natural areas in the east of england region

Natural Areas in theEast of England Region

helping to set the regional agenda for nature

East of England Region Introduction

3

Regional strategies and policydocuments are being drawnup by the newly-created

Regional organisations. These arerequired to encompass the protectionand management of the environmentby applying the principles ofsustainable development.

This document has been producedby English Nature, the Governmentbody that promotes the conservationof wildlife and natural featuresthroughout England. It is for use bythe Regional Development Agency,the Government Regional Officeand the Regional Chambers, whenmaking Regional policy. We hopethat it will provide a starting pointfor discussion with our network ofRegional Lead Teams, who canprovide valuable support, and linksinto wider partnerships.

The conservation of nature is a keytest of policy in all three facets ofsustainable development, the social,the economic and the environmental.While its role in the environment isself evident, it also has socialimplications through the spiritual,cultural and recreational value ofpeople’s experience of the naturalworld; and economic implicationsthrough the provision of exploitableresources and the attractiveness toinvestors of high qualityenvironments.

If we are serious about achievingsustainable development, thenunderstanding the priorities for theconservation of the biodiversity andEarth heritage resource of the Regionis therefore essential. This report is afirst step towards that understanding,and provides the basis for integrating

Introduction

local and national priorities for natureinto the Regional decision-makingframework. It contains information ofdirect relevance to the developmentof Regional Planning Guidance andSingle Programming Documents tosupport the delivery of EuropeanUnion Structural Funding,regeneration funding and othereconomic and social programmes.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheriesand Food, the Environment Agency,the country forestry organisations,local authorities and statutory andother agencies involved in land useand land management issues will alsofind it relevant and, we hope, of value.

We envisage that this document cantherefore be used at a number of keypoints within the Regional strategy-making and planning process.

Shrubby sea-blite carpet at Blakeney, Norfolk. Peter Wakely/English Nature


4

Natural Areas as aRegional framework for natureEnglish Nature has divided England intoa series of Natural Areas. Theirboundaries are based on the distribution of wildlife and naturalfeatures and the land use patterns andhuman history of each area. They do notfollow administrative boundaries butrelate instead to variations in thecharacter of the landscape. They reflectour cultural heritage and are central toEnglish Nature’s organisational strategyBeyond 2000.

We worked with the CountrysideCommission (soon to become theCountryside Agency) to identify a jointapproach to the characterisation of thecountryside into locally distinctive unitscalled character areas. Where the wildlifeand natural features are similar betweenadjacent character areas we have mergedthem into one Natural Area - so, a NaturalArea may contain several character areasthat are considered to be differentlandscape types.

Natural Areas offer a more effectiveframework for the planning andachievement of nature conservationobjectives than do administrativeboundaries. Although they are not formaldesignations they are now recognised inGovernment Planning Policy Guidance(PPG) and other statutory advice.

Within this framework, we have defined acomprehensive set of issues, each withassociated objectives that can provide thebasis for regional policies and associatedactions, and these are set out in thesections which follow. We believe thatthese can begin to provide a platform forprogress and a means to establishpartnerships to plan for the protectionand management of our biodiversity andgeological assets.

Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods, Hertfordshire. Peter Wakely/English Nature

Relevant Government Planning Policy Guidance (PPG)

PPG 7: The Countryside: environmental quality and economic andsocial development

PPG 9: Nature ConservationPPG 11: Regional Planning GuidancePPG 12: Development Plans and Regional Planning Guidance

(presently under review)PPG 13: Transport

Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions Policy Guidance: Policyappraisal and the environment (DETR, 1998).

development that impacts onnatural processes; etc.)

● Is there scope for the enhancementof geological interest? (e.g.Through the improvement ofgeological exposures or features;the creation of additional geologicalexposures or features, etc.)

Environmental goodpractice for nature ● Has an environmental impact

assessment been carried out?● Will post implementation impacts

be assessed and managed byregular review and monitoringprogrammes?

Communityinvolvement for nature● Will all sections of the community

be consulted as part of thedecision making process?

● Have the needs of localcommunities for access to, andexperience of, nature been takeninto account?

● Does the project help vulnerable,disadvantaged or excluded groups

to gain access to nature andwildspace?

● Will there be a contribution toimproving the quality of life bylocal inhabitants, for example:through improved general accessto nature, but in particular on footor by public transport?

● Will local distinctiveness fornature be valued, and communityand cultural identity bestrengthened?

● Will community enterprises fornature be encouraged?

(Modified and adapted from a documentproduced by the Environment & EnergyManagement Team, Government Office forthe South West).

such as trees, hedges, grass strips,ditches, that may be destroyed, orfragmented be fullycompensated/mitigated for?

● Do any plant and tree plantingprogrammes use an appropriatemix of species native to theNatural Area in question?

● Will any habitat be in danger ofabandonment, under management,change or intensification ofmanagement? (e.g. Overgrazing,loss of crop rotations and arable-pasture mosaics; shift from springsown to autumn sown cereals, lossof winter stubbles, application ofartificial fertiliser, etc. - leading toimpacts on associated farmlandspecies)

● Will any habitat be in danger of asecondary or indirect damage? (e.g.Wetland or aquatic habitats andecosystems in danger of drying out,loss or degradation as a result ofover-abstraction of surface andgroundwaters, pollution andeutrophication of surface andgroundwaters; development in aflood plain which may requirecanalisation of watercoursesimpacting on river valley wetlandsand aquatic ecosystems; coastal

East of England Region Annex 1

33

Wicken Fen, Cambridgeshire.Peter Wakely/English Nature

Designated areasNational/International Nature Conservation Designations:

Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)National Nature Reserves (NNR)Special Protection Areas (SPA)Special Areas of Conservation (SAC)Ramsar Sites

Local Nature Conservation Designations (often non-statutory butrecognised in local plans, PPG and other similar documents):

Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC - locally other termsmay be used)Local Nature Reserves (LNR)Regionally Important Geological/Geomorphological Sites (RIGS)Non-statutory nature reserves

plan, nature conservation strategyor priority setting document fornature; any Government PlanningPolicy Guidance or RegionalPlanning Guidance; LocalDevelopment Plans/UnitaryDevelopment Plans/StructurePlans/etc?

● Is there active contribution to theresolution of Natural Area issuesand the delivery of UK, Regionaland Local Biodiversity Action Plantargets and Natural Area objectives?

● Has there been an appraisal of theenvironmental impact of policies,plans and programmes withinRegional strategic documents?(See: the eight step approach inDepartment of the Environment,Transport and the Regions PolicyGuidance: ‘Policy Appraisal andthe Environment’, DETR 1998)

Biodiversity and Earthheritage● Will any areas with

local/national/internationaldesignation for natureconservation be affected ordirectly damaged?

● Is there scope for theenhancement of biodiversitythrough the provision of:opportunities for achieving thetargets for priority habitats andspecies in the context of UK,Regional and Local BiodiversityAction Plans; improved habitatand/or the creation of additionalhabitat for plants and animals,appropriate to the local character?

