Background on grassland habitats.

Grassland habitats

Grassland as a habitat

Grassland covers a quarter of all the land on the planet, more than any other plant and it feeds more wildlife than any other plant too. Grasslands include

The Prairies of North and South America
The Savannahs of Africa
The Steppes of Asia (The central Asian Steppe goes a third of the way round the planet)
The Veldt in South Africa

It even grows in the Arctic.

Above video shows some examples of grassland in the UK.

Living Organisms found in UK Grasslands.

Here are some examples of the plants and animals which can be found in the different UK Grassland habitats. Use it to show learners what to look for or as a review of what they may have seen.

Some things you may see in UK Grasslands...

Grass as a plant

Grass exists where ever there is a little rain, but not enough to sustain a forest

Grasses characteristics allow it to be grazed without the growing point being touched - it grows from a protected part at the base of its stems.

Grass in the UK

Grass in this country is cultivated as a fodder for various farm animals such as sheep and cattle. This can either be as part of an arable rotation with the grass being sown and grown for a few years before being ploughed up and followed by an arable crop . Grass is also grown as permanent pasture which is never ploughed up or replaced. This permanent grass is what generally covers much of the land which could not otherwise be farmed in this country as it is too wet or too steep. Places like the moors and highlands, but also land which could be cropped but is not such as parkland and commons.

Habitats - grassland