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Nature Conservation Areas

A key aspect of the County Council's nature conservation work concerns land that is designated in some way for nature conservation. As there is a multitude of different designations it is hoped that it is helpful to provide some explanation about the different categories of site.

Statutory Sites

International Sites


In October 1994 the Conservation (Natural Habitats & c.) Regulations came into force implementing the European Community Directive on the conservation of natural habitats and wild fauna and flora. Together...
  • Special Areas of Conservation (SACs, designated under the EU Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora), and
  • Special Protection Areas (SPA, designated under the EU Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds)
make up a network of areas of wildlife importance known as Natura 2000 (Sites of Community Importance).

Within County Durham there are six SACs that cover Moor House and Upper Teesdale, North Pennine Hay Meadows, North Pennine Moors, Castle Eden Dene, Thrislington and parts of the Durham Coast and three SPAs, the North Pennine Moors and Durham Coast (parts of the Northumbria Coast and Teesmouth and Cleveland Coast sites). All candidate SACs and SPAs have already been notified as Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

Ramsar Sites Such sites cover wetlands of international importance designated under the Ramsar Convention. The sections of the Durham coast which are designated as SPAs are also Ramsar sites. (Named after a town in Iran, the Ramsar Convention is concerned with the protection of wetlands, especially those important for migratory birds)

International Biosphere Reserve A UNESCO designation, there is one such site within the County at Moor House and Upper Teesdale National Nature Reserves. This was the first to be established in the United Kingdom. (UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation)

Nationally Important Sites

Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) are the best examples of our national heritage of wildlife habitats, geological features and landforms and are notified under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000). These sites, of which there are currently 92 wholly or partly in County Durham, are notified by English Nature, the government advisers on nature conservation. A list of potentially damaging operations is produced for each site and if any owner or occupier proposes to undertake any of these operations it is necessary for them first to contact English Nature. Where damage is unavoidable English Nature will not normally grant consent but may offer payment for a management agreement which will promote the positive management of the site for nature conservation.

The County Council owns several SSSIs that are managed for nature conservation including Wingate Quarry Local Nature Reserve, Waldridge Fell Country Park, Pow Hill Country Park and land on the coast.

National Nature Reserves There are six National Nature Reserves within the County. Five are managed by English Nature, these are: Upper Teesdale, Castle Eden Dene, Thrislington, Cassop Vale; Derwent Gorge and Muggleswick Woods whilst a sixth, the Durham Coast, is managed largely by other organisations.

Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Whilst the primary objective of AONB designation is to conserve and enhance natural beauty the designation also includes the conservation of flora, fauna and landform features. The North Pennine AONB straddles the boundaries of Durham, Cumbria and Northumberland and contains land in all three counties.

Non-Statutory Sites

Non-statutory sites can be considered to be of county or local importance and include:
County Wildlife Sites Formerly referred to as Sites of Particular Ecological Importance, County Wildlife Sites are designated by the County Council following consultation with relevant conservation organisations. There are currently 320 such sites which have been notified to district councils and the various utilities in order that they can consult the County Council on planning applications or other development which could affect their interest. The system thereby acts as a 'flagging up' process to ensure that the interest of the sites is not lost through ignorance. Local plan policies normally exist to help protect the sites by, for example, not allowing development to take place that would be damaging to these sites except in rare circumstances.
County Geological Sites Equivalent to County Wildlife Sites is a series of 70 County Geological Sites that are also notified to district councils and utilities. When consultations on proposed developments are received expert advice is obtained from appropriate geologists.

"Regionally Important Geological/Geomorphological Sites"
At present there is only one RIG site in Durham, Moking Hurth Cave in Teesdale. A fundamental aspect of the designation of RIGS is that the owner should support the designation and be willing to permit public access.

Sites of Nature Conservation Importance This is a composite term for non-statutory second tier sites (below SSSIs). These generally include County Wildlife Sites, County Geological Sites, RIG Sites and can also include third tier sites which are designated by some district councils.

Local Nature Reserves LNRs are established by local authorities under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 on land in which the authority has a legal interest. At present there are 18 LNRs in County Durham which are owned and managed by the County Council:

In addition the District Councils have also designated a number of Local Nature reserves.

Ancient Woodland Sites English Nature has produced an inventory and maps of sites considered to have been continuously wooded since 1600. These are indicated either as ancient semi-natural woodland or ancient replanted woodland. Local plans often contain policies that seek to protect ancient woodland sites.

Environmentally Sensitive Area The Pennine Dales Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) was set up in 1987 to help farmers safeguard areas of the Durham and Northumberland uplands of landscape, wildlife or historic interest, through the provision of special grants. The ESA covers parts of Weardale, Rookhope, Teesdale, Baldersdale and Lunedale together with dales landscapes in the neighbouring county of Northumberland.

For further information, please contact:

Environment
Durham County Council
County Hall
Durham
DHl 5UQ
Tel: 0191 383 4085
Email Countryside

English Nature
Stocksfield Hall
Stocksfield
Northumberland
NE49 7TN
Tel: 01661 845 500
Email northumbria@english-nature.org.uk