● Will any non-designated habitatsuch as woodland, grassland andother vegetation, linking habitats

Annex 1: Benchmarks for nature

The conservation of nature isa key test of sustainabledevelopment. The list

below provides a set of questions tobe applied as positive indicators forbiodiversity and Earth heritage,where relevant strategies, policies,projects and programmes are underconsideration. These may includedevelopments such as agriculturalimprovement or intensification,coastal and flood defence works andwater abstraction, as well as builtdevelopment or infrastructure suchas roads, rail and energy.

Policy links● Is there compatibility with

relevant policies within: anylocal/regional Biodiversity ActionPlan, sustainable development

East of England Region Annex 1

32

Hunstanton Cliffs, Norfolk. Peter Wakely/English Nature

will continue to be, shaped throughhuman activity which is driven byeconomic, social, and environmentalforces.

Our ability to exploit the environmentfor economic gain is beginning tojeopardise our present and futurewell-being. Since our decisions canhave far-reaching effects on presentand future generations, we need tolook at how we can act to maintainand improve both our local and globalenvironments. There is no doubt thatwork at the Regional level can be apowerful force in steering localagendas for environmental action,whilst providing strong links tonational and internationalprogrammes.

Sustainable development requiresintegration, rather than balance or

trade off. Decision makers need tobuild environmental and social criteriainto the heart of their policies andprogrammes - and ensure that theyare given the same weight aseconomic considerations at thebeginning of the process. This is whatis meant by integration, and contrastswith the more familiar situation,where proposals are drawn up againsteconomic criteria alone and are onlyweighed against their environmentalimpact when they are about to beimplemented.

The basic means for many of theRegional level structures andorganisations to act will be throughthe planning process for builtdevelopment and infrastructure.Planners have a key role inincorporating economic,environmental and social factors into

Objectives forsustainabledevelopment andnature conservation inthe East of EnglandRegion

The East of England is a Region ofdramatic, and often sharp, contrasts.Dense urban populations can befound in and around the historicmetropolitan centres, wheretraditional industries operatealongside new business, whilst coastalresorts provide important touristdestinations. Agriculture is thedominant land use and underpins therural economy. The overallpopulation density is the lowest of theEnglish Regions, whilst the rainfall isonly two thirds of the nationalaverage.

The diverse landscapes, from the flat,open spaces of intensive arablefarming and horticulture and thewindswept beaches and dunes of thecoast, to the more intimate rollinglandscapes of village, woodland andhedgerow, support a characteristiccombination of wildlife and geologicalheritage. Historical landscapes suchas the Broads and Breckland have anoutstanding diversity of habitats andspecies that are very rare, and of veryhigh quality, of which the Region canbe justifiably proud. The naturalbeauty of the Region, in particular theNational Park and the coast, providesthe mainstay of a significant tourismindustry.

The distribution of wildlife and thetexture of the landscape are theproduct of complex interactions. The basic physical qualities of therock, soil and climate have set thescene, but the detail has been, and


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37 The Fens

46 Breckland

47 North Norfolk

48 The Broads

103 Old Hunstantonto Sheringham

104 Sheringhamto Lowestoft

105 SuffolkCoast

102

The

Wash

49 Suffolk Coastand Heaths

50 East AnglianPlain

51 EastAnglianChalk

65 Chilterns

66 LondonBasin

67 GreaterThamesEstuary

52 WestAnglianPlain

53 BedfordshireGreensandRidge

54 Yardley-WhittlewoodRidge

Natural Areas covered in the East of England Region report

Regional boundary

which patterns and locations ofdevelopment prove mostsustainable.Conserving and enhancing naturecan be compatible with developmentand, whilst the built environment hasfewer designated sites, Local NatureReserves, pocket parks, green spaceand even private gardens, are theonly contact the majority of peoplehave with nature. They are alsoimportant reservoirs of biodiversity.

Another essential role will be playedby those charged with the designand implementation of policy andprogrammes for forestry, agriculture,

water and recreation. Farming is theEast of England Region’s major landuse. The habitats described in thefollowing chapters arepredominantly part of agriculturalmanagement systems. Farmland

therefore provides a major

source of opportunity for habitat

creation and maintenance, and

species protection and

enhancement. Its importance is

reflected in the issues and

objectives that are listed at the

start of each section.

The intensification of agriculture,and associated decline in traditionalland management, combined withthe huge growth of the major townsand cities, has resulted in thereclamation and loss of much of thelowland semi-natural habitat of valueto wildlife in the East of EnglandRegion. The semi-natural habitatsthat remain are often small andisolated and are adversely affected byagricultural practices and pressurefrom development, including the useof pesticides and fertilisers, run-off ofpollutants from industrial andhousing estates, and the lowering ofwater tables through drainage andabstraction.

The populations of birds, mammalsand plants which rely on theagricultural systems themselves havealso plummeted. Major prioritiestherefore include: the sensitivemanagement of existing habitats;increasing the area of existinghabitats and re-establishing the linksbetween them; and restoring theconditions in which the wildlife ofcereal fields and pasture can alsothrive.

decisions about where to put homes,jobs, shops and leisure facilities. In this way, demands on land, theenvironment and nature can bemanaged more sustainably.Regional Planning Guidance will bewritten to help with this process.

Current government policyencourages investment in urbanareas and existing centres ratherthan out of town sites. This meansre-using previously developed urbanland as much as possible, whileensuring that the quality of towns orcities is maintained or improved.The challenge will be to determine


6

Green-winged orchid.Chris Gibson/English Nature

nursery ground for youngcommercial fish species, for exampleplaice, cod and sole. Reefs of thetubeworm Sabellaria spinulosa, apriority BAP habitat, occur both inthe Wash and in some of the Essexestuaries, and beds of horse mussels(also a priority BAP habitat) occuron gravel and muddy gravels at themouth of the Wash. Furtheroffshore, the sea bed is dominatedby coarse sands and fine muddysands.

The intertidal flats and saltmarshesof the estuaries are of internationalimportance for the hundreds ofthousands of birds they support overwinter and during migration. Theseinclude pink-footed goose, dark-bellied brent goose, shelduck,wigeon, knot, oystercatcher, greyplover, bar-tailed godwit and black-tailed godwit. The saltmarshes alsosupport breeding populations ofredshank and oystercatcher.

East of England Region Maritime

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Holkham, Norfolk. Peter Wakely/English Nature

Sea-lavender at Blakeney, Norfolk. Peter Wakely/English Nature

These sites have a diversity ofsaltmarsh vegetation that isunparalleled in England. Thesaltmarshes in the estuaries of theSuffolk Coast and Greater ThamesEstuary cover large areas and are ofinternational importance. TheGreater Thames Estuary supportsthe most extensive stand of smallcord-grass remaining in Britain, andis the only British location of thepedunculate sea-purslane. TwoBAP moth species occur onsaltmarshes in the Region, namelythe ground lackey moth, andFisher’s estuarine moth, whichoccurs at only one site in Essex.

