County Wildlife Site

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Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) in Reydon Wood, an example of a County Wildlife Site Bluebells in Reydon Wood - geograph.org.uk - 251862.jpg
Bluebells ( Hyacinthoides non-scripta ) in Reydon Wood, an example of a County Wildlife Site

County Wildlife Site (often abbreviated to CWS) is a conservation designation in the United Kingdom, which despite conferring no statutory protection onto a site, does affirm a site's importance and value for wildlife in its county context. [1] The designation is classified by Natural England (the non-departmental public body of the UK government responsible for ensuring that England's natural environment is protected) as being a 'Local Site' designation, [2] [3] though sites can also be of a regional and national importance. [4] Whilst the exact details of the selection process differ from county to county, in general local Wildlife Trusts, local authorities and other local wildlife/environmental/conservation groups collaborate to select and designate sites. [3] Species in County Wildlife Sites are often also in that county's or the United Kingdom's national Biodiversity Action Plan. [3]

At least 40,000 sites have been established across Britain. [5] These sites generally complement statutory protection provided by Sites of Special Scientific Interest by acting as buffer zones, wildlife corridors and raising the profile of specific wildlife sites. [5] They are also seen as providing protection for species which would not otherwise be protected by law in the United Kingdom. [6] They are seen as important sites for "monitoring the health of the natural environment" [7] by central and local government bodies. [8]

Whilst there is no legislative protection provided by a County Wildlife Site designation, planning permission for work that would have an injurious or adverse effect on sites is usually not granted. [4] An affirmation of the importance of County Wildlife Sites – and indeed all other sites with a designation in the 'Local Sites' category – can be found in Circular 06/05: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation – Statutory Obligations and Their Impact Within The Planning System, [3] and their role in helping the UK to meet national biodiversity objectives was recognised in Planning Policy Statement Nine. [4] The latter affirmation of their importance in biodiversity conservation resulted in a strengthening of the presumption against development on County Wildlife Sites following the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006, which requires public bodies to 'have a regard for the conservation of biodiversity'. [4] Despite any mandatory legal requirement to do so, positive management of County Wildlife Sites to enhance their value for wildlife is encouraged, and many local Wildlife Trusts and other conservation organisations provide resources to help site owners maximise their site's potential. For example, Suffolk Wildlife Trust offers 'advisory visits' to give guidance to site owners about the kind of conservation work they should be undertaking, [4] whilst the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire regularly surveys and undertakes volunteer work on County Wildlife Sites. [9]

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Fen</span> Habitat restoration project in England

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Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI), Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) and regionally important geological site (RIGS) are designations used by local authorities in the United Kingdom for sites of substantive local nature conservation and geological value. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has recommended the generic term 'local site', which is divided into 'local wildlife site' and 'local geological site'.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mare Fen</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roswell Pits</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kings and Bakers Woods and Heaths</span>

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Regionally important geological and geomorphological sites (RIGS) are locally designated sites of local, national and regional importance for geodiversity in the United Kingdom and Isle of Man. These sites are also known by other names, such as regionally important geological sites, Regionally Important Geodiversity Sites, County Geodiversity Sites in Norfolk, Local Geodiversity Sites in Scotland and Lancashire, and as County Geology Sites in Cornwall and Devon and in the Republic of Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Summer Leys</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Upper Nene Valley Gravel Pits</span>

Upper Nene Valley Gravel Pits is a 1,382.4 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in a chain of flooded gravel pits along 35 kilometres of the valley of the River Nene between Northampton and Thorpe Waterville in Northamptonshire. It is a Ramsar wetland site of international importance, a Special Protection Area under the European Communities Birds Directive and part of the Nene Valley Nature Improvement Area. It is also part of the River Nene Regional Park. Two areas are managed by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire, Summer Leys and Titchmarsh Nature Reserve.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ditchford Lakes and Meadows</span>

Ditchford Lakes and Meadows is a 31.1-hectare (77-acre) nature reserve Northamptonshire. It is managed by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. It is part of the Upper Nene Valley Gravel Pits Site of Special Scientific Interest, Ramsar wetland site of international importance, and Special Protection Area under the European Communities Birds Directive.

References

  1. ↑ "Wildlife Designations". Wildlife Guidelines. Devon County Council. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  2. ↑ "Designations". Natural England. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Local Sites". WebCite . Natural England. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "County Wildlife Sites". Suffolk Wildlife Trust. Archived from the original on 17 March 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  5. 1 2 Hill.D (2005) Handbook of Biodiversity Methods: Survey, Evaluation and Monitoring, Cambridge University Press, pp.94–95 (available online). Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  6. ↑ Maclean.N (2010) Silent Summer: The State of Wildlife in Britain and Ireland, Cambridge University Press, p.342 (available online). Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  7. ↑ "A further 94 Devon sites get special wildlife status", Express & Echo (Exeter), 14 March 2008, p.4.
  8. ↑ County's wildlife protection expands its coverage in area, North Devon Journal, 7 April 2007, p42.
  9. ↑ "Wildlife sites in Cambridgeshire". Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
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