bird

Protected sites

Nidderdale AONB is home to some of the most precious wildlife in Yorkshire.

Many areas are so special, they’re protected by law.
 

Sites of Special Scientific Interest

Many sites in Nidderdale AONB are designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest, (SSSI’s). SSSIs can be biological, geological or both.

These nationally important sites are designated by DEFRA and based on advice from the government’s conservation advisory body Natural England under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

There are nine SSSIs in the AONB:

  • West Nidderdale, Barden and Blubberhouses Moors SSSI
  • East Nidderdale Moors SSSI
  • Brimham Rocks SSSI
  • Upper Nidderdale SSSI
  • Gouthwaite Reservoir SSSI
  • Hackfall Wood SSSI
  • Cow Myers SSSI
  • Greenhow Quarry SSSI
  • Greenhow Pasture SSSI

 
The two moorland SSSI’s are massive.  Combined they make the North Pennines Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and the North Pennines Special Protection Area (SPA) – designated under European Union Regulations.

Brimham Rocks is both a biological and geological SSSI. Greenhow Quarry SSSI is designated for its geology.
 

Local wildlife sites

In North Yorkshire local wildlife sites are called Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC).

There are 86 SINCs in the AONB.

SINC designation seeks to protect areas rich in wildlife, including ancient woodland and flower-rich grassland.

Local Geological Sites fall under the same category.

SINCs are often small, isolated and fragmented resulting from increasing pressures on land and climate.

Local Authorities have a duty under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 to have due regard for biodiversity. They need to include local wildlife sites in their local plan.
 

Special interest verges

Road verges are patches of grassland that have avoided the disturbance of farming. Road works, underground cables, parking, litter and salt gritting negatively impact them.

Through our roadside verges project, we’ve surveyed  and assessed the quality of all of the verges in Nidderdale AONB.  Now there over 30 verges designated as Special Interest Verges (SIV).

These are verges with the highest botanical interest, They need managing, particularly to prevent brambles, gorse and saplings getting established.

After the end of August is the best time to cut verges. This allows seeds time to mature and spread.

Mowing in mid-summer can cut down species such as marsh orchids. It can also destroy the plants butterflies, such as the meadow brown and ringlet, feed off of.

Bird