Body
Common Standards Monitoring was developed to provide an agreed approach to the assessment of condition on statutory sites designated through UK legislation and international agreements.
The aim of this protocol is to establish a baseline, and implement ongoing monitoring of SSSI grasslands (MG4 and MG5 meadows, CG4 and CG5 chalk grasslands, U1 acid grassland) on NWT reserves.
Condition is assessed through structural attributes such as sward heights and bare ground, and frequency of positive and negative species. This method is not designed to compile a species list for the sites but will provide information on species richness and cover in order to assess the health of the habitats and if the site management is meeting requirements of agri-environment schemes.
Key attributes
Primary attributes: sward composition. Frequency of positive and negative indicator species, according to the NVC type within the quadrat. Additional information about abundance (percentage cover) is also useful.
Secondary attributes: sward height, litter accumulation, bare ground.
Protocol description
This protocol is carried out by completing a series of ticklists and measurements at points along a lazy 'W' walk-through of the meadows. Each point is a 2m2 quadrat where more than one surveyor is present, or a circle of 1m radius around a single surveyor.
Species presence is assessed using a ticklist of pre-defined positive and negative indicators. Although not necessary for CSM, percentage cover is also recorded within each 2m2. Likewise bare ground is assessed on whether it is present within each grid or not.
Sward heights are taken from an average of five measurements taken at random in each grid square, using a metre ruler.
Skill level
Surveyors should be able to identify the full list of positive and negative indicator species. Surveyors should have botanical skills consummate with a FISC Level 3 (see BSBI criteria).
Materials/equipment
- Map
- GPS & spare batteries
- Weather writer and pen/pencil
- Tally counters (for counting flowering spikes)
- Survey sheets
- Instructions / criteria
- Field keys
- Marker flags for marking out squares - bamboo canes if grassland sward very tall
- Metre sticks for sward measurements (in November)
Timing
Surveys are carried out at the peak flowering period, ideally May-June. Ensure that liaison is made to survey before the hay cut where applicable.
Method
Refer to methods in attached reference.