Intertidal sediments are presentaround the coast with the mostextensive areas in the shelter of theestuaries and embayments.Sediments range from the expansesof sandflats in the Wash and theNorth Norfolk Coast, to theintertidal flats in the Suffolk andEssex estuaries that grade fromsands to muds. The intertidalsediments of Maplin Sands havelarge beds of seagrasses (both Zosteramarina and Z. noltii), forming apriority BAP habitat. The intertidalflats of the Wash and OldHunstanton to Sheringham are animportant area for common seals,having the only significantpopulation in England. There isvery little intertidal rock in theRegion, apart from the rocky shoreat Hunstanton, the small chalkplatforms at Sheringham and Westand East Runton in Norfolk, andHarwich foreshore, each of whichextend into the subtidal.

The subtidal zone is dominated bysediments, with a mixture of gravel,muds and sands. The Wash has oneof the largest expanses of subtidalsandbanks in Britain and is a


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Sea pea. Chris Gibson/English Nature

Sea campion. Chris Gibson/English Nature


7

Glossary

BAP: Biodiversity Action Plans for habitats and species.

Biodiversity: Simply means the variety of life onearth. It covers everything from human beings to oaktrees, bacteria to blue whales. Many Regions havealready produced or are working on BiodiversityAudits and Action Plans which begin to catalogue andsummarise their wealth of wildlife. This documentcomplements these and other initiatives, includingwork on Local Agenda 21 and Local BiodiversityAction Plans, and existing Nature ConservationStrategies.

Earth heritage: We have a rich and diverse heritageof rocks, fossils, minerals and land forms. Theprotection and management of these features is anintegral part of nature conservation.

European Union Habitats and Birds Directives

requires the Government to designate and protectsome of the most important areas for wildlife. Theyare or will be classified as Special Protection Areas(SPAs) and/or Special Areas of Conservation (SACs).These sites are also Sites of Special Scientific Interest(SSSIs) but meet specific criteria for internationalimportance. In the case of marine SACs the SSSIdesignation only applies down to the low water mark.

Habitat: is the natural home of any plant, and whereanimals feed, breed and rest.

Statutory guidance from the Secretary of State

to the Regional Development Agencies (RDA)

includes: Sustainable Development; Rural Policy;Regional Economic Strategies. White Papers

include: Building Partnerships for Prosperity; TheUnited Kingdom Sustainable Development Strategy;Rural White Paper; Urban White Paper.

Sustainable development: was defined by the 1987World Commission Report on Environment andDevelopment as “development which meets the needsof the present without compromising the ability offuture generations to meet their needs”. It is oftendescribed as a ‘three legged stool’ whose legs compriseenvironmental, economic and social. If any one ofthem is missing as a consideration in decisions, thestool will topple.

Specific Relevant application contents

Sustainable We have sought to set biodiversity development and Earth heritage in the context

of sustainable development - andto define the latter as a process ofintegration.

Providing Descriptive text which outlines the context natural character of the Region.

Identifying Specific issues and objectives issues and written for direct inclusion inobjectives policy documents and/or

distillation into policy to protectand enhance nature.

Links to Key Natural Areas are named ininternational each section in order to ensure site designations that national priorities for habitat and biodiversity conservation are taken into

account. They are identified assupporting nationally importantconcentrations of a habitat orEarth heritage feature and/orinternational sites (SpecialProtection Areas and Special Areasof Conservation) and biodiversityhabitats and species.

Benchmarks A checklist is provided (Annex 1) for nature to make an assessment of the

contribution of policies, projectsand programmes to the delivery ofsustainability in relation to nature.

Key contact The English Nature contact points addresses are provided for the

Region, including the RegionalLead Team, together with a list ofsources of information (Annex 2).

How the contents of the report may be applied

East of England Region Earth heritage

8

covered by thick deposits ofPleistocene sands, clays and gravels.These deposits in north-east Norfolkare of international renown for theyhave yielded important vertebratefossils. More recent geologicalprocesses are apparent along thelow-lying coastline from Hunstantonto Sheringham, which is the finestbarrier coastline in Britain with acomplex of shingle spits, barrierislands, dunes and saltmarshes.

Further inland, the West AnglianPlain is formed of Jurassic clays andlimestones that are covered by vastquantities of sand, gravels and clays,with extensive gravel terraces in theriver valleys. This Natural Area isrich in fossils and has yielded some

Earth heritage

The Fens and the Wash liewithin a basin that is theresult of scouring during

glaciation. Both areas are underlainby Jurassic clays that are rich infossils, and overlying these clays arethick deposits of Quaternary sands,gravels and clays. Further inland,accumulations of peat give The Fensits character. The only prominentlandform in this area is theCretaceous sandstone and chalkcliffs at Hunstanton. To the east,North Norfolk is formed ofmudstones, sandstones and chalkand has one of the most completesequences of late Jurassic to lateCretaceous rocks in Britain.However, this is exposed only incoastal cliffs and quarries, as it is

Issue: maintenance of existingresource

● Maintain existing importantgeological sites by agreeing,with extraction companies,the conservation of exposuresin working and disusedquarries and pits.

Issue: maintenance of coastalprocesses

● Allow natural, dynamiccoastal processes to operateby:◗ avoiding hard sea defences,where these would interruptthe natural flow ofsediments;

◗ avoiding dredging, wherepossible, and mitigateharmful impacts on coastalprocesses.

Issue: education

● Promote local Earth heritageby using initiatives tostrengthen links betweengeology, scenery, habitats andarchaeology.

Key issues andobjectives

Mammoth tooth, Clacton Cliffs and Foreshore SSSI, Essex. Chris Gibson/English Nature


29

lagoons in the shingle bank adjacentto shore of the Ore Estuary. Aslagoons are a priority habitat underthe EC Habitats Directive, a numberof the lagoons in the East of Englandare candidate Special Areas ofConservation (SACs). Manylagoons are also within SpecialProtection Areas (SPAs) and areimportant for breeding andwintering waterfowl, includingnationally important populations ofavocet.

There are large areas of saltmarsh inthe Region, mostly within theestuaries and embayments. TheWash has the largest continuous areaof saltmarsh in Britain, withextensive saltmarshes extendingalong the North Norfolk Coast.

