Management statement

Overview

Falcon meadow is 1.7 hectares of damp semi-improved grassland in the town of Bungay. It is surrounded by water with the River Waveney to the south and a drain to the north. The soil is fertile and dominated by rank grasses and herbs such as nettle Urtica diocia and hemlock Conium maculatum. Marginal vegetation is found alongside the river and young willow (Salix sp.) and mature alder Alnus glutinosa line the northern ditch. Barn owls hunt on the meadow and otters have been recorded in the river. There is a damp, shallow depression dominated by reed sweet grass Glyceria maxima linking up to the drain towards the north western end of the meadow.

The site is regularly used for recreation with a public footpath running alongside the river.

Species-rich meadows and pastures are one of the most vulnerable habitats in lowland England, with estimates of their decline since 1945 at up to 97%.  A NWT report into the condition of Norfolk meadows, (The State of Norfolk’s Magical Meadows, NWT 2008), shows that over 60% of the sites visited were declining due to inadequate or inappropriate management.  Consequently, caring for sites such as this one represents a significant contribution to wildlife conservation in Norfolk.

Current site condition and management

The meadow has been cut at various times over the growing season. The cuttings have been left in-situ which has contributed to a build-up of nutrients allowing the more rank grasses and herbs to dominate. There is little scrub encroachment with scrub and trees confined to the northern ditch edge. Marginal and emergent vegetation is found alongside the river and the drain has both shaded and light areas with open water along most of the length.

Ideal site condition

• A species-rich sward dominated by herbs rather than rank grasses and nettle.
• Meadow area to remain open with little or no scrub and mature trees.
• The river bank would ideally have a floristically rich margin with species such as purple loosestrife Lythrum salicaria and water mint Mentha aquatica.
• Maintain open water in ditch and some marginal and emergent vegetation. Create light and shaded areas along the ditch by coppicing young willows and occasional mature alder trunks.
• Create area of open water connected to the drain in the current location of the reed sweet grass swamp; maintaining a marginal marshy area surrounding it.

Conservation priorities

• Improve the floral diversity of the meadow by reducing the fertility through cutting and removing arising’s or by grazing with cattle. Increasing the floral diversity will also lead to an increase in invertebrate diversity as many are plant-specific.
• If the site is to be grazed cattle are the preferred livestock. Their grazing style produces a longer, more desirable sward of 5-6cm compared to the 3cm of a sheep. They will graze in patches, selecting the most palatable vegetation, open up the sward by trampling, graze the litter layer and not graze around pats, creating a structurally diverse marshy grassland which benefits invertebrates and breeding waders. Cattle can also cope well with the wet site conditions. However, care should be taken not to overstock the field as this can result in a permanent reduction in biodiversity: a grazing density of 1 cattle /ha is recommended so 2 cattle would be suitable for Falcon meadow. Grazing from May/June – Oct/Nov (dependant on conditions)
• Alternatively if conditions allow the field could be cut for hay in mid-late June, with the aftermath grazed with cattle until September or before if the grass runs out.
• If grazing is deemed unsuitable the site can be cut once (or twice if the regrowth is strong) from mid-June to September. Cuttings must be removed off site or piled up away from the River.
• Keep the meadow open and free of trees or scrub.
• Cut the marginal vegetation adjacent to the river in patches on a three year rotation to prevent rank grasses, herbs and scrub suppressing other plants.
• Maintain the aquatic and marginal diversity of the northern drain by keeping some areas shady and some open to light. Coppice young willow and alder in rotation along the banks and occasional mature alder trunks. If the willow becomes invasive cut and treat stumps with glyphosate to prevent re-growth.
• Restore the drain running south off the northern drain that is currently dominated by reed sweet grass swamp. Remove central areas of swamp and create an area of open water with shallow banks merging into a marginal vegetation zone.

Management recommendations