Semi-natural grasslands (SNGs) are species rich and provide habitats for numerous invertebrates such as ground beetles. Managing SNGs by grazing affects the occurrence of ground beetles, as vegetation structure and biomass on which carabids thrive, changes. Ground beetles are also affected by canopy cover which limits amount of light reaching the ground. Exposure to sunlight raises body temperature in carabids which therefore increases their metabolic rate, in turn making them more active. This study assesses the community composition of ground beetles along gradients of sward height and canopy cover. As main effects, grass height and canopy cover are assessed in a generalized mixed-model analysis for effects on species and individual number of carabids in 18 sites. Overall, increase in canopy cover was found to be associated with decrease in both number of species and individuals, whereas higher grass (low grazing) significantly favored more species and individuals. Shannon’s diversity (H’) and Pielou’s evenness (J’) indices analyses were also considerably higher in extensively grazed sites, but with no effect of canopy cover. Carabids prefer high grass probably because it is essential for hibernation, refuge, foraging and reproducing while low canopy cover promotes diversity as higher sunlight enhances activity. High number of individuals but low H’ and J’ observed in some sites could be an indication that high grazing promotes dominance of certain carabid species in small communities. The findings of this study support proposals to maintain semi-natural grasslands with low intermittent grazing in order to promote high ground beetles’ diversity.