NOTTINGHAMSHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST
SITE DESIGNATIONS
(SSSI, SINC, LNR, RIGS)
SITES OF SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC INTEREST (SSSI)
This is a national designation conferred by English Nature on pieces of land whose wildlife or geological interest is particularly good example of a particular type of wildlife habitat, contains some very unusual species or a very wide range of species. Surprisingly such a designation brings only limited protection.
At a local level Rushcliffe Local Plan pledges not to allow any development that will directly or indirectly effect a SSSI. However central government could (and in the case of road building schemes has), put aside such protection in the national interest.
Further the designation may have little or know effect on how the land is managed and there have been examples of SSSI`s being ploughed out or fertilised to destruction, as there is limited money available to "convince" a landowner to carry on with the lower productivity uses that created or preserved the rich wildlife interest in the first place. Essentially unless the land is in the hands of a conservation organisation or a sympathetic landowner, it is at risk.
Rushcliffe contains eight SSSI`s. Only two are managed as nature reserves.
Barnstone Railway Cutting - geological interest
Gotham Hill Pastures - grassland owned by British Gypsum
Kinoulton Marsh - marshland, privately owned
Normanton Pastures - grassland/water, privately owned
Orstson Plaster Pits - grassland/water, privately owned.
Rushcliffe Golf Course - grassland
Wilford Claypits - ponds/marsh/grassland, owned by Rushcliffe BC and managed by NWT
Wilwell Cutting - grassland/marsh, owned by RBC and managed by NWT.
SITES OF IMPORTANCE FOR NATURE CONSERVATION
SINC`s represent the Counties Critical Wildlife Capital. The designation is decided by a panel of experts for the county and is only allocated to sites that represent the best of particular habitats in the area. Whilst the SSSI is for sites of national importance, the SINC is of county or borough importance. Thus a site of apparent unimpressive credentials may be designated because that type of habitat is rare in that particular area, whilst a better habitat (but more commonly found) may not be designated.
Within Rushcliffe around 1,500 hectares of land have been designated, this represents less than 1% of the boroughs land. Some idea of scale can be gained from the fact that the current local housing plans for 8,000 houses cover a proposed 390 hectares. But only 80 hectares of land in the area under active nature conservation management. The vast majority of SINC`s are in private ownership (farms/companies/estates) with a purpose other than nature conservation. Thus at best most of our best wildlife habitat serves a primary purpose other than nature conservation and can be damaged or destroyed without the possibility of redress.
SINC`s by their very nature are tend to be fragmented and small, with most sites being under 5 hectares. This does create problems in terms of variety of species, viable populations, genetic variety, disease and damaging activities. However where groups of sites are clustered together with reasonable links, this can be less of a problem. A cluster of sites will have a slightly differing geology and history. Each site will tend to support a slightly varied flora and fauna mix. The separation also provides scope for a varied gene pool within a species, as well as providing some protection.
LOCAL NATURE RESERVES (LNR)
LNR`s are designated by English Nature in co operation with the District Council. The designation has more to do with community involvement and access than the wildlife interest, although a management plan is required. Thus a site that is neither of SSSI or SINC quality for it`s wildlife interest could be designated as an LNR if it attracts good local community input.
In theory LNR`s receive similar protection from development to SSSI`s in the Local Plan Policies. However the very fact that there is an organised community input implies the site is under symphathetic ownership. LNR designation may however help to attract some funding sources.
Currently there are two LNR`s in Rushcliffe, they are Keyworth Meadows and Wilwell Cutting. Both designated several years ago. However RBC are actively looking at designating up to five more sites in the next few years. Possibilities include locations such as Sutton Bonnington, Bingham Linear Walk, Sharphill Wood, Cotgrave Colliery Garden.
REGIONALLY IMPORTANT GEOLOGICAL SITES (RIGS)
The conservation of geological sites is an important element of our work which has a low profile - here Brian Playle of the County 'RIGS' group explains what 'RIGS' are and why we need to protect them.
WHAT ON EARTH ARE R.I.G.S.?
R.I.G.S. are regional important geological sites. Throughout the UK a network of R.I.G.S. groups has been set up, based mainly with county Wildlife Trusts, to record and preserve sites of local geological interest and to explain their significance to the public.
DO RIGS REALLY MATTER?
The rocks beneath our feet are basic to our understanding of events which helped to fashion the landscape of Nottinghamshire millions of years ago. The Lias clay of the Vale of Belvoir, the Sherwood sandstones and the Bulwell limestone, for example, have weathered into soils which influence a wide variety of, firstly, plant life and, consequently, insect and vertebrate life which the Trust seeks to preserve. Far from being dull our rocks are interesting and fundamental to all wildlife.
WHAT ARE WE DOING?
The Nottinghamshire R.I.G.S. group is looking at quarries (working and disused) and natural rock exposures (e.g., Castle Rock) and building up a picture of those worth preserving with a story to tell about the past. These are the sites of regional geological importance.
WHAT USE WILL R.I.G.S. BE?
It is hoped that with the landowner's co-operation suitable R.I.G.S. sites, with good access, can be used by schools to discover the fascinating detective story in stone of events long ago. In a county like Derbyshire, such sites are readily available, but in Nottinghamshire they are scarce. Therefore we must preserve and use what remains.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Trust members, through the local groups, can help by looking out for potential R.I.G.S. sites and in conservation work to improve access and site management. For further information please contact Madge Wright, Notts R.I.G.S. group leader, through the Trust's office.
(Copy of an article in Nottinghamshire Wildlife - April 2000)
RUSHCLIFFE DISTRICT - DESIGNATED RIGS SITES - JULY 1996
1) BARNSTONE QUARRY (CEMENT WORKS) SK 734 349
2) BARNSTONE RAILWAY CUTTING SK 742 355
3) BUNNY CLAYPIT SK 580 286
4) EDWALTON BRICK PIT SK 589 362
5) GIBBET HILL RIVER CLIFFS SK 651 406
6) GUNTHORPE WEIR SK 688 436
7) KEYWORTH RAILWAY CUTTING SK 630 319
8) OLD STONE PIT, DEVIL'S ELBOW SK 670 316
9) OWTHORPE QUARRY SK 675 341
10) RED HILL, RATCLIFFE-ON-SOAR SK 492 304
11) RIVER CLIFFS, RADCLIFFE-ON-TRENT SK 645 398
12) TRENT HILLS RIVER CLIFF SK 695 449
13) WILFORD CLAYPIT SK 570 354
SITE CONSULTATION PROCEDURE
This information is provided solely to assist in the conservation of the sites listed. It is suggested that this can best be achieved by an active consultation process between planners and the RIGS Group. It is important that planners consult the RIGS Group (contact addresses below) about any proposed or existing activity or development (of any kind) for any site listed above. In return the RIGS Group will provide an informed response. We should also be pleased to advise on any suggestions regarding possible educational/interpretational use.
Please contact either of the below:
Keeper of Natural Sciences (Geology) The RIGS Officer
Nottinghamshire Geological Records Centre Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust
Nottingham Natural History Museum Ragged School
Wollaton Hall Brook Street
Nottingham Nottingham
Tel: 0115 9281333 Tel: 0115 9588242