Lowland meadows
Unimproved grasslands are characterized by a high diversity of plant species with a high ratio of broadleaved plants to grasses. There are many different classifications of unimproved grasslands depending on geology, soil pH, drainage, altitude and climate. Unimproved simply means not improved for agriculture by the addition of fertilizers or the sowing of grass species. Most grassland in the UK has been modified by the addition of fertilizers or reseeding to produce a more productive sward for grazing livestock or hay and silage crops. Unimproved grasslands are an increasingly rare and threatened habitat in the UK. Many have been, and continue to be, lost by agricultural intensification or scrub encroachment. It is estimated that Britain has lost more than 95% of its unimproved grassland since 1939.
In the Tees Valley, there are estimated to be 308ha of unimproved grassland. These occur as small scattered fragments throughout the Tees Valley area, with some of the steep sided valleys in East Cleveland being a stronghold locally. Key sites include Dunsdale Wood grassland, Plum Tree Farm Pasture, Saltburn Grange grassland, Ingleby Hill and Redworth grassland.
