The Survey is produced by the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology and sponsored by the DETR and others and is designed to reproduce detailed information about the habitats and landscape features that are important in the UK countryside. The report covers the period from 1991 to 1998 and illustrates that the 1990s have not been a period of destruction in the countryside.
Diversity in Arable Fields:
Plant diversity in arable fields increased. This was particularly so
in the boundaries of fields with rises of up to 38% reported. We believe
that this happened because fertiliser and herbicide use declined and
because fertiliser application became more accurate - (improved equipment
and training ensure that it is not spread into the hedgerows where it
is encourages invasive weeds and is wasted economically).
Hedgerows:
The total length of pure hedge was unchanged over the period at 450,000
km. Given losses in the early 1990s, the period from 1993 to 1998 showed
significant gains. Remnant hedge length declined but there was a increase
in the length of relict hedge and lines of trees. Overall the total
length of all types of hedge increased by
25,000 km.
Broadleaved
Woodland:
The stock of broadleaved woodland increased by about 5% to
around 1.5 million hectares. This represents around 6% of the UK land
area. Over the period the Forestry Commisssion reported that 75,000
hectares of new broadleaved woodland were planted under formal planting
schemes taking land out of agriculture.
Coniferous
Woodland:
Coniferous woodland is found on 1.4 million hectares and also represents
about 6% of the UK land area. The stock of this type of woodland was
stable. Coniferous woodland is now benefitting from the increased biodiversity
of having braodleaved woodland planted within it, thus reversing a trend
of earlier decades.
Water
Features:
The number of ponds and other inland water features in the
UK increased by about 24,000. Evidence suggests
that this was mainly due to an increase in the number of small ponds
and resevoirs. Significant improvement in the water quality of streams
and rivers was also noted although there appeared to be a reduction
in the diversity of streamside vegetation.
Water
Quality and Streamside Vegetation:
The biological condition of streams and small rivers improved in over
25% of sites. However, streamside vegetation became more overgrown and
plant diversity reduced. This reduction was due to less intensive
management resulting in the displacement of low growing species
with hawthorn and other woody shrubs.
Semi
Natural and Chalk Grasslands:
The survey produced dissapointing results for these grasslands with
both types recording a loss in area. There are no clear reasons defined
by the survey but we believe that this is a consequence of the collapse
in profitability of livestock farming. Land that has low potential is
either improved, converted to woodland, or left ungrazed where it quickly
returns to scrub.
Vegetation
Condition:
The survey illustrated trends towards increased biodiversity in crops
but decreases in many types of grassland. The decreases suggest a trend
towards conditions of higher fertility with less grazing that favours
tall woody plants at the expense of lower growing more diverse ecosystems.
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