Natural England

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’.

In the 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 addition, more than 800ha of lowland open water habitat at Grafham Water in Cambridgeshire is now in a recovering condition, thanks to partnership working between Anglian Water, Wildlife Trust and Natural England. Here, nine miles of shoreline supports around 170 species of birds along with ancient woodland, grassland and wetlands.

Sites in Foulness Island, Essex have seen the return of grazing marsh thanks to Natural England’s Higher Level Stewardship scheme which supports a number of SSSI sites around the region. These sites provide quality habitats with new areas of grassland designed to provide homes and food for a range of wildfowl and important farmland birds such as the corn bunting.

Shaun Thomas, Natural England’s Regional Director for the East of England said: “Partners, farmers and land managers have played an important role in the recovery of these sites and we will continue working them to maximise biodiversity in these nationally and internationally important sites - whilst increasing their environmental and public benefits.”

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Notes for editors:

For further information contact: Andrew Smith on 01223 533474, Heather McMorland on 01733 455080, Linzee Kottman on 01223 533431 or out of hours 07970 098005. For further information about Natural England please visit: www.naturalengland.org.uk

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. Natural England is responsible for the protection and management of these special designated areas - which enhance and enrich biodiversity, provide recreational opportunities and can help to counter the impact of climate change. SSSIs cover 1 million hectares of land in England and support an enormous range of habitats and species, many of which are endangered and listed under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP). As a result of this year’s progress, more than 78,800 hectares of England’s most important wildlife sites are now under favourable or recovering condition. This outcome reflects a tremendous contribution by our many partners.

3. *SSSIs are a key indicators of national progress in securing a healthy natural environment. For further information about SSSIs, please visit http://www.english-nature.org.uk/Special/sssi/index.cfm

4. The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 gives Natural England powers to ensure better protection and management of SSSIs and safeguard their existence into the future. The Government's Public Service Agreement target is for 95% of SSSI land to be in 'favourable' or 'recovering' condition by 2010.

5. In the period between 1st April 2007 and 31st March 2008, there was a net increase of 78,800ha of SSSI land in target condition, which took the proportion of SSSIs area in target condition from 75.4% to 82.7%. This significantly exceeds annual increases previously achieved (the target was established in 2000) – these have typically been in the region of ca. 50,000ha per year. (The first national assessment of SSSI condition was in March 2003 - that is the baseline. At that point, 57% of SSSI were in target condition.)

6. Natural England staff in Area Teams forge and develop partnerships to bring SSSIs into recovery, working with the ca. 26,000 land managers of SSSIs and our delivery partners such as the Environment Agency and Forestry Commission. Our role is to ensure SSSIs are properly protected and where appropriate enhanced by providing advice on their status and management needs, including offering land management incentives such as through the Environmental Stewardship Higher Level Scheme (HLS).

7. This year, through encouraging new HLS applications from land managers that could offer the greatest benefits we have agreed improved management on over 38,000ha of SSSI land with land managers. By maximising the use of HLS (which draws on EU-co-funding) as opposed to 100% exchequer funded schemes, Natural England also delivered savings to the UK tax-payer.

8. Not all SSSIs are accessible. Some of the best ones can be found on Spotlight National Nature Reserves. For information please see http://www.natureonthemap.org.uk/