Designations

The Significance of our reserves

Woodwalton

From a nature conservation point of view, Woodwalton Fen is the key aspect of the project. It is an internationally important site and has a number of designations:

1. Ramsar Site

Ramsar is the common name of the Convention on Wetlands, to which the UK is a signatory (Ramsar being the name of the Iranian city in which the Convention was created in 1971). Woodwalton Fen is a Ramsar site for two reasons. Firstly it qualifies as a “particularly good representative example of a near natural wetland, which is characteristic of the biogeographical region”. Secondly it qualifies as it “supports an appreciable assemblage of wetland plants and invertebrates”. The site supports two species of red data book plants (fen violet and fen wood rush) and a large number of wetland invertebrates including 47 red data book species.

2. Special Area of Conservation (cSAC)

cSACs form part of Natura 2000, the network of European Sites that EU member states are required to notify under either the Habitats Directive (for cSACs), or the Birds Directive (for Special Protection Areas). Woodwalton Fen is a designated cSAC as it is considered to be one of the best areas in the UK for purple moor grass meadows. These are species rich wet meadows that contain purple moor grass and an abundance of other grasses, sedges, herbs and mosses. It is also recognised for its saw sedge (Cladium mariscus) beds and population of Great crested newts.

3. Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)

A national designation under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981). SSSIs are protected by law. Woodwalton Fen is designated as a SSSI mainly for the same reasons as 2 above. Also of national importance are the tall fen and scrub communities found in the reserve. The impressive list of rare flora and fauna contains many species of national importance.

4. National Nature Reserve (NNR)

These are SSSIs owned or leased to Natural England or an approved body. Whilst many SSSIs are not managed primarily for nature conservation, NNRs must be. Fen violet, found in only three places in the UK, including Woodwalton Fen Woodwalton Fen has many types of wetland habitat The Scarce chaser. The fen is home to many rare insects.

Holme Fen

This reserve was purchased by the Nature Conservancy Council (now Natural England) in 1952 and was designated as a National Nature Reserve in the same year.

1. Site of Special Scientific Interest

Holme Fen is the largest silver birch woodland in lowland Britain. More importantly it contains approximately 5 hectares of acid grassland and heath. It also has a hectare of remnant raised bog, an echo of the habitat that would have dominated the area centuries ago. This is the most south-easterly bog of its type in Britain.

2. Geological Conservation Review Site (GCR Site)

The peat in Holme Fen provides a valuable record of the environment over time. Analysis of the peat enables scientists to reconstruct the climate, flora and fauna that once prevailed. A GCR Site is the geological equivalent of a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

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