Surveying the Outback's Flora

 

This is the second year of the survey,  and again I owe a big thank-you to our great volunteers who in return for cake, spend an hour identifying plants in the hot sunshine!

Survey Type and Method

Survey Type: A Rapid Grassland Assessment (As recommended by Plantlife)

  • We can assess grassland condition and monitor the restoration and creation progress.
  • Its suitable for fields.
  • Suitable for detecting short and long term changes.
  • There is an existing protocol with template recording sheet with a species list which can be added to make it a bespoke survey.

Method:

  • The template recording sheet was amended to make it site specific, ie adding on the list of plants that were identified in 2021 in the Outback but not formally surveyed.
  • 15- 18 Sample points using 1m sq quadrants – time dependant. 5-6 no in the NE / NW / SE sections of the Outback.
  • Grid method given the shape of the field and to a capture boundary. Grid locations to be located approximately on a plan.
  • Analysis of indicator species
    • Used to measure environmental conditions to find out if grasslands are in a good or poor state and measure change.
    • They are divided into positive and negative indicators.
  • Identifying ecological variables that indicate site condition

Survey Results 2023

15/06/22

21 positive indicator species were recorded including some shrubs and trees and 2 negative indicator species.  Of the 15 sample points most of the plants were rye grass, a legacy of its use as permanent pasture. The biodiversity and incidence of wildflowers is improving, especially in the N/E corner. Spring and later flowering plants could not be recorded in this survey, 2 Weeks later and Chicory was found in adjacent to a pond.

Survey Results 2022

24/06/22

19 positive indicator species were recorded including some shrubs and trees and 2 negative indicator species.  Of the 15 sample points the vast majority of the plants were rye grass, a legacy of its use as permanent pasture. Spring and later flowering plants could not be recorded in this survey