Overlying soft chalk and limestone rocks, lowland calcareous grasslands have developed on shallow lime-rich soils. They are of particular importance for their botanical and invertebrate interest, and constitute one of the most diverse habitats in Northern Europe, with up to 40 plant species per square metre. Low fertility is a particular feature of this grassland, especially the lack of nitrogen and phosphorous. This has allowed stress tolerant species to dominate.

In Britain and northwest Europe the majority of unimproved calcareous grassland has been lost largely through agricultural intensification resulting in chalk grassland becoming an internationally threatened wildlife habitat. The MoD acquired Salisbury Plain for military training early last century and this large expanse of lowland grassland has consequently not been subject to intensive farming methods. As a result, approximately 14000 ha of chalk downland remains which supports 13 species of nationally rare and scarce plants, 67 species of rare and scarce invertebrates and forms a site of international importance for birds.

To download the Fact Sheet on Chalk Grasslands, click here (pdf, 559 KB)