What's going on?

Herb-rich grassland is an important measure in meadow bird management. Herb-rich grassland with an open vegetation structure and a greater variety of plants and insects is a crucial growing habitat for meadow bird chicks. The quality of herb-rich grassland determines the added value for both meadow birds and farmers. In practice, there is significant variation in the quality of herb-rich grassland, and the level of herb richness is sometimes disappointing.

What is the project doing about it?

The aim of the project is to gain insight into the factors that explain the variation in herb-rich grassland. This is achieved by measuring soil quality (chemical, biological, physical), vegetation structure, crop yield and quality, and insects. Demonstration fields are established to experiment with quality by adjusting management practices.

What does the project deliver?

The project will provide new insights into the variation in the appearances of herb-rich grassland in practice. These tools can be used in practice to improve the quality of herb-rich grassland for both farmers and meadow birds.

Project information

Professor: Martijn van der Heide, Biodiversity in Rural Areas
Project duration: 2026
Project partners: Louis Bolk Institute, Agricultural Collectives

Downloads

• Newsletter november 2023 (Dutch)
• Newsletter april 2023 (Dutch)