Grassland

The launch of the UGS Grassland Farmer of the Year competition took place on the farm of last years winner Gordon Mitchell, Banbridge who is pictured centre with Rodney Brown, Danske Bank (Sponsor) and David Linton, President, Ulster Grassland Society.

The Sustainable Grassland Farmer of the Year Award is now in its seventh year and recognises the best grassland farmers in the country who are growing and utilising more grass on their farms.

Other areas are either a dry heath/acidic grassland mosaic, characterised by heaths and western gorse (Ulex gallii), or semi-improved acidic grassland in which Yorkshire fog (Holcus lanatus) is abundant.

An example of a recent successful application is ‘Pasture for Life’, a project supporting farmers to produce beef from cattle fed only on grassland.

A number of police vehicles were seen on Ropery Lane below Willington Dene Viaduct on Thursday afternoon, with specialist search teams scouring the grassland using long sticks underneath the bridge between Hadrian Road and Howdon Metro stations.

A Shropshire farmer who saved a small pedigree beef herd from being divided at auction said the introduction of the native cattle to his farm has helped him improve his traditional grassland and benefitted farm biodiversity.

A spokesperson said: “The land within the scheme is planned to continue to be home to grazing livestock and that a broader range of biodiversity often thrives with the switch from arable fields to permanent grassland.

Broomewood, a delightful grassland and residential farm of 124 acres, is coming to the market through land agents Galbraith and Oates Rural.

But lower elevations, like the Great Basin's shrub- and grassland-dominated ecosystem, could see fire danger starting earlier in the year if the land dries out.

Councillors have approved a new drainage scheme so the development of 13 affordable bungalows for the over-55s on a patch of grassland can proceed.

Dan Svingen is the District Ranger for the Fort Pierre Ranger District, which manages the Fort Pierre National Grassland.

Glow worms emit a bioluminescent green glow to attract a mate within their grassland habitats.

Grassland grazed by traditional breeds has been restored to its natural state, trees will be planted in suitable places, work on a market garden has begun and there are plans for pockets of productive “forest gardens” on woodland edges.

It was also explained in planning documents that new hedgerows and woodland planting was part of the proposals, along with the creation of species rich grassland and pasture and the management of existing hedgerows.

Native grassland plants have suffered the most but many lake or wetland plants have also declined, with farming and forestry destroying many habitats on which wild Irish plants depend, the report said.

She added: ‘Australopithecus afarensis would have roamed areas of open wooded grassland as well as more dense forests in East Africa around three to four million years ago.

Strong winds can also move faster over a grassland than they would through a forest, where they face friction against trees.

The beginning of spring means the return of migratory birds in Ohio, including shorebirds, waterfowl, songbirds, hummingbirds and grassland birds.

The blaze, which started from a stubble burn, destroyed 309 hectares of mainly grassland on private property.

The National Park spokesman added: “Chalk grassland, often called ‘Europe’s rainforest in miniature’, is an internationally-important habitat and was one of the reasons for the designation of the South Downs National Park in 2010.