The typical kind of traditionally-managed meadow on deep, well-drained, mesic soils throughout the mountains of Northern and Central Europe where there is a short cool growing season. There are many local types differing according to regional climate, terrain and farming traditions but the vegetation is typically dominated by mixtures of productive grasses and herbs and can be species-rich with distinctive scarce and rare plants where traditional regimes of mowing, grazing and dunging are maintained. Often once part of wider agricultural landscapes with associated pastures, good examples of the habitat now often survive more fragmentarily and transitions to silage grassland are widespread.