Scotland's Wildlife – an assessment of biodiversity in 20

Figure 6.3
Change in extent of neutral grassland broad habitat between 1998 and 2007
Source: Countryside Survey 2007
Note: negative changes (losses) are scaled differently from positive changes (gains)
losses
70% unchanged
gains
6% conifer
10% other
14% improved grass
350000
300000
250000
200000
150000
100000
50000
0
-50000
-100000
area (ha)
The proportion of competitive species (tall perennials) and plants associated with
wetness increased. Species richness decreased (the total number of vascular plants
present, at the level of genus), as did plants important in the diet of a range of declining
lowland farmland birds, plants that provide food for butterfly caterpillars, and fast
colonisers associated with disturbance (ruderals).
Boundary features
The overall length of hedge and shrubby boundary features (46,500km in 2007)
decreased by 5.3% between 1998 and 2007: hedge (7.4%); lines of trees, shrubs and
relict hedges (7.1%).
In hedges, a number of botanical indices decreased: species richness (the total number
of vascular plants present, at the level of genus); plants important in the diet of a range
of declining lowland farmland birds; plants that provide food for butterfly caterpillars;
grassiness (grass:forb ratio, i.e. the log ratio of grass to forbs, where forbs typically
include meadow herbs such as buttercup & clover); and plants that tolerate or cast
shade.
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