A review of the Flamborough Head and Bempton Cliffs Special Protection Area
13 June 2012
During Summer 2012 Natural England is undertaking informal dialogue with stakeholders about proposals for an extension to the existing Flamborough Head and Bempton Cliffs Special Protection Area (SPA).
As part of the UK government’s ongoing obligations under the Wild Birds Directive, Natural England has assessed recent breeding seabird data in the Flamborough and Filey areas, as well as recommendations from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) which followed survey work in the waters around a number of UK colonies.
The existing Flamborough Head & Bempton Cliffs Special Protection Area (SPA) was classified under the European Commission Conservation of Wild Birds Directive (‘the Birds Directive’) in 1993.
The new data shows that internationally important assemblages of rare sea birds extend beyond the original boundary of the SPA. Natural England is putting together a proposal for Defra's consideration that the existing SPA could be extended to include the stretch of coast line between Filey Brigg and Cunstone Nab, to include the diverse collection of breeding seabirds found there. Proposals also suggest extending the protection out to sea to a distance of 2km where the birds are sensitive to disturbance.
See A review of the Flamborough Head and Bempton Cliffs Special Protection Area (TIN121)
for more information or contact northernnorthseaspa@naturalengland.org.uk if you would like to discuss the proposals in more detail.
Further information on key species related to this SPA:
- Northern gannet (TIN122)
- Northern fulmar (TIN126)
- Atlantic puffin (TIN125)
- Razorbill (TIN124)
- Common guillemot (TIN123)
- Black-legged kittiwake (TIN128)
