What are Meadows?
The term ‘meadow’ is strictly speaking used to describe grass fields which are grown for hay. However many hay meadows will also be grazed at some point and some fields which are predominantly used for grazing may also be cut for hay. For the purposes of these pages, a ‘meadow’ is taken to mean a small, flower-rich, agricultural grassland which is not intensively managed. This blanket term encompasses several different grassland types, which are distinguished by variations in the specific composition of their plant communities. These differences in plant species composition and hence grassland type, result from local variations in soil and climate. However, all meadows, whatever their specific differences, share certain features in common. • Meadows are permanent pastures. Permanent is taken to mean that they have not been ploughed within at least seven years. Indeed, they may never have been ploughed in living memory. They are therefore relatively undisturbed areas which have had time
