Grassland restoration has become a key tool in addressing the drastic losses of seminatural grassland since the mid-twentieth century. This study examined the restoration by green hay transfer of upland hay meadows, a particularly scarce and vulnerable habitat, over an 11-year chronosequence. The community composition of 18 restoration meadows was compared with that of donor reference sites in two study areas in the Pennine region of northern England. The study investigated: differences in community composition between donor and restoration meadows; transfer of upland hay meadow target species; and the effect of time and isolation from neighboring meadows on the community composition of the restoration meadows. Results showed that restoration meadows differed from donor meadows in that some target species were easily transferred whilst others were not found in the restoration meadows, or were at low levels of cover. Time had a significant effect on the community composition of the restoration meadows, but the similarity between restoration sites and donor sites did not increase with time, and the effect of isolation was not significant. The study showed that the green hay transfer method increases botanical diversity and is an important first step in meadow restoration. However, further restoration activity, such as seed addition, is likely to be required if restoration sites are to resemble closely the reference donor sites. Implications for Practice• Green hay transfer is a valuable technique for the first phase of the restoration of upland hay meadows where site conditions and management regimes are favorable. • A limited suite of target species can be successfully transferred using this method but, over time, the meadow community should be monitored to assess fluctuations in key species, and decisions should be taken on how and when to introduce missing target species, e.g. by further seed addition. • The isolation of the restoration site from other similar plant communities does not appear to be a barrier to initial establishment of target species following green hay transfer, although it should be considered in initial decision-making if long-term restoration is to rely on subsequent colonization from existing populations.

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Figure 1. EGD indicating circumferential black ulceration of the distal esophagus with clear demarcation (arrow).

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