The types of grassland and the plants that grow in them are influenced by many factors including their current and past history of management, grazing (or lack thereof), aspect and slope, soil types and drainage. Some plant species are particularly associated with chalk or base rich soils and others with neutral or acid soils. Each type of grassland has its own special plants and grasses and these ‘indicator species’ can help identify what type of grassland is present.
Improved agricultural grassland
Most of Norfolk’s grasslands on farmland fall into this category. They can be recognised by a uniform green appearance at most times of the year. Surveying meadows more closely will show a dominance of grass species with few wild flowers. There might sometimes be good numbers of clovers present, as these may be included in agricultural seed mixes. Improved grassland will usually be either cut for silage or used for grazing livestock. In wet fields there may be substantial areas of rushes and species such as creeping thistle or ragwort can be present on improved agricultural grassland which has been neglected.
Chalk and basic/calcareous grassland
Chalk grasslands in Norfolk are mainly confined to the north-west of the county and to Breckland. In other areas chalk and basic grassland is often associated with human activity, which has scraped off the top soil to reveal the chalk below. Some road verges, railway cuttings, or archaeological sites such as ancient castles, forts or ecclesiastical sites may have small but important areas of this type of grassland.
When surveying a meadow look for:
- Greater knapweed
- Field scabious
- Kidney vetch
Click here for a more complete list of plants characteristic of basic grassland in Norfolk.
Neutral and boulder clay grasslands
The most likely areas to find this type of grassland are on the claylands of south central and north-east Norfolk. However, areas of neutral soils do occur in many areas of Norfolk - including, for example, the valley sides in Broadland and on the clay loams on the edge of Fenland.
When surveying a meadow look for:
- Germander speedwell
- Sulphur clover
- Cowslip
Click here for a more complete list of plants characteristic of basic grassland in Norfolk.
Acid grasslands
The largest remaining areas of acid grasslands in Norfolk are in Breckland and the acidic, sandy soils of the Cromer to Holt ridge. Acid grasslands can also be found in other parts of Norfolk and are often associated with heathland or former heathland areas.
When surveying a meadow look for:
- Bird’s-foot trefoil
- Common centaury
- Harebell
Click here for a more complete list of plants characteristic of basic grassland in Norfolk.
Marshy and fen grasslands
These grasslands are associated with peaty soils and may be found in Broadland, Fenland, along river valleys and in places where drainage is impeded.
When surveying a meadow look for:
- Water mint
- Meadowsweet
- Ragged-Robin