Traditionally, London’s grasslands were managed as hay meadows or as pasture for grazing livestock. Today, although London’s excellent public parks are world-famous, areas full of wild flowers and grasses are particularly rare. The capital’s protected heaths and commons are therefore very special, offering a ‘near rural’ experience for Londoners.
Chalk grasslands London's chalk grasslands, mainly found in the south, are home to an incredible variety of plants and insects, including some nationally rare species. Nature reserves have been founded to protect and preserve them.
What are chalk grasslands? Chalk grassland develops on shallow lime-rich soils that are nutrient-poor and free-draining. In London it is found mainly on parts of the North Downs in the south and the Chilterns in the west. Chalk turf is dominated by various grasses. Since chalk, while easily eroded, is still a harder rock than many other sediments in southern England, it forms the characteristic rounded hills that have become known as 'downs'.
Whose habitat is it? Short turf is essential for many species that would not be able to compete with rank vegetation or need safe germination sites for their seeds. Chalk downs support an array of wildflowers, butterflies, grasshoppers and other inv
ertebrates. In spring and summer swathes of chalk flowers, such as oxeye daisy, man orchid and greater yellow-rattle, attract many species of butterfly, including the dark green fritillary and rarer chalkhill blue.
Conservation issues Chalk downs have declined in London, in part due to the abandonment of sheep grazing which stopped scrub invasion and kept grass short. Fertilisers, partial re-seeding and mowing, along with conversion to arable land has also contributed to the decline. The introduction of the Metropolitan Green Belt in 1949 prevented further significant loss, after the expansion of residential areas onto the chalk in the inter war period.
Where can I see this habitat?
Saltbox Hill
West Kent Golf Course
Meadows As some of London’s last remaining tracts of countryside, meadows make beautiful places for a spring or summer walk. The hedgerows, bright with spring blossom, provide excellent nesting and feeding sites for birds. Butterflies are abundant in summer when grasses and flowers bloom in the ancient hay meadows, while lush vegetation thrives in the ditches, providing shelter for amphibians.
What are meadows? They are small, flower-rich, agricultural grassland that is not intensively managed. They are unimproved and largely consist of a mixture of grasses including wild varieties.
Whose habitat is it? Among the most frequent grasses found in neutral meadows and pastures are Yorkshire Fog, smooth meadow grass, crested dog's tail, sweet vernal-grass, common bent and red fescue. Herbs include devil's bit scabious, pepper saxifrage, adder's tongue, ox-eye daisy, selfheal, black knapweed, bird's foot trefoil, meadow vetchling, clovers and buttercups. In the damper areas sneezewort, lady's smock, ragged robin, meadow sweet, yellow iris and kingcup can be found, as well as, very rarely, uncommon species such as narrow leaved water dropwort and slender tufted sedge.
Where can I see this habitat?
Dews Farm Sandpits
Frays Farm Meadows
Frays Island and Mabey’s Meadow
Totteridge Fields
Yeading Brook Meadows