment of wildflowers and other wildlife.