Candidate Special Areas of Conservation● Benacre to Easton Bavent Lagoons (Suffolk Coast)● Essex Estuaries (Greater Thames Estuary)● Minsmere to Walberswick Heaths and Marshes (Suffolk Coast) ● North Norfolk Coast and Gibraltar Point Dunes (The Wash; Old

Hunstanton to Sheringham) ● Orfordness-Shingle Street (Suffolk Coast) ● The Wash and North Norfolk Coast (The Wash; Old Hunstanton to

Sheringham) ● Winterton-Horsey Dunes (Sheringham to Lowestoft)

Special Protection Areas● Alde-Ore Estuary (Suffolk Coast) ● Benacre to Easton Bavents (Suffolk Coast) ● Benfleet and Southend Marshes (Greater Thames Estuary)● Breydon Water (Sheringham to Lowestoft)● Deben Estuary (Suffolk Coast)● Great Yarmouth North Denes (Sheringham to Lowestoft)● Hamford Water (Greater Thames Estuary) ● Mid Essex Coast (Greater Thames Estuary) ● Minsmere-Walberswick (Suffolk Coast) ● Orfordness-Havergate (Suffolk Coast)● North Norfolk Coast (Old Hunstanton to Sheringham)● Stour and Orwell Estuaries (Suffolk Coast)● The Wash (The Wash)

Characteristic habitats of key Natural Areas

102. The Wash

● Calcareous sand dunes● Shingle spit at Snettisham● Extensive areas of saltmarsh● Very large area of intertidal

sandflats● Sabellaria spinulosa reefs● Seagrass beds

103. Old Hunstanton to

Sheringham

● Greensand and chalk (hardrock) cliffs at Hunstanton

● Extensive system of sand dunes● Large shingle spit at Blakeney

Point

● Series of small lagoons● Extensive saltmarshes with

great diversity of vegetation● Intertidal sand and muds

104. Sheringham to Lowestoft

● Extensive soft rock cliffs● Large area of acidic dunes and

dune heath

105. Suffolk Coast

● Some stretches of low (softrock) cliff

● Numerous shingle beaches,e.g. Kessingland, Orfordness

● Lagoons within or behindshingle beaches

● Saltmarshes in estuaries ● Intertidal mudflats within

estuaries

67. Greater Thames Estuary

● Several shingle spits, e.g.Colne Point

● Large areas of saltmarsh withinestuaries, with adjacentgrazing marshes

● Intertidal mudflats withinestuaries

● Lagoons● Sabellaria spinulosa reefs

NB Priority BAP habitats in italics

67 105

104103

102

The most extensive stretchesof coastal cliffs in the Eastof England Region occur in

north-east Norfolk, within theSheringham to Lowestoft NaturalArea. As they are composed of softrock, these cliffs are prone toerosion. Apart from at Hunstantonin Norfolk, there are no large areasof hard rock cliffs in the Region.

The most notable sand dunes occuralong the North Norfolk Coast andat Winterton and Great Yarmouth inNorfolk. The extensive dune systemalong the North Norfolk Coast ismostly calcareous, with the moremobile vegetation types forminglarge components of the vegetation.In contrast, the dunes at Wintertonare acidic and support a fixed dunevegetation that has abundantlichens. These dunes have the onlysignificant area of dune heath on theeast coast of England. The dunes inthe Region support several rare andscarce plants, including bedstrawbroomrape (a BAP species), andimportant populations of thenatterjack toad (also a BAP species).

Shingle occurs at numerouslocations along the Norfolk and

Suffolk coastline and several sites areof international importance for theirspecialised vegetation that includessea-kale and the scarce sea pea. Theshingle spit at Blakeney Pointextends for almost 12 km and thisdynamic feature is interlinked withits fringing dunes and saltmarsh.The sandy shingle ridges that stretchfrom Minsmere to Walberswick havea well-developed strandlinevegetation and at Orfordness thevegetation is a good illustration ofthe natural transition betweensaltmarsh and shingle habitats. Anumber of sand and shingle beachesin the Region are importantbreeding areas for seabirds and holdnationally important populations oflittle terns, Sandwich terns andcommon terns.

Numerous natural lagoons occuralong the coast, many of whichresult from the percolation ofseawater through shingle beaches.From Old Hunstanton toSheringham there are saline lagoonsbetween the shingle ridges andsaltmarsh at Salthouse; the SuffolkCoast has a series of mostly smalllagoons that have formed behind theshingle barriers; and there are

Maritime


28

Issue: sea level rise● Plan for continued coastal

erosion and sea level rise by:◗ ensuring that a sustainablesea defence strategy is inplace;

◗ preventing development onareas subject to coastalerosion or flooding;

◗ creating suitable maritimehabitats to landward, wherehabitats have been lost toerosion.

Issue: maintenance of coastal processes● Allow natural, dynamic coastal

processes to operate by:◗ avoiding hard sea defenceswhere these would interruptthe natural flow of sediments;

◗ minimising dredging wherepossible, and developing

ways of retaining dredgedsediment within the system;

◗ mitigating harmful effects ofnecessary dredging on coastalprocesses.

Issue: water quality● Maintain high water quality by:

◗ reducing inputs of untreatedsewage effluents;

◗ reducing contaminationfrom industrial discharges andagricultural run-off.

Issue: recreation and tourism● Avoid detrimental impacts on

key wildlife features bypromoting recreation andtourism that is environmentallysensitive.

● Avoid development of tourisminfrastructure that would resultin demand for unsustainablesea defences.


Black-tailed godwits. Chris Gibson/English Nature


9

● Middle Jurassic limestones andclays showing a great variety ofenvironments

● Oxford Clay exposures inbrickpits of importance forpalaeontology and stratigraphy

● Fossil-rich limestones and claysat the junction of the Oxfordand Ampthill clays with richfaunas

● Exposures of well knownfossiliferous CambridgeGreensand (Cretaceous) withdiverse faunas including reptilebones

● Quaternary glacial deposits● Quaternary river terrace gravels

with important fossil faunas

65. Chilterns

● Ancient Thames river gravelsexposures in pits and quarries

● Chalk dry valleys and periglaciallandforms

● Chalk escarpment andlandscape, clay capping andassociated exposures

66. London Basin

● Exposures of Tertiarysedimentary rocks and theirfossil plant remains

● Exposures of Thames gravelsand associated fossiliferous riverterrace deposits

● Archaeological artefacts locatedin Quaternary deposits

67. Greater Thames Estuary

● Exposures of Tertiarysedimentary rocks and fossils

● Exposures of Thames gravelsand associated fossiliferous riverterrace deposits

● Archaeological artefacts inQuaternary deposits

● Low-lying ‘soft’ coastlineindented by major estuaries andscattered with islands

● Two of the best saltmarshmorphology sites in Britain

Main Earth heritage features of key Natural Areas

37. The Fens

● Upper Jurassic clays andassociated deposits withimportant fossil faunas

● Upper Jurassic fossil-richlimestones including coral reefsand associated deposits at Upware

● Complex sequences of Holocenedeposits representing variedenvironments and recordingrecent sea level and climaticchanges

47. North Norfolk

● Lower and Upper Cretaceousstratigraphy andpalaeoenvironments

● Pleistocene stratigraphy,palaeontology andpalaeoenvironments

● Modern coastal geomorphology(including saltmarshdevelopment and landslips)

