Page 7 - Conservation Impact Report 2016

Conservation Impact Snakes-head fritillaries

■■ On areas restored to meadow communities from
arable; characteristic species indicative of MG4 and
MG5 meadows dominate, bird’s-foot trefoil (Lotus
corniculatus) is over 60% abundant and common
knapweed (Centaurea nigra) over 30% abundant.

■■ Green-winged orchid (Anacamptis morio)
populations are located on at least five meadow
sites. Populations vary greatly on an annual basis,
but on average number in their thousands.

■■ One meadow site supports a nationally significant
population of snake’s-head fritillary (Fritillaria
meleagris). The population varies annually as a
result of changes in the hydrological conditions,
such as prolonged flooding. However, meadow
management through taking a hay cut and
aftermath grazing is essential to provide the
environmental conditions required by the species
(see Figure 2).

Figure 2. Snakes-head fritillary population trend on one meadow site

14 R.M. Fuller, The Changing Extent and Conservation Interest of Lowland Grasslands in England and Wales: A Review of Grassland Surveys 1930–1984,
1987
15 UK Biodiversity Action Plan; Priority Habitat Descriptions. BRIG (ed. Ant Maddock) 2008 UK Biodiversity Action Plan; Priority Habitat Descriptions.
BRIG (ed. Ant Maddock) 2008.(Updated July 2010)
16 D.B. Hayhow et al., State of Nature 2016, The State of Nature Partnership, 2016
17 M Eaton et al., Birds of Conservation Concern 4: The Population Status of Birds in the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man, British Birds 108, December
2015, p. 708–746

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