Accounting for Nature: Assessing habitats in the UK countryside
3.   Enclosed Farmland - Arable and Horticultural, Improved and Neutral Grasslands

Arable and Horticultural and Improved Grassland are the most extensive Broad Habitats in the UK. Their stock has changed little between 1990 and 1998. There was some evidence for increasing plant diversity in the Arable Broad Habitat, especially in the margins of the fields. In Improved Grassland plant diversity declined and nutrient levels may have increased. Neutral Grassland, which includes some species-rich hay meadows as well as areas of unmanaged grassland, covers less than 4% of the UK. These grasslands showed losses in stock in Scotland and Northern Ireland but gains in England and Wales.

Contents of chapter 3 Introduction Characterising the Broad Habitats of enclosed farmland Broad Habitats of enclosed farmland: stock and change The condition of the Broad Habitats of enclosed farmlands - Arable and Horticultural - Improved and Neutral Grassland Conclusions and implications

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