49. Suffolk Coast and Heaths

● Inland and coastal exposures ofCrag sediments containing fossilfaunas

● Inland and coastal exposures ofglacial sediments and boulderclays

● Coastal geomorphologicalfeatures

50. East Anglian Plain

● Late Cretaceous fossiliferouschalk

● Quaternary stratigraphy,including glacial and interglacialdeposits

● Quaternary river gravel deposits,including cold-climate mammalremains

52. West Anglian Plain

● Formerly economicallyimportant ironstone deposits

● Isle of Sheppey has some of thebest examples of modern massmovement in Britain

103. Old Hunstanton to

Sheringham

● Coastal exposures ofPleistocene sediments

● Major barrier coastline,important for demonstratingmodern coastal processes

104. Sheringham to Lowestoft

● Exposures of Pleistocenedeposits and glacial sedimentsin coastal cliffs

● Pleistocene vertebrates andother fossils

● Sand and clay cliffs showingmass movement

● Sand dunes at Winterton● Predominant littoral drift to the

south, transporting materialfrom eroding cliffs in the north

105. Suffolk Coast

● Exposures of Pliocene andPleistocene Crag deposits andglacial sediments in coastalsections

● Complex shingle formation ofOrfordness (one of only threesimilar structures on the Englishcoast)

● Rapidly retreating cliffs in areassuch as Covehithe

37

47

495052

65

66 67

103104

105

and Breckland. Breckland iscovered by a thin layer of glacialdrift deposits, which have been re-worked to form a continuous coverof wind-blown sand. In contrast,the chalk of the East Anglian Plainand East Anglian Chalk is coveredby substantial quantities of glacialsands, gravels and clays (boulderclays). These deposits demonstratethe sequence of changes in climateand environment from both cold

(glacial) and temperate (interglacial)periods in the Quaternary period.

Both the Broads and Suffolk Coastand Heaths are underlain by muddyand sandy deposits known as theCrag, which was laid down in theNorth Sea basin. These are generallycovered by glacial sands and gravels.The Crag has abundant marinefossils, which indicate the climaticconditions before glacial times. Crag

important vertebrates andinvertebrates. Lying within the WestAnglian Plain is the BedfordshireGreensand Ridge, a low escarpmentof Lower Greensand and GaultClay, and the Yardley-Whittlewoodridge, which is formed of Jurassicrocks and has heavy clay soils.

To the east, a low-lying plateau ofCretaceous chalk underlies the EastAnglian Plain, East Anglian Chalk


10

Hunstanton Cliffs, Norfolk. Chris Gibson/English Nature

Coast and Heaths has extensiveareas of a heathland type that ismore characteristic of the westernparts of Britain. The largest areas ofheathland in both Breckland andSuffolk Coast and Heaths arecandidate SACs. In the LondonBasin the mostly small areas oflowland heath around Camberleyform part of an extensive complex ofinternational importance, and NorthNorfolk has significant wet and dryheathland, most notably inassociation with mires. Elsewhere inthe Region the remaining NaturalAreas have only very small fragmentsof lowland heath, or none at all.

The lowland grasslands and heathssupport a variety of uncommonplants including many BAP species.The Rex Graham Reserve inBreckland supports the largestpopulation of military orchid inBritain (more than 95%) and theDevil’s Dyke in the East AnglianChalk is the only known British drygrassland site where lizard orchidoccurs. The calcareous grassland inthe Chilterns is very important forplant species and is the only locationof the fringed gentian. Acidgrassland in Breckland supports thethatch moss, a moss usually foundon roof thatch.

Heathland in the Suffolk Coast andHeaths supports the red-tippedcudweed, and Breckland has anendemic sub-species of perennialknawel. The mosaics of grasslandsand heaths are particularly rich inbutterflies and moths, including theBAP species lunar yellow underwingmoth, marbled clover moth andtawny wave moth. The heaths in theRegion, especially within Brecklandand the Suffolk Sandlings, arenationally important for breedingpopulations of three BAP bird species:woodlark, nightjar and stone curlew.

East of England Region Lowland grassland and heath

27

Pingo grassland, Narborough, Norfolk. Peter Wakely/English Nature

internationally importantpopulations of wintering waterfowl.

Large areas in the Region are usedfor arable farming, particularly onthe flat or undulating land of TheFens, East Anglian Plain, WestAnglian Plain, East Anglian Chalkand Breckland. The rich soils hereare intensively cultivated and largecereal fields are a major feature ofthe landscape. The cereal fieldmargins within this Regionoccasionally still support uncommonBAP plants such as cornflower,broad-leaved cudweed, corn cleaversand shepherd’s-needle, and thearable fields within the East AnglianChalk are the only mainland site

where grass-poly grows. Farmlandin the East of England supports themajority of the English population ofbrown hare, together with birds suchas corn bunting, linnet, tree sparrowand grey partridge, species that havesuffered major declines in populationon intensively farmed land.

In the Region lowland heathlandoccurs most extensively inBreckland, Suffolk Coast andHeaths, North Norfolk and theLondon Basin. Breckland hassignificant areas of dry heathland,that have developed under a semi-continental climate, which formmosaics with acid and calcareousgrasslands. Unusually, Suffolk

used as grazing marshes. Ofparticular importance are thefloodplain marshes of the Thames,and the ‘washlands’ of the Nene,Ouse and Cam rivers in The Fens,where areas of permanent grasslandare deliberately flooded to preventrivers over-topping. Grazingmarshes also dominate the coast ofthe Greater Thames Estuary, whichhas one of the most extensivenetworks of coastal grazing marshesin England. There are also coastalgrazing marshes in North Norfolk.These floodplain and coastal grazingmarshes are important for the floraand invertebrate fauna of both thewet grasslands and their associatedditches, and they support


26

Minsmere-Walberswick Heaths and Marshes, Suffolk. Peter Wakely/English Nature

London Basin has extensive sediments,mostly of London Clay and olderTertiary sediments of river deposits(e.g. the Reading Beds), which haveyielded many fossils and archaeologicalremains. To the east, the GreaterThames Estuary is a continuation ofthe London Basin syncline. Here sandand clays form a low-lying coastlinethat is indented by major estuaries,including the Thames, the Blackwaterand the Stour.

deposits are exposed on the foreshorein places from Sheringham toLowestoft, and in cliffs on the SuffolkCoast, with London Clay becomingmore prominent to the south.

To the south the landscape isdominated by the syncline (trough-like) formation of the London Basin,which is fringed by more resistantCretaceous chalk such as the majorchalk ridge of the Chilterns. The


11

Red Crag, The Naze SSSI, Essex. Chris Gibson/English Nature

East of England Region Freshwater

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Broads, one of Britain’s finest andmost extensive wetlands. Elsewherein the Region large rivers, drains andwatercourses are characteristic of thelow-lying areas, for example theRivers Nene and Ouse in WestAnglian Plain and The Fens; theRivers Wensum and Waveney in EastAnglian Plain; and the RiverThames in the London Basin.Part of the River Nar, which flowsfrom North Norfolk into The Fens,is the best example of a chalk river inthe Region. It has riffles and poolsand many active springs in its upperand middle courses. Chalk rivers

Freshwater

Acomplex of rivers andstreams flow across the Eastof England Region, many of

which have been modified for floodalleviation or drainage. Parts ofthree rivers are prominent examplesof their type. A stretch of the RiverWensum, that flows across NorthNorfolk into the East Anglian Plain,and part of the Old Bedford River inThe Fens, are outstanding lowlandrivers with a range of aquatic plantcommunities. In addition, the slow-flowing complex of the Rivers Bure,Yare and Waveney and theirtributaries and lake systems form the

Issue: water quality

● Maintain or, whereappropriate, restore highwater quality by:◗ improving sewagetreatment where necessary;

◗ safeguarding lakes andponds from agricultural andurban run-off.

