Natural England

Sculpted by waves crashing on Kent’s shoreline for five thousand years, Europe’s most impressive shingle foreland at Dungeness and home to the only colony of Sussex Emerald moths found in Britain now forms a single Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Natural England, the Government's independent wildlife advisor, has moved to secure an existing network of eight smaller sites by forming one larger landscape. This reflects improved understanding of the value of the soils and shingle banks in this area, which have a lot to tell us about the formation by the sea of this unusual area of land, and how the coast might respond to global warming induced sea level rise in the future. The newly declared Dungeness, Romney Marsh and Rye Bay SSSI has been enhanced by the addition of 2,300 hectares of newly-notified land.

The newly declared site of Dungeness, Romney Marsh and Rye Bay SSSI, now extended by 2,300 hectares of land is a popular choice for fashion shoots and film crews. The ethereal landscape is home to many rare plants, invertebrates, great crested newts, many breeding and wintering bird species and the threatened water vole. Natural England approved the 4,112th SSSI at its most recent board meeting.

The site is of national and international importance and environmental legislation provides a high level of protection against the negative impacts of development.

It is joined by an outstanding network of 17 undisturbed flower-rich meadows in a small glacial valley in Herefordshire which will rank as one of top sites in the country of its kind. The 76 hectares of The Bury Farm lies five kilometers south of Leominster and is an almost unique treasure trove of rare insects and traditional hay meadows preserved as a virtual time capsule for specialized deadwood-eating beetles. Employing traditional farming practices the family has rejected modern fertilizers making the site an incredible find in an age where virtually all grasslands have been treated with chemicals.

Next to the extensive meadows lie two orchards of gnarled, apple trees, many veterans up to 150 years old or more. The combination of nectar rich flowers and dead wood provide the perfect patchwork of habitats to support the hundreds of deadwood beetles, and other insects through their life cycle. The notification as a Site of Special Scientific Interest will make sure it is protected into the future.

Dr Helen Phillips, Chief Executive of Natural England, said: “This decision will ensure that the exceptional natural resources of Kent and Herefordshire are protected for future generations to enjoy. If visitors get a chance they should come to our National Nature Reserve at Dungeness to see why we have made sure we protect it for them to enjoy.”

-ENDS-

Notes for editors:

1. Natural England works for people, places and nature to conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas. We conserve and enhance the natural environment for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of people, and the economic prosperity it brings.

2. Sites of Scientific Interest are the best sites for wildlife and geology in England. They cover the widest range of wildlife and geological interest, from Windsor Great Park to Rochdale Canal, Egdon Heath to the Valley of Stones in Dorset, and from the River Wye to the North Norfolk Coast. Natural England selects them partly because of their intrinsic wildlife interest, but also because of their scarcity, their vulnerability to damage and loss, and to the difficulty of restoring them if damaged. SSSIs represent an important fragment of the much-depleted resource of wild nature now remaining in this country. They are home to many rare and familiar plants and animals and play a vital role in delivering the targets set for the 400 key species and 40 key habitats identified in the biodiversity process. SSSIs protect the most important and threatened part of our natural heritage. Many are important to local economies and most provide wonderful opportunities for people to enjoy wildlife.

For further information contact: Heather McMorland
Telephone: 01733 455190, or out of hours 07970 098005
Email: heather.mcmorland@naturalengland.org.uk