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3.4.8.2 National and Local Designations

There are 2 National Nature Reserves (NNR) in the WMMA, Sutton Park and WrenÂ’s Nest. Sutton Park NNR covers just over 877 hectares and was a medieval deer park. The main habitat is lowland heath. WrenÂ’s Nest NNR covers just over 34 hectares and is known for its geological and wildflower interest and also several important bird species. The caverns also offer important roost sites for several bat species.

There are 25 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in the WMMA. The majority of the sites have been designated for their biodiversity importance (16 sites), with the remaining 9 having been designated due to their geological importance.

English Nature maintains statistics on the condition of all SSSIs in the country, and they have a Public Service Agreement target to have 95% of the SSSI area in “favourable” or “unfavourable recovering” condition by 2010. The figure for the WMMA currently stands at 93.76%, with Table 3?3 providing a summary of the statistics.

Table 3?3 WMMA SSSI Condition

SSSI Condition report summary (01/08/2005)

Area %

% Area favourable

38.04%

% Area unfavourable recovering

55.72%

% Area unfavourable no change

5.59%

% Area unfavourable declining

0.63%

% Area destroyed/part destroyed

0.03%

English Nature reports for the condition of SSSIs were reviewed to find the reasons behind certain SSSI areas falling in the ‘part destroyed/destroyed’ category. The review found that transport related impacts were not given as the reason for the adverse condition at these sites.

However, transport related factors do have the potential for causing the unfavourable status of SSSIs. At a national level, English Nature has published a summary of the main reasons for SSSIs being reported as being in an adverse condition. The full results are presented in Appendix D, but categories where the Local Transport Plan has been identified as having a potential influence are as follows:

Local Nature Reserves (LNR) are areas of local importance for biodiversity designated by local authorities. There are 44 LNRs in the WMMA, and the locations of these sites have been taken into account, as well as the sites of international and national importance, in the assessment of the major schemes.