Issue: water management/engineering

● When planning andundertaking abstraction andengineering work:◗ avoid damaging sites ofwildlife interest;

◗ maintain appropriate waterlevels in all water bodies.

● Restore natural dynamicriver processes, especially infloodplains.

Issue: recreation

● Avoid detrimental impacts onhabitats and species bymanaging the recreationaluse of rivers, canals and lakesappropriately.

Issue: inappropriate management

● Manage waterside habitatsappropriately by re-

establishing naturalwaterside habitats.


Yare Broads and Marshes, Norfolk. Peter Wakely/English Nature


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Fragments of lowland calcareousgrasslands occur across several otherNatural Areas in the Region andthese include some individual sitesof international importance such asthe orchid-rich grasslands of Devil’sDyke in the East Anglian Chalk.Unimproved neutral grasslandsoccur on calcareous clays andalluvial deposits, with species-richhay meadows present in WestAnglian Plain and East AnglianPlain, notably at Portholme which isa candidate Special Area ofConservation (SAC). Fragments ofacid grasslands occur mostcommonly in association withheathland, for example in NorthNorfolk, Breckland and SuffolkCoast and Heaths.

Wet grasslands feature prominentlyin the Region, the largest of whichare the flood meadows on the plainsof major river systems in The Fens,East Anglian Plain, The Broads,London Basin and Suffolk Coastand Heaths. Many of these areas are

Candidate Special Areas of Conservation● Breckland (Breckland)

● Devil’s Dyke (East Anglian Chalk)

● Minsmere to Walberswick Heaths and Marshes (Suffolk Coast and

Heaths)

● Portholme (West Anglian Plain)

● Rex Graham Reserve (Breckland)

Special Protection Areas● Broadland (The Broads)

● Breydon Water (The Broads)

● Ouse Washes (The Fens)

● Nene Washes (The Fens)

● Minsmere-Walberswick (Suffolk Coast and Heaths)

Potential Special Protection Areas● Breckland (Breckland)

● Suffolk Sandlings (Suffolk Coast and Heaths)

Characteristic habitats ofkey Natural Areas

37. The Fens

● Wet neutral grasslandincluding washlands andfloodplain grazing marsh

● Ditches and drains within wetgrasslands, some of botanicalsignificance, e.g. Ouse Washes

● Some improved neutralgrassland

46. Breckland

● Extensive areas of dry lowlandheathland

● Significant areas of lowlandcalcareous grassland andlowland dry acid grassland

● Inland sand dunes withgrassland vegetation

47. North Norfolk

● Significant areas of wet and drylowland heathland

● Small areas of lowlandcalcareous (chalk) grassland

● Small fragments of acidgrassland

● Coastal grazing marshesimportant for birds and someinvertebrates

48. The Broads

● Extensive high quality lowlandwet grassland along river valleys

● Internationally importantnetwork of ditch systems withinthe grazing marshes


● Extensive areas of dry lowlandheathland

● Fragments of lowland dry acidgrassland on Sandlings Heaths

● Wet grassland and grazingmarsh alongside floodplains ofrivers and estuaries

66. London Basin

● Notable areas of lowland dryheath and lowland wet heath

● Areas of acid grasslands● Wet neutral grasslands in river

valleys● Dry neutral grasslands● Small area of lowland calcareous

grassland


37

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46

66

48

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Across the East of EnglandRegion extensive areas ofgrassland have been drained

and agriculturally improved, butsome grasslands of conservationimportance remain. The mosaic ofacid and calcareous soils inBreckland supports an outstandingmix of grassland vegetation typesand some of these are ofinternational importance. Theseinclude the most extensive survivingarea in Britain of a rare grassland

that is typical of dry, winter-coldcontinental areas, which ischaracterised by sheep’s fescue,mouse-ear hawkweed and wildthyme (including Breckland thyme,a distinct sub-species that is foundonly in Breckland). Breckland alsohas one of the most significant areasin England of inland dunes, whichsupport a lichen-rich grassland thatincludes two species, sand sedge andgrey hair-grass, that are normallyfound only on the coast.

Lowland grassland and heath

Issue: pressure for agriculturalintensification

● Avoid further agriculturalintensification by:◗ encouraging traditional,low-intensity agriculture;

◗promoting agri-environment schemes, wherechanges in farming practicewould benefit wildlife.

Issue: opportunities for habitatcreation

● Create or restore grasslandand heaths, especially wherethis extends or links existingfragments.

● Create wet grasslands byrestoring appropriateflooding regimes onfloodplains.

● Promote and encourage thecreation of conservation fieldmargins in cereal fields.

Issue: lack of appropriatemanagement

● Promote appropriatemanagement through:

● extensive, low-intensitygrazing and mowing ongrasslands and heaths;

● appropriate scrub control onheaths.


Sand catchfly, Lakenheath, Suffolk. Chris Gibson/English Nature


13

are particularly rich in species andchalk rivers and streams aresignificant features of Breckland,East Anglian Chalk and theChilterns.

The rivers support a varied aquaticand emergent flora and scarce plantspresent include the water soldier,whorled water milfoil, broad-leavedpondweed, Loddon pondweed andfen pondweed. The Broads alsosupport the only British populationsof the holly-leaved naiad and theNorfolk hawker dragonfly. Anumber of BAP animal species occur

Candidate Special Areas of Conservation

● Breckland (Breckland)

● Orton Pit (West Anglian Plain)


● The Broads (The Broads)

Special Protection Areas

● Abberton Reservoir (London Basin)

● Broadland (The Broads)


● Nene Washes (The Fens)

Potential Special Protection Areas

● London Reservoirs and Gravel Pits (London Basin)

● Lee Valley (London Basin)


37. The Fens

● Large, slow-flowing rivers anddrains

● Ditches and drains within wetgrasslands, some of botanicalsignificance, e.g. Ouse Washes

● Ponds and borrow pits (somemesotrophic standing waters)

● Many flooded gravel pits (somemesotrophic standing waters) 46. Breckland

● Network of chalk streams● Unique series of aquifer-fed

naturally fluctuating water bodies ● Some large gravel pits● Extensive series of pingos

48. The Broads

● Internationally importantnetwork of rivers and associatedlakes (broads)

● Eutrophic standing waters (lakes,broads and ditches)

● Internationally importantnetwork of ditch systems withinthe grazing marshes


● Long stretches of slow-flowingrivers and drains

● Series of flooded gravel pits andreservoirs

● Small ponds and shallow lakes;many of which are eutrophicstanding waters

66. London Basin

● Extensive network of rivers andstreams (the Thames and itstributaries)

● Series of flooded gravel pits andreservoirs

● Man-made lakes in Royal Parks


3746

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66

48

Frogbit with greater bladderwort, Woodwalton Fen, Cambridgeshire. Chris Gibson/English Nature

in the rivers, including thefreshwater pea mussel, thecompressed river mussel, the white-clawed crayfish, otters and watervoles. The spined loach occurs inthe River Ouse and its tributariesand the Ouse Washes is a candidateSpecial Area of Conservation (SAC)for this species. The rivers alsoprovide rich hunting grounds formany of the ten species of batrecorded in the Region.

