Mesic permanent pasture of lowlands and mountains

These are mesotrophic pastures on deep, well-drained, mesic soils occurring very commonly throughout temperate Europe, though more restricted in mountains to warmer and more Continental regions. Such pastures are the basis of stock-rearing across much of Europe but the grazing regime varies greatly, from rather intensive to light, year-round or only in summer and may involve cattle, horses, sheep, goats or various combinations of these. Semi-wild herds of horses or cattle may also be used in extensively grazed areas and wild herbivores such as deer, rabbits and hares may be locally important.

Transitions to E2.2 Low and medium altitude hay-meadows can occur, especially where these have been subject to increased grazing in spring and late summer but, in contrast to mown grasslands on similar soils, these pastures contain numerous leaf rosette plants and a smaller contingent of slender, taller grasses and herbs. Flowering is less concentrated in late spring than for meadows, but spread through the growing season. In well-managed grasslands of this type, much of the herbage is palatable and nutritious.

These grasslands are typically characterized by the combination of Cynosurus cristatus, Bellis perennis, Trifolium repens and Lolium perenne in lowlands and montane areas, and Poa alpina and Leontodon hispidus in upper-montane to alpine areas with some associated vicariant species pairs in these respective ranges, like Phleum pratense vs. Phleum rhaeticum, Trifolium repens vs. Trifolium thalii and Poa pratensis vs. Poa alpina. Other regional sub-types are found in southern Europe where, because of the favourable climate, the grasslands can be both grazed and mown, with Agrostis castellana, Carum verticillatum, Linum bienne, Orchis coriophora and Gaudinia fragilis in the south-west and Hordeum bulbosum, Trifolium incarnatum ssp. molinerii and Vulpia ligustica in the central and southern Apennines. 

There are also variations related to soil differences. On calcareous soils Plantago media, Briza media, Sanguisorba minor and Galium verum indicate transitions towards calcareous grasslands (Habitat E1.2a Semi-dry perennial calcareous grassland), while in acidic, nutrient poor conditions transitions towards species-poor calcifuge grasslands (Habitat E1.7a Lowland to submontane Nardus grassland) indicated by Nardus stricta, Potentilla erecta, Danthonia decumbens and Hieracium pilosella. In boreal regions Galium boreale is an additional species, in alpine areas Gentiana bavarica, Gentiana nivalis, Nigritella nigra and Crocus species are found in this habitat and on moist, severely trampled situations in high mountains, Poa supina may dominate.

Indicators of good quality

• Continuation of traditional grazing management

• Diversity of species-rich examples in different regions

• Presence of distinctive rare species

• Presence of fungi indicative for “old grassland”

• No increase of nutrients by fertilization addition or atmospheric nitrogen deposition

• No overgrazing with spread of unpalatable weeds, like Rumex spp., Cirsium spp. Senecio spp.

• No under-grazing with spread of palatable coarse grasses such as Arrheneatherum elatius

Synthesis of Red List assessment

Confidence in the assessment

Pressures and threats