The Origin and Structure of the Grassland Types of the Central North Downs

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Abstract
Attention is drawn to the variability of the "grassland" in this area, and the presence of atypical communities. A brief summary of the history of land utilization on the North Downs is given in addition to the results of detailed investigations concerning the histories of particular sites studied. A comparison is made between the floristic composition of sites known to have been arable, of about half a century reversion, ex-arable abandoned more recently, cleared scrubland, an ex-woodland site and undisturbed Festucetum ovinae and Brometum erecti. The failure of grasses to gain dominance in the areas of broken downland is noted together with the great abundance of the more constant grassland plants in the area. The almost complete absence of Bromus erectus appears to be a feature of these sites, although this grass is constantly present in the district. Other chalkland grasses are represented. The development of such communities is traced through the recent ex-arable. The differing histories of these downland areas are reflected also in the bryophyte layer. Microclimate is shown to be a great influence but the complete cover of the more constant species and the absence of the characteristic and rarer calcicoles appears characteristic of the older disturbed sites.