Interesting information about wet meadows

What are wet meadows? 

Wet meadows are wet or damp meadows. They are largely free of trees (open landscape) and are characteristic of floodplain landscapes. 

 

How do wet meadows form? 

 In the southern Leine floodplain they have developed as a result of occasional flooding from nearby bodies of water. They have a high water table. 

 

What plants grow in wet meadows? 

Grasses and perennial herbaceous plants that grow back quickly after mowing grow here. The most common is the dandelion, which makes the meadows look like a yellow carpet in spring. 

 

How are meadows structured?

The flowering layer contains the flowers of the plants. This is where nectar-gathering insects such as bumblebees, bees and butterflies forage. 

The leaf layer contains the stems and leaves of the plants. They provide a habitat for insects such as grasshoppers. Spiders spin their webs here and hunt for prey. 

The top soil layer is the litter layer. It consists of freshly fallen and slightly decomposed leaves. Snails, ground beetles, grass snakes and tree frogs live here. 

The plant root layer is home to animals such as worms. 

 

Are wet meadows mowed? 

Wet meadows are usually mown twice a year. The first mowing, or haymaking, takes place at the end of June. The second mowing (aftermath) takes place at the end of August. 

Meadows are normally mown in sections and the edges of the meadows are kept as they are to protect the animals and plants. 

The cuttings should be left for a few days if possible. This allows the plants to drop any seeds to the ground and the meadow's inhabitants to retreat. 

Was unterscheidet Feuchtwiesen von  Weiden?

 

What is the difference between wet meadows and pastures? 

Pastures are agricultural grassland that is not waterlogged. Animals such as cattle, horses, sheep or goats graze on them. They keep the vegetation short. 

 

Which animals live on wet meadows? 

The high water content means that different animals live here than on dry meadows. 

The most famous inhabitant of wet meadows is the white stork. 

Mammals find food and shelter here. Moles, on the other hand, avoid this area. 

 Amphibians lay their eggs in wet meadows. Common toads and grass frogs come in spring to mate and sound their mating call in the evening. 

Originaltext

 Many beetles, grasshoppers, hymenopterans such as bees and hornets, butterflies and spiders live in wet meadows. Some depend on nearby water to lay their eggs. 

 

What is the importance of wet meadows for nature? 

Wet meadows are an important habitat for meadow breeding birds such as the lapwing, skylark and corncrake. These birds need an open area to breed. This means it is important that wet meadows are regularly mown and kept free of large bushes. 

Many species of geese gather here in autumn. 

 

Are wet meadows under threat? 

Wet meadows that are outside of nature reserves are often at risk, as over-fertilisation, land consolidation and the use of pesticides are not prohibited in these areas. 

This means the quality of this habitat is being destroyed. As a result, colourful flowering meadows are becoming increasingly rare, and the diversity of insect and plant species is decreasing.

Wet meadows face an even greater threat of destruction than other habitats: as rivers are regulated and drained, they dry out and are converted into farmland or pasture. 

 

What animal can create wet meadows through its building activity? 

 

The beaver. If it builds a dam, it can cause flooding in neighbouring areas. If a meadow is affected, it becomes a wet meadow. This becomes a new habitat for many rare animals and plants. 

 

Can this building activity lead to conflicts? 

 

Conflicts arise if the meadow was previously used for agriculture. 

The farmer is no longer able to mow the waterlogged meadow because the heavy farm machinery cannot get through and there is a risk of it breaking. No hay can be harvested. 

As the beaver is strictly protected, it cannot be removed.

In the event of a conflict, farmers can seek advice from the Ökologische Station Mittlere Leine (Central Leine Ecological Station − ÖSML) in Laatzen-Grasdorf. A decision on possible measures to avoid conflicts is always made by the Untere Naturschutzbehörde (Local Nature Conservation Authority) of the Hanover region.