Most of this work is carried out in collaboration with scientific institutes, including The Open University, UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. Other clients have included the RSPB, Wildlife Trusts, Natural Resources Wales. 

The work usually involves long term botanical surveys of permanent plots linked to management changes or to long term hydrological monitoring. 

Floodplain Meadows: Ecohydrology

With the Open University 

We have been part of a team led by the Open University researching the hydrological requirements of the species of floodplain meadows and the impact of different flooding and cutting regimes on species distribution and hence community development. This work has involved long term monitoring of permanent quadrats, interpretation of hydrological data and the reclassification of some of the floodplain meadow communities.

A large number of reports and publications have arisen from this work, the key ones are:

Gowing, D.J.G, Lawson, C.S., Youngs, E.G., Barber, K.R., Rodwell, J.S., Prosser, M.V., Wallace, H.L., Mountford, J.O. and Spoor, G. (2002). The water regime requirements and response to hydrological change of grassland plant communities. DEFRA-commissioned project BD1310. Final report to DEFRA.
Wallace, H.L. and Prosser, M.V. (2007). Prediction of vegetation change at West Sedgemoor following changes in hydrological management. Report to RSPB, Natural England and the Environment Agency.
Wallace, H. and Prosser, M.V. (2017). A review of the National Vegetation Classification for the Calthion group of plant communities in England and Wales. Natural England Joint Publication JP021.
Gonzalo, Garcia-Baquero Moneo, David J.Gowing and Hilary Wallace. (2022). The contribution of the spatial hydrological niche to species diversity in rare plant communities of English floodplain meadows. Plant Ecology, 2022.
Prosser, M.V., Wallace, H.L, Gowing, D.J.G. (2023). Phytosociology informs the conservation of species-rich meadows in hydrologically dynamic habitats: an example from British floodplains in a wider European context. British and Irish Botany 5(1), 1-29.