In 2020, we started with our first project to convert 185m² of residential garden into a chalk grassland. This restoration project is situated in the northwestern region of North Holland in the Netherlands, only 5 kilometers from the North Sea coast. Historically, this area was a beach ridge that stood 3 meters above sea level and later transitioned into a pasture for grazing animals. The sandy clay soil, enriched with natural deposits from the sea including seashells, now supports an alkaline biotope.
Chalk grasslands are a rare example of a high-biodiversity ecosystem that was created and maintained by human activity, specifically by low-intensity grazing and mowing. Described by naturalists as Europe’s rainforests, the botanical diversity of chalk grasslands can build up to 40 plant species in just one square metre. However, chalk grasslands are considered vulnerable at the EU level and even endangered to critically endangered in Germany and the Netherlands.
We have identified the plant species that are currently missing from this grassland and are likely to flourish once introduced. This selection is intended to enrich biodiversity and restore the ecological balance of the grassland. Common and endangered plant species we are introducing include various types of grasses and wildflowers such as:
Common
Bird’s-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)
Broad leaved thyme (Thymus pulegioides)
Common sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia)
Great Burnet (Sanguisorba officinalis)
Greater knapweed (Centaurea scabiosa)
Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia)
Heal-all (Prunella vulgaris)
Kidney vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria)
Large speedwell (Veronica austriaca)
Mouse-ear hawkweed (Pilosella officinarum)
Narrow-leaved rattle (Rhinanthus angustifolius)
Ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata)
Small burnet (Sanguisorba minor)
St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum)
Wild basil (Clinopodium vulgare)
Wild carrot (Daucus carota)
Wild marjoram (Origanum vulgare)
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Yellow bedstraw (Galium verum)
Endangered
Betony (Betonica officinalis)
Blue fleabane (Erigeron acris)
Carline thistle (Carlina vulgaris)
Carthusian pink (Dianthus carthusianorum)
Clustered bellflower (Campanula glomerata)
Common agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria)
Common milkwort (Polygala vulgaris)
Common rock-rose (Helianthemum nummularium)
Cowslip (Primula veris)
Devil’s-bit (Succisa pratensis)
Dragon’s teeth (Lotus maritimus)
Dropwort (Filipendula vulgaris)
Field garlic (Allium oleraceum)
Field scabious (Knautia arvensis)
Field wormwood (Artemisia campestris)
Hoary plantain (Plantago media)
Hog’s fennel (Peucedanum officinale)
Horseshoe vetch (Hippocrepis comosa)
Meadow clary (Salvia pratensis)
Meadow oat-grass (Helictochloa pratensis)
Meadow sage (Salvia pratensis)
Purging flax (Linum catharticum)
Quaking grass (Briza media)
Rampion bellflower (Campanula rapunculus)
Rough hawkbit (Leontodon hispidus)
Saxifrage (Pimpinella saxifraga)
Sickle medick (Medicago falcata)
Small scabious (Scabiosa columbaria)
Spiny restharrow (Ononis spinosa)
Spotted knapweed (Centaurea stoebe)
Spring cinquefoil (Potentilla pusilla)
Spring sedge (Carex caryophyllea)
St Bernard’s lily (Anthericum liliago)
Stiff hedgenettle (Stachys recta)
Wall germander (Teucrium chamaedrys)
Current status: We have successfully established a thriving population of nearly all of the above mentioned plant species through our seeding tests conducted between 2020 and now. For the endangered plant species, you can find updates here. Additionally, we are conducting ongoing seeding tests for other species.
