Condition Assessment Criteria

Criterion passed (Yes or No)

A

The parcel represents a good example of its habitat type, with a consistently high proportion of characteristic indicator species present relevant to the specific habitat type (and relative to Footnote 3 suboptimal species which may be listed in the UKHab description).1
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Note - this criterion is essential for achieving Moderate or Good condition for non-acid grassland types only.

B

Sward height is varied (at least 20% of the sward is less than 7 cm and at least 20% is more than 7 cm) creating microclimates which provide opportunities for insects, birds and small mammals to live and breed.

C

Cover of bare ground is between 1% and 5%, including localised areas, for example, rabbit warrens2.

D

Cover of bracken Pteridium aquilinum is less than 20% and cover of scrub (including bramble Rubus fruticosus agg.) is less than 5%.

E

Combined cover of species indicative of suboptimal condition3 and physical damage (such as excessive poaching, damage from machinery use or storage, damaging levels of access, or any other damaging management activities) accounts for less than 5% of total area.
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If any invasive non-native plant species4 (as listed on Schedule 9 of WCA5) are present, this criterion is automatically failed.

Condition Assessment Result

Condition Assessment Score

Acid grassland types (Result out of 5 criteria)

Passes 5 criteria

Good

Passes 3 or 4 criteria

Moderate

Passes 2 or fewer criteria

Poor

Footnote 1 - Professional judgement should be used alongside the UKHab description.
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Footnote 2 – For example, this could include small, scattered areas of bare ground allowing for plant colonisation, or localised patches not exceeding 5% cover.
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Footnote 3 - Species indicative of suboptimal condition for this habitat type include:creeping thistle Cirsium arvense, spear thistle Cirsium vulgare, curled dock Rumex crispus, broad-leaved dock Rumex obtusifolius, common nettle Urtica dioica, creeping buttercup Ranunculus repens, greater plantain Plantago major, white clover Trifolium repens and cow parsley Anthriscus sylvestris. There may be additional relevant species local to the region and or site.
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Footnote 4 – Assess this for each distinct habitat parcel. If the distribution of invasive non-native species varies across the habitat, split into parcels accordingly, applying a buffer zone around the invasive non-native species with a size relative to its risk of spread into adjacent habitat, by applying professional judgement.
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Footnote 5 – Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended).

Wild Meadows and Bumblebees

Wildflower Meadow: creation and management in land regeneration

Grassland Restoration and Management

Managing Grassland Road Verges: a best practice guide

The effects of turf translocation and other environmental variables on the vegetation of a large species-rich mesotrophic grassland

The Good Verge Guide

Translocation of Herb-Rich Grassland from a Site in Wales Prior to Opencast Coal Extraction

The use of yellow rattle to facilitate grassland diversification TIN060

Lowland Acid Grassland: Creation and Management in Land Regeneration (Forest Research)

Lowland calcareous grassland: creation and management in land regeneration (Forest Research)

Lowland Neutral Grassland: creation and management in land regeneration (Forest Research)

Soil preparation for the creation of species rich grasslands (Forest Research)

Community translocation in Britain: setting objectives and measuring consequences

Synthesis on the effectiveness of soil translocation for plant community restoration

Charismatic megafungi: the conservation of waxcap grassland

Flowers in the grass: creating and managing grasslands with wildflowers

Assessing whether created or restored grassland is a BAP Priority Habitat. TIN110

Lowland Grassland Handbook

Available soil phosphorus in semi-natural grasslands: assessment methods and community tolerances

Sward enhancement: diversifying grassland using pot-grown wildflowers or seedling plugs TIN065

Creating attractive grasslands using native plant species

Sward enhancement diversifying grassland by oversowing and slot seeding TIN064

Sward enhancement: choice of methods TIN062

Seed sources for grassland restoration and re-creation in Environmental Stewardship TIN038