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Lookup NU author(s): James Riley, Dr David Rimmer
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Magnesian limestone grassland is one of the rarest plant communities in the UK. Over the past thirty years increased demand for the underlying stone has put the community at risk. Natural revegetation of former quarries is a slow process, and site restoration is therefore required to save the community from extinction. One of the aims of this project was to develop a strategy for the successful revegetation of magnesian limestone quarry sites with their original grassland community. A field experiment has been established to test various substrates (crushed limestone with and without added soil) and the benefit of sowing seed harvested from a nearby undisturbed grassland site. Results from the first two seasons indicated that the greatest species richness and abundance of desirable species (e.g. Trifolium pratense, Lotus corniculatus, Rhinanthus minor, Anthyllis vulneraria) was achieved on those plots that had seed sown onto finely crushed limestone and soil. Depth of the underlying layer of limestone rock did not have a significant effect on species richness.
Author(s): Riley JD, Rimmer DL, Brignall D
Editor(s): Moore, H.M., Fox, H.R., Elliott, S.
Publication type: Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstract)
Publication status: Published
Conference Name: 7th International Conference of the International Affiliation of Land Reclamationists
Year of Conference: 2003
Pages: 243-249
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Library holdings: Search Newcastle University Library for this item
ISBN: 9789058095626
