Upper Nene Valley Gravel Pits

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Upper Nene Valley Gravel Pits
Site of Special Scientific Interest
View from Stanwick lakes - geograph.org.uk - 1140623.jpg
Area of Search Northamptonshire
Grid reference SP 928 693 [1]
InterestBiological
Area1,382.4 hectares [1]
Notification 2005 [1]
Location map Magic Map
Designations
Official nameUpper Nene Valley Gravel Pits
Designated4 July 2011
Reference no.2023 [2]

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 (east of Kettering) in Northamptonshire. [1] [3] [4] It is a Ramsar wetland site of international importance, [5] a Special Protection Area under the European Communities Birds Directive [6] and part of the Nene Valley Nature Improvement Area. It is also part of the River Nene Regional Park. [7] Two areas are managed by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire, Summer Leys and Titchmarsh Nature Reserve. [8] [9]

This site is described by Natural England as "a nationally important site for its breeding bird assemblage of lowland open waters and their margins, wintering waterbird species, an assemblage of over 20,000 waterbirds in the non-breeding season and a rare example of wet floodplain woodland." The diverse habitats include, marsh, reedswamp, rough grassland, scrub, wet ditches, woodland and rush pasture. There are at least 21 breeding bird species, including mute swans, tufted ducks, little grebes, great crested grebes, little ringed plovers and redshanks. [4]

There is access to some parts of the site such as Summer Leys.

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Titchmarsh Nature Reserve

Titchmarsh Nature Reserve is a 72.7 hectare Local Nature Reserve north of Thrapston in East Northamptonshire. It is owned and 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.

Ditchford Lakes and Meadows

Ditchford Lakes and Meadows is a 31.1 hectare 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.

Higham Ferrers Pits

Higham Ferrers Pits is a 10 hectare 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 internationally important wetland site and Special Protection Area under the EC Birds Directive.

Wilsons Pits

Wilson's Pits is a 32 hectare nature reserve west of Higham Ferrers in 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 internationally important wetland site and Special Protection Area under the EC Birds Directive.

Kinewell Lake

Kinewell Lake is a 35.4 hectare Local Nature Reserve west of Ringstead in Northamptonshire, England. It is owned by Ringstead Parish Council and managed by Kinewell Lake Trust. The site 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. 1 2 3 4 "Designated Sites View: Upper Nene Valley Gravel Pits". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  2. "Upper Nene Valley Gravel Pits". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  3. "Map of Upper Nene Valley Gravel Pits". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  4. 1 2 "Upper Nene Valley Gravel Pits citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  5. "Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS): Upper Nene Valley Gravel Pits" (PDF). Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  6. "Special Protection Areas under the EC Birds Directive. Upper Nene Valley Gravel Pits" (PDF). Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  7. "Nene Valley Nature Improvement Area". River Nene Regional Park. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  8. "Summer Leys". Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  9. "Titchmarsh". Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. Retrieved 21 December 2016.

Coordinates: 52°18′50″N0°38′20″W / 52.314°N 0.639°W / 52.314; -0.639