Forever Meadows is a project based around the restoration and regeneration of threatened grasslands. We want to protect these magnificent areas so that they can be enjoyed by future generations. The project, funded by the SITA Trust, is concentrated on four main areas, West Lancashire, Chorley, St Helens and Knowsley.

 

Our disappearing meadows

Wildflower-rich habitats and their associated wildlife have suffered great losses due to the decline in traditional farming practices and the increase in intensive agriculture.

Lowland meadows are listed as a UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) priority habitat, highlighting the need for conservation of these threatened habitats. In addition to changes in farming practice, these areas are also under pressure from urban development.

Local authorities have given strong support to The Forever Meadows Project. Councils want to invest more in their local areas and demonstrate compliance to the new National Indicator 197 (the active management of local wildlife sites).

This new indicator has the potential to deliver improvements in biodiversity across a huge network of local wildlife sites, but such improvements will only be realised if local biodiversity partnerships can demonstrate practical measures that local authorities can support and take forward.

The project is focused on two clusters of grassland. One of these is centred on Chorley and West Lancashire districts and is representative of sites that are subject to the pressures associated with urbanisation.

 

The need for action

The scale of the loss and fragmentation of unimproved lowland meadow has proved disastrous for a number of key species. Two bumblebee species have become extinct in the UK during the 20th century and six bumblebee species are BAP listed as priority species for conservation action.

One in five native wildflower species is currently threatened with extinction, and specialist grassland butterflies have become highly localised due to a drastic decline in availability of the wildflowers their larvae depend on for food.

The main objectives of the Project are to:

• Assess and monitor the condition of candidate sites
• Identify, within each of the clusters, 15 sites on which to concentrate the resources of the project
• Undertake, commission and support practical grassland conservation management across selected sites
• Provide practical assistance, during the lifetime of the project, on grassland restoration and management to land managers

 

Achievements

The Forever Meadows Project aims to:

• Safeguard and enhance the rapidly declining grassland resource for future generations
• Deliver a long-term improvement in connectivity of grassland network
• Secure the genetic diversity of current sites
• Retain and enhance ecosystem services provided by meadowland
• Demonstrate a model for effective management of local wildlife sites to local authorities

For more information on the Forever Meadows Project, contact Ian Wright.