Arable plants are species that prefer disturbed or cultivated ground, and have therefore become strongly associated with arable farmland. Unlike many other plants, these species are able to establish communities and set seed within the short growing season of arable crops. While many arable plant species are annuals, an arable plant community can be quite stable and therefore the identification of established or diverse sites is very important.

Arable field margins are important for wildlife and are now the main place where scarce arable plants can thrive. For more information on arable field margins, please refer to to the Habitat Guidance page.

The following 2016 report includes an assessment of the status of scarce arable plants in Greater Lincolnshire. 

Scarce arable plants report 2016