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34
STEWARDSHIP
Meadows and fields
Many habitats have been changed by people. One of the most common is the meadow. It exists because of the long-term care, or stewardship, of the farmer.
Meadows are places where grasses and other flowering plants thrive, but where trees are rare (picture ). Natural meadows are only common on high mountains where trees cannot grow. But they are also found in valley bottoms where farmers have cut down the trees to make grazing land for animals (picture ).
Many varieties of plants
As animals graze, they eat the shoots of trees so new trees can’t grow.
Meadows have more variety of grasses and flowering plants than any other place. This is because trees do not shade them out. Over 500 kinds of plants have been found in one meadow.
  This meadow consists of a variety of grasses whose flowers are on the top of tall thin stems. Many other plants can also be seen, including the yellow flower of a buttercup.
A wealth of animals
Even though farmers want the meadow to be used for their animals, there is also much wildlife. This is because meadows are a much better place to find food than woodlands.
Many birds nest in among the plants. The skylark is a common meadow bird that eats seeds and insects. It makes its nest on the ground and camouflages it.