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Based on the spontaneous vegetation development of old‐fields in the Nyírség and Kiskunság sand regions (Hungary), we aimed to answer the following questions using the chronosequence method: (1) how do the proportions of different functional groups change during succession; (2) which target species establish successfully in the old‐fields during the course of succession; and (3) how successful is spontaneous succession in the recovery of target grasslands?

Two sand regions of the Great Hungarian Plain: (1) the Nyírség sand region (East Hungary, acidic sand, moderately continental climate) and the Kiskunság (Central Hungary, calcareous sand, continental climate).

Altogether 24 old‐fields were classified into young (<10‐yr‐old), middle‐aged (10–20‐yr‐old) and late‐succession (20–40‐yr‐old) old‐fields; four fields in each age category. For baseline vegetation reference …