Lowland Dry Acid BNG Units

Lowland dry acid grassland occurs on nutrient-poor, acidic soils, often sandy or gravelly. It supports a mix of fine grasses, mosses, lichens and small rosette forming herbs such as sheep’s sorrel, bird’s foot trefoil and mouse ear hawkweed. Grazing and light disturbance maintain the open mosaic structure that supports its characteristic species diversity. 

Lowland Dry Acid Grassland habitat typically occurs on nutrient-poor, free-draining soils with a pH between 4 and 5.5 and supports a characteristic range of grasses, herbs, lichens, and mosses. It is usually managed as a pasture. mainly in the warm, dry lowlands of southern England, including Breckland, the Suffolk Sandlings, the New Forest and Dorset and Wealden heaths.

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Soil and Site Requirements 

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Lowland dry acid grassland forms on acidic soils with a pH of 4.0 to 5.5. Substrates are nutrient poor, free draining sands, gravels or acid rocks with shallow topsoils. Phosphorus and nitrogen levels must remain low. Compacted, heavily limed or fertilised soils are unsuitable. 

Inputs 

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 • Allow natural colonisation where adjacent acid grassland is present 

 • Sow pioneer or nurse grass mixtures at appropriate rates 

 • Introduce green hay from local donor sites to supply seed 

 • Maintain low soil nutrients and control invasive perennial weeds 

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Management 

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 • Apply managed grazing to maintain open structure 

 • Use controlled disturbance to support germination and diversity 

 • Avoid heavy machinery that damages fragile soils 

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Landscape 

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 • Restore grassland close to existing acid grassland or heathland mosaics 

 • Use local green hay to retain local character 

 • Position creation where long term grazing management can be secured