Upland Hay Meadow BNG Units
Very high
Grassland
Trusted by Developers and Landowners
What is Upland Hay Meadow?
Upland hay meadows are species rich grasslands dominated by a mix of fine grasses and abundant herbaceous wildflowers such as sweet vernal-grass, wood crane’s-bill, great burnet, pignut, and lady’s mantles.
These meadows have developed through long term traditional management that combines light grazing with a late summer hay cut. Rare species including lesser butterfly-orchid and burnt orchid are sometimes found.
This habitat is a dense mix of grasses and a wide variety of wildflowers, with no single grass species dominating the vegetation.
Why It Matters for BNG
Upland hay meadows deliver very high distinctiveness units and contribute significantly to BNG targets. They showcase visible, species rich outcomes valued in planning.
Traditional hay cutting and aftermath grazing create high value BNG supply. Meadows align with low input upland farming and long-term stewardship.
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Where You'll Find It
Upland hay meadows are confined mainly to upland valleys in northern England and parts of Scotland. Key areas include the North Pennines, Lake District and County Durham, with smaller areas in Perthshire and Aberdeenshire.
These meadows typically occur on brown earth soils at altitudes between 200m and 400m and are managed traditionally for hay production or as grazed fields in upland landscapes.
Soil & Site Requirements
Upland hay meadows favour well drained brown earth soils with a pH above 5.5. Nutrient levels must remain low, particularly phosphorus. Sites are usually level or gently sloping and subject to traditional hay meadow regimes. The soil is usually neutral, reasonably fertile, and well-drained, supporting lush vegetation suitable for hay production.
How New Upland Hay Meadow Is Created
Inputs
• Prepare the seedbed carefully before sowing
• Use locally sourced seed or green hay from species rich donor meadows
• Avoid fertiliser and control perennial weeds before seeding
• Encourage natural colonisation where local sources are available
Management
• Cut for hay in late July to early August
• Apply aftermath grazing following the hay cut
• Maintain low intensity management to support establishment
Landscape
• Restore meadows close to existing species rich grassland to maintain local character
• Use green hay from nearby upland meadows to retain local genetic diversity
• Position creation where long term management and monitoring can be secured
How Existing Upland Hay Meadow Is Improved
Inputs
• Control invasive or undesirable species
• Spread green hay to increase species diversity
• Apply small amounts of farmyard manure only where appropriate to maintain structure
Management
• Maintain traditional cutting and aftermath grazing
• Adjust timing to match flowering and seed set in different years
• Avoid overgrazing or complete neglect, both of which reduce species richness
• Protect indicator species such as wood crane’s bill and lady’s mantles
Landscape
• Restore adjacent land to enlarge existing meadows
• Reinstate traditional hay meadow systems to strengthen landscape character
• Improve connectivity across upland valleys by linking species rich fields
Target Condition
Upland hay meadows in their defined BNG condition should:
• Support high plant diversity with a wide range of grasses and herbaceous species
• Maintain low nutrient status with no dominance of coarse grasses or weeds
• Demonstrate continuity of traditional cutting and grazing regimes
• Contain indicator species such as wood crane’s bill and lady’s mantle
• Present a balanced sward structure typical of MG3 grassland
The BNG Value of Upland Hay Meadow
• Distinctiveness: Very high
• Condition Potential: Can be maintained or enhanced through traditional hay cutting and aftermath grazing
• Restoration Pathway: Recognised outcome where traditional upland meadow management is restored or secured
• Strategic Value: Strengthens upland ecological networks and supports specialist plants, insects and birds
Species Typical of Upland Hay Meadows
Canopy or Primary Layer
• Sweet vernal grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum)
• Common bent (Agrostis capillaris)
• Wood crane’s bill (Geranium sylvaticum)
• Other grasses typical of MG3 communities
Shrub or Secondary Layer
• Sparse shrub cover
• Occasional berry bearing shrubs at edges
Ground Flora or Understorey
• Lady’s mantle (Alchemilla species)
• Pignut
• Great burnet
• Eyebrights (Euphrasia species)
• Devil’s bit scabious
• Meadowsweet
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Upland Hay Meadow?
Species-rich hay meadows found in upland areas (often dales), typically on neutral or slightly acidic soils. They are managed by taking a hay crop. It is a very rare priority habitat.
How is BNG measured here?
Condition is assessed based on the presence and abundance of a specific list of positive indicator species (e.g., Globe-flower, Wood Crane's-bill) and the management history.
How can I achieve BNG?
Enhancement requires restoring the traditional management regime: cessation of fertilizer and annual hay cutting after the flower/seed set (usually late July/August).
What is the BNG target condition?
A Very Good condition is the goal, requiring a high diversity and abundance of characteristic upland meadow wildflowers.
What management is required?
Annual late hay cut and removal, followed by aftermath grazing (or no grazing) over winter. Removal of the cuttings is vital for BNG success.
Exploring Other Habitats?
Lowland Beech and Yew Woodland
Lowland Beech and Yew Woodland is a priority broadleaved woodland habitat dominated by beech, and in some cases yew, on suitable lowland soils. These woodlands occur mainly on chalk and limestone scarps, as well as neutral and acidic lowland soils where beech has become long established. Many stands are ancient woodland, while others are long-standing secondary woods that now support characteristic beech woodland communities.
The habitat typically supports a closed beech canopy, sometimes with yew forming a secondary layer or pure stands on steep slopes. Ash, whitebeam, oak and holly may also occur depending on soil type and local conditions. Structure and ground flora vary according to geology and management history, reflecting recognised woodland NVC communities.
Wood-pasture and Parkland
Wood-pasture and Parkland are mosaic habitats of open grassland, heath or rough pasture with scattered open-grown trees. These trees are often ancient, veteran or historically pollarded and shaped by long-term grazing.
Unlike closed woodland, this habitat maintains a semi-open structure. Grazing animals prevent canopy closure, creating a landscape of individual trees, scrub clumps and open sward. Veteran trees with decay features such as hollows, rot holes, deadwood, and cavities are central to its ecological value. Animal dung, nectar-rich grassland and structural continuity support specialist fungi, lichens, invertebrates, birds and bats.
Many sites have historic origins in medieval forests, deer parks, and commons.
Upland Oakwood
An Upland Oakwood BNG habitat is an ancient, structurally rich woodland habitat found across the steep valley sides, hillslopes and rocky terrain of upland Britain. It is dominated by sessile oak, often growing alongside downy birch, rowan and hazel, and is characterised by a dense, mossy ground flora shaped by the cool, wet and acidic conditions of the upland zone.
These Woodlands have developed over centuries of low-intensity management and natural regeneration on thin, free-draining or rocky soils. Many are classified as ancient semi-natural woodland, supporting specialist bryophyte and lichen communities of international significance alongside a diverse invertebrate fauna, woodland birds and, in some stands, rare vascular plants.
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