Vascular plant and bryophyte species richness, and bryophyte diaspore bank were studied in 14 Estonian coastal meadows that had been under two different grazing pressures for ca. 10 years. The aim of the study was to compare the effects of grazing intensity on the diversity of these plant groups, and on the bryophyte diaspore bank. The results showed that (1) intensive grazing increased bryophyte diversity, but not that of vascular plants or the diaspore bank; (2) vascular plant diversity was suppressed by litter cover; (3) vascular plant and bryophyte diversities were positively correlated; and (4) the species composition remained unaffected by grazing intensity.