A typical hay meadowThe dales of the Yorkshire Dales National Park are well recognised internationally for the traditional agricultural landscape of hay meadows and pastures divided up by drystone walls. It is this landscape and its flower-rich meadows which attract the majority of people to visit the National Park. The most species rich of these grasslands have been managed in a consistent low intensity manner for decades. Little or no inorganic fertiliser will have been applied, meadows will have been cut once a year and pastures grazed lightly with a summer resting period. This type of management has lead to the development of diverse and species-rich flower meadow and pastures. The cranesbill meadows are internationally recognised. Grassland habitats in the dales are generally more intensively managed than other habitats and are particularly vulnerable to changes in farming practices such as the use of artificial fertilisers and silage-making.
Upland hay meadows
The crane's-bill meadows are some of the least agriculturally improved of the meadows in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. They are the typically northern upland hay meadows associated with the cool, wet climate and growing season of the Pennine Dales.
Lowland hay meadows and pastures
Meadows characterised by crested dog’s tail and common knapweed are generally associated with lowland areas and are more widespread nationally.
The majority of pastures in the Yorkshire Dales National Park are largely agriculturally improved. However, there are a number of pastures which, due to less intensive management, are more species-rich.
Small dales wetlands
These wetlands include marshy grasslands dominated by Molinia, those with a high proportion of rushes and sedges and communities dominated by meadowsweet and marsh marigold.
Dales lakes and ponds
Natural lakes and ponds are few and far between in the dales of the National Park. The biodiversity value of many of these has been lost due to widespread drainage and fertiliser enrichment. Two examples do however stand out Eshton Tarn and Semerwater.
Hedgerows
Most of the hedgerows in the Yorkshire Dales are relatively poor in the number of shrub species they support. Hawthorn is the main species followed by elder, rose species, blackthorn and in some areas, crab apple. The richest type of hedgerows contain five to ten species with hazel a component of older, richer hedgerows.
Find out more about hedgerows
Improved grassland
The less intensively managed grasslands are becoming rarer in the Yorkshire Dales as they are replaced by more productive intensively managed agricultural swards. These are characterised by the presence of perennial rye-grass with a general decrease in overall species diversity.
Arable land
There is very little arable land in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, occurring mainly in the lower parts of Wensleydale. The area is however increasing with the main crop being fodder maize.