There are many flooded gravel pits,clay pits and reservoirs in the Regionand these form significant landscapefeatures in the West Anglian Plain,East Anglian Plain, The Fens andthe London Basin. This series ofartificial water bodies has a widerange of water and substrate types,with a corresponding variety ofaquatic plants. The freshwaterhabitats in the Region are ofoutstanding importance forwintering waterfowl. TheBroadland Special Protection Area(SPA) holds internationallyimportant populations of Bewick’sand whooper swans, wigeon,gadwall and shoveler and thereservoirs and gravel pits of theLondon Basin, including AbbertonReservoir SPA, are of internationalimportance for wintering wigeon,gadwall and shoveler.

Most natural bodies of open waterin the Region are eutrophic (rich innutrients) or mesotrophic/eutrophic(medium-rich in nutrients). Theshallow eutrophic lakes and ditchsystems of the Broads support relictvegetation of the original freshwaterflora, and these are some of therichest areas for scarce plants in theRegion. Breckland has a uniqueseries of lakes and pools, includingfluctuating meres that occasionallydry out as a result of naturalfluctuations in groundwater levels.


14

River Wensum, Norfolk. Peter Wakely/English Nature

The ancient woods and parklands inthe Region support a notable range ofbreeding birds, including greenwoodpecker, great spottedwoodpecker, lesser spottedwoodpecker, spotted flycatcher, treepipit and firecrest, and largepopulations of woodlark and nightjarare found in the clearfell and youngconifer plantations in Breckland andthe Suffolk Sandlings in the SuffolkCoast and Heaths. Populations of thedormouse occur in a number ofwoods in the Region and there is anisolated population of red squirrels inThetford Forest in Breckland. Thewoods are also important habitats forthe ten species of bat found in theRegion; many of the recent Britishrecords of the rare barbastelle arefrom Breckland.

East of England Region Woodland

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East Grove, Essex. Chris Gibson/English Nature

Primroses at Bradfield Woods, Suffolk. Chris Gibson/English Nature

Coast and Heaths. Towards thecoast woodland is scarce but includessome important individual sites, suchas the internationally important alderwoods of The Broads, and theancient oak wood of Staverton Parkand the Thicks in the Suffolk Coastand Heaths.

Ancient species-rich hedgerows are acommon feature in parts of theRegion, although many hedges werelost with conversion to the large-scale arable fields that dominateparts of the landscape. In thisRegion most hedges have hawthornas a major component, and can varyin form, from the high hedgerows ofNorth Norfolk to the low hedges ofthe East Anglian Chalk.

The woods of the Region are rich inuncommon plant species includinggreen hound’s-tongue (a BAPspecies), and many orchid speciessuch as the very rare ghost orchid,the narrow-lipped helleborine

(which is found especially in beechwoods) and red helleborine. A widerange of epiphytic species (i.e.growing on other plants) also occurincluding knothole moss; theChilterns is one of only threelocalities in Britain where theliverwort Metzgeria fruticulosa growson box leaves. Several rare speciesof fungi are strongly associated withthe calcareous beechwoods,including Devil’s bolete (a priorityBAP species), old man of the woodsand the very poisonous, red-staininginocybe.

The ancient woods also supportnationally important communities ofdeadwood invertebrates that includerare beetles such as the stag beetle andviolet click beetle. A large number ofbutterflies and moths are alsoassociated with woodland in theRegion, including the BAP speciesfan-foot moth, olive crescent moth,common fan-foot moth and pearlbordered fritillary.

pasture woodland and parkland isreflected in the presence of manyold, pollarded trees. These ‘veteran’trees support many lichens,deadwood beetles, and provideroosts for bats and birds. Several ofthese woods are candidate SACs.

Clusters of ancient oak-ash woods,some of which are large, also occur inthe West Anglian Plain andBedfordshire Greensand Ridge andoak woodland dominates the Yardley-Whittlewood Ridge. Oak, ash andbeech woods occur in East AnglianChalk, and there is a fairly evenscatter of relatively small ancientwoods and parklands through theEast Anglian Plain. These includehornbeam at the northernmost edgeof its range, and a small-leaved limewood at Hockering. The largestconifer plantations in the Region arein Thetford Forest in Breckland andthe Sandling plantations in Suffolk


22

Woodland ground flora, Epping Forest, Essex.Chris Gibson/English Nature

These fluctuating meres supportseveral rare plants including themoss Physocomitrium eurystomum,which occurs largely around theBreckland pool margins, and thesemeres are the only location in Britainfor a species of water flea.Breckland also has an extensivesystems of pingos, shallow glacialdepressions that sometimes fill withwater. The pingos support anunusual fauna with a remarkablerange of invertebrates, includingwater beetles that are more typical ofcolder, more northern climates.

Other small ponds and lakes areabundant across the Region and arenotable for their populations ofgreat-crested newts, toads andcommon frogs. Although artificial inorigin (former clay pits), the series ofponds at Orton Pit supports thelargest known population of great-crested newts in Britain and is acandidate SAC for this species.


15

Common frog. Chris Gibson/English Nature

Old Bedford River, Cambridgeshire. Peter Wakely/English Nature

East of England Region Bog, fen and swamp

16

sedges), transition mire(characteristic between acid bog andalkaline fen) and the largest examplein Britain of calcareous fens withgreat fen-sedge. Breckland, EastAnglian Plain and North Norfolkeach have internationally importantfens in the heads of valleys and whichare fed by groundwater springs, atype that is rare in the lowlands.

Bog, fen and swamp

Although areas of fenvegetation are scatteredthroughout Britain, the main

concentrations of lowland fen occurin the East of England Region. Thefloodplain of the Broads has thelargest expanse of species-rich fen inlowland Britain, with a mosaic ofvegetation types that includes alkalinefen (short fens composed mainly of

Issue: water quantity/quality

● Maintain or, wherenecessary, restore thehydrological integrity ofwetlands by:◗ avoiding policy andplanning decisions thatinterfere with hydrology;

◗ restoring water levels ofdegraded bogs and fens, orimpeding drainage.

● Restore the quality of fensand flushes by:◗ eliminating harmful run-offor other sources of nutrientenrichment and otherpollution;

◗ improving sewagetreatment where necessary.

Issue: habitat loss

● Extend the areas of fens andreedbeds by raising waterlevels, especially to link

existing fragments.

