Natural England

9 April 2008

England’s best sites for wildlife are improving at a record-breaking rate under Natural England’s conservation management.

At the end of March, 82.7% of land designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)* in England was judged to be in a ‘favourable or recovering condition’.

Sir Martin Doughty, Chair of Natural England, said "The prospects are looking good for England's most important wildlife sites. This year, we have restored 8,000 hectares of upland peatbog in the Peak District, providing important habitat for threatened species such as Mountain hare and Golden plover, whilst also creating carbon and water storage; improved 15,000 ha of inter-tidal mudflat and saltmarsh supporting internationally important migrant populations of wildfowl and waders, and enhanced 4,000ha of the lowland heath, vital to all species of British reptiles and many rare plants.

"As a result of this year’s progress, more than 78,800 hectares of our most important habitats are now under favourable or recovering condition. Natural England could not have achieved this outcome without the hard work of many land managers and our other partners, and I congratulate them for that."

However, Sir Martin warned, "Whilst the natural environment is stabilising within designated sites, the same cannot be said for the wider environment. Early indications from our forthcoming State of the Natural Environment report show that the unprotected environment is not well equipped to deal with the threat of climate change, development, agricultural changes and other pressures - more has to be done to prepare and adapt to these issues."

Case studies

Some of the sites that have been brought into recovery this year and the habitats and species that have benefited are:

• In the East Midlands and East of England - over 15,000ha of the Wash SSSI have been improved through the agreement of a sustainable fishing policy with Eastern Sea Fisheries Committee. Here, the inter-tidal mudflat and saltmarsh support internationally important migrant populations of wildfowl and waders.

• In the South West - Around 100ha of Minchinhampton Common near Stroud in Gloucestershire, have been improved through partnership work with the Committee of Commoners and the National Trust, using Higher Level Stewardship (HLS). This site is important for lowland limestone grassland. It is a BAP priority habitat, important for its geological interest, particularly fossils. It is also home to a variety of important BAP species such as the Duke of Burgundy and Small blue butterflies, juniper and as a hibernacula for over-wintering Greater Horseshoe Bats.

• In the South-East - 4,000ha of the New Forest have been improved through agreeing the long-term management of the site with the National Park, Forestry Commission and land managers. The site supports all 6 native British reptiles (some of which are BAP species), 9 nationally rare plants and is considered one of the best sites in England for dragonflies.

• In the North East - Around 3,600ha of Bowes Moor in County Durham have been improved through an HLS agreement with shooting and grazing interests on the moor. This site has extensive tracts of blanket bog and upland heathland, both BAP priority habitats, supporting populations of breeding birds such as golden plover, curlew, snipe, lapwing, merlin and short-eared owl. Improved management of peat bogs like this also helps prevent soil erosion and maintain carbon balance, a factor affecting climate change.

• In East Midlands - 8,000ha of upland moorland have been brought into recovery through our work with Water Companies, National Trust, Peak District National Park and the Environment Agency. Our work on SSSIs here is also delivering a restored National Park landscape, a more enjoyable and interesting experience for millions of people, better water quality, improved carbon storage and potentially better regulation of future flood events.

Some of the Biodiversity Action Plan species which benefit from being on SSSIs include:

• High Brown Fritillery
• Sand Lizard
• Greater Horseshoe Bat
• Stone Curlew
• Yellow Marsh Saxifrage
• Lady Slipper Orchid
• Shoredock
• Glaucus Beard Moss
• Baltic Bog Moss