Issue: habitat management

● Restore the quality ofdegraded bog, fen and swamphabitats by: ◗ removing degraded peat,scrub, or reeds wherenecessary;

◗ grazing or reed-cutting onneglected tall fen habitats.


Ant Broads and Marshes, Norfolk. Peter Wakely/English Nature


21

the Chiltern beechwoods areimportant associated habitats suchas yew woods and box woods.

The woodland of the London Basinis dominated by beech, oak andhornbeam. Some of these woods areformer pasture woodland, wheregrazing as well as wood productionwas practised. There are also anumber of parklands, where thegrazing animals were often deer,such as in the old royal parks. Thetraditional management of the


● Epping Forest (London Basin)

● Staverton Park and The Thicks, Wantisden (Suffolk Coast and

Heaths)


● Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods (London Basin)


None

52. West Anglian Plain

● Lowland oak and mixeddeciduous woods

● Numerous ancient coppicewoods

54. Yardley-Whittlewood

Ridge

● Dominated by lowland mixeddeciduous woodland

● Ancient lowland wood pastureand parkland with veterantrees

65. Chilterns

● Extensive areas of lowlandbeech and yew woodland

● Some areas of lowland mixeddeciduous woodland

● Box woodland

66. London Basin

● Extensive areas of lowlandbeech and yew woodland

● Significant areas of lowlandmixed deciduous woodlandand oak-hornbeam woods

● Small areas of wet woodland(mostly alder) in wet gullies

● Numerous large lowland woodpastures and parklands




● Numerous ancient lowlandoak and mixed deciduouswoods

● Hornbeam woods at northernedge of their range

● Ancient lowland wood pastureand parkland with veterantrees

50

65

66

5254

Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods, Hertfordshire. Chris Gibson/English Nature


20

The Chilterns and LondonBasin are some of the mostheavily wooded areas in

England and a significant proportionof these woods are of ancient origin.The Chilterns have the mostextensive area of native beech

woodland in England, ranging frombeech woods on acid soils, throughoak-beech woods on heavy clays tobeech woods on thin, chalky soils. Anumber of the Chilterns woods arecandidate Special Areas ofConservation (SACs). Also within

Woodland

Issue: development● When planning development,

avoid the loss of ancient andsemi-natural woodland.

Issue: habitat fragmentation● Create new broadleaved

woodland: ◗ around existing blocks ofwoodland;

◗ where this will link ancientwoods.

● Re-create hedgerows,especially where this will link

fragments.

Issue: management● To encourage management

of existing woods, develop

local markets for timber andwood, especially coppiceproducts.

● Promote restoration ofcoppice and pollardmanagement, particularlywhere it will have benefits forwildlife.

● Encourage agriculturalpolicies and practice thatallow the spread ofwoodlands onto adjacentland.

Issue: plantation● To improve the conservation

value of plantations:◗ restore native broadleavedtrees in ancient woodlandreplanted with conifers;

◗ undertake appropriatefelling or replanting tobenefit heathland birds.


Hornbeam coppice, Thrift Wood, Essex. Chris Gibson/English Nature

Other, mostly small areas of fenvegetation occur across the Region,mainly associated with small streamsand springs. Some of these formindividual sites of importance.

Although dominated by sedges andrushes most fens have a rich flora thatincludes numerous rare and scarceplants. The areas of fen vegetation inthe Region support the main Britishpopulations of scarce plants such asfibrous tussock-sedge, marsh orchid


● Fenland (The Fens; East Anglian Chalk)

● Norfolk Valley Fens (North Norfolk; East Anglian Plain; Breckland)

● Roydon Common and Dersingham Bog (North Norfolk)


● Waveney and Little Ouse Valley Fens (East Anglian Plain;

Breckland)


● Broadland (The Broads)

● Minsmere-Walberswick (Suffolk Coast and Heaths)


17

Fen violet, Woodwalton Fen, Cambridgeshire. Peter Wakely/English Nature


37. The Fens

● Small, scattered areas of relictfen

● Purple moor-grass and rushpastures

● Small areas of marsh, fen-sedge swamp and reedbedhabitats

46. Breckland

● Spring-fed valley fens inheadwaters and tributaries ofrivers

● Some reedbeds along riversidesand on margins of lakes

47. North Norfolk

● Series of spring-fed valley fensin headwaters of rivers

● Areas of purple moor-grass andrush pastures

48. The Broads

● Largest expanse of species-rich lowland fen in Britain

● Swamps and reedbeds alongriversides

● Some areas of purple moor-grass and rush pastures


● Extensive reedbeds, includinglargest continuous reedbed inEngland

● Significant swamp habitats● Fen vegetation in floodplains


● Series of spring-fed valley fensin headwaters of rivers

● Some areas of purple moor-grass and rush pastures


37

50

46

4748

49

and milk parsley. A number of BAPplant species grow predominantly infen habitats, e.g. fen violet, and theRegion has populations of a numberof priority BAP species includingslender green feather moss, the onlyEnglish populations of fen orchid,and one of only two Englishpopulations of Norfolk flapwort.

Another important type of fen occurson moist, peaty soils in the Region.Dominated by purple moor-grass,this fen meadow vegetation is oftenspecies-rich and occurs in a number

of Natural Areas in the Region,including The Fens, The Broads andEast Anglian Plain. Some of thesesites, namely Fenland, and Waveneyand Little Ouse Valley Fens, are ofinternational importance and arecandidate Special Areas ofConservation (SACs).

A rich mix of other habitats occur inassociation with fens, includingswamps, reedbeds and carrwoodland. Swamps and reedbedsoccur across the Region in rivervalleys, on the edges of lakes and inold clay and gravel pits, and thelargest reedbeds in England are inSuffolk Coast and Heaths.


18

Waveney-Little Ouse Valley Fens, Suffolk. Peter Wakely/English Nature

Fen orchid at Catfield Fen, Norfolk.Peter Wakely/English Nature

Mosaics of wetland habitats are veryrich in invertebrates and the fens andreedbeds in the Region supportpopulations of two priority BAPspecies, the leaf beetle Cryptocephalusexiguus and the longhorn beetle Oberaoculata. Several colonies of thenarrow-mouthed whorl snail andmany of the English colonies ofDesmoulin’s whorl snail, bothpriority BAP species, also occur inthe fens of the Region. Populationsof numerous butterflies and mothshave also been recorded in the fensand reedbeds, including the silkywave moth, marsh moth, white-mantled wainscot moth, silver barredmoth and sword-grass moth.

The reedbeds and swamps supportsignificant populations of breedingand wintering birds. The reedbedsand swamps within BroadlandSpecial Protection Area (SPA) andMinsmere-Walberswick SPA holdinternationally important populationsof breeding bittern (a priority BAPspecies), marsh harrier and beardedtit, and are important for other rarebreeding species such as Cetti’swarbler and Savi’s warbler.


19

Purple loosestrife, Woodwalton Fen, Cambridgeshire. Allan Drewitt/English Nature

Silver barred moth. Chris Gibson/English Nature