Natural Areas in and the South East Region

helping to set the regional agenda for nature

Introduction

egional strategies and policy The conservation of nature is a key local and national priorities for nature documents are being drawn test of policy in all three facets of into the Regional decision-making R up by the newly-created sustainable development, the social, framework. It contains information of Regional organisations. These are the economic and the environmental. direct relevance to the development required to encompass the protection While its role in the environment is of Regional Planning Guidance and and management of the environment self evident, it also has social Single Programming Documents to by applying the principles of implications through the spiritual, support the delivery of European sustainable development. cultural and recreational value of Union Structural Funding, people’s experience of the natural regeneration funding and other This document has been produced world; and economic implications economic and social programmes. by English Nature, the Government through the provision of exploitable body that promotes the conservation resources and the attractiveness to The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries of wildlife and natural features investors of high quality and Food, the , throughout . It is for use by environments. the country forestry organisations, the Regional Development Agency, local authorities and statutory and the Government Regional Office If we are serious about achieving other agencies involved in land use and the Regional Chambers, when sustainable development, then and land management issues will also making Regional policy. We hope understanding the priorities for the find it relevant and, we hope, of value. that it will provide a starting point conservation of the biodiversity and for discussion with our network of Earth heritage resource of the Region We envisage that this document can Regional Lead Teams, who can is therefore essential. This report is a therefore be used at a number of key provide valuable support, and links first step towards that understanding, points within the Regional strategy- into wider partnerships. and provides the basis for integrating making and planning process.

Ebernoe Common, West . Peter Wakely/English Nature

London and the South East Region Introduction 3 Natural Areas as a Regional framework for nature English Nature has divided England into a series of Natural Areas. Their boundaries are based on the distribution of wildlife and natural features and the land use patterns and human history of each area. They do not follow administrative boundaries but relate instead to variations in the character of the landscape. They reflect our cultural heritage and are central to English Nature’s organisational strategy Beyond 2000.

We worked with the Countryside Commission (soon to become the Countryside Agency) to identify a joint approach to the characterisation of the countryside into locally distinctive units called character areas. Where the wildlife and natural features are similar between adjacent character areas we have merged them into one Natural Area - so, a Natural Area may contain sevaral character areas that are considered to be different landscape types.

Natural Areas offer a more effective framework for the planning and achievement of nature conservation objectives than do administrative boundaries. Although they are not formal Beacon, Sussex. Peter Wakely/English Nature designations they are now recognised in Government Planning Policy Guidance Relevant Government Planning Policy Guidance (PPG) (PPG) and other statutory advice.

PPG 7: The Countryside: environmental quality and economic and Within this framework, we have, with social development our key partners in the Region, PPG 9: Nature Conservation identified the chief threats to, and PPG 11: Regional Planning Guidance opportunities for, nature conservation. PPG 12: Development Plans and Regional Planning Guidance Together, we have defined a range of (presently under review) issues, and set associated objectives PPG 13: Transport that we believe provide a starting point for Regional action to protect and Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions Policy Guidance: Policy manage our biodiversity and geological appraisal and the environment (DETR, 1998). assets. These objectives are set out in the sections which follow.

London and the South East Region Introduction 4 Objectives for sustainable development and 64 Midvale nature conservation in 63 Thames Ridge and Avon 52 West Anglian Vales 68 North London and the South Plain Plain

East Region 70 Wealden Greensand London and the South East is a 65 Chilterns olds Region of dramatic, and often sharp 67 Greater otsw Thames contrasts. Dense urban populations 55 C Estuary are concentrated in and around the 106 North Kent Coast major conurbations, most notably 66 London 69 North Downs London, with extensive motorway Basin and rail links across a typical rural 78 79 & Downs 107 East landscape where agriculture is the Marlborough 72 High 71 Romney Coast 74 dominant land use. South D Marshes 77 New owns The diversity of the Region supports 76 Isle of 73 Low Weald Wight 108 Folkestone to & Pevensey a characteristic combination of Selsey Bill 109 Solent and wildlife and Earth heritage. It Bay 75 ranges from the open spaces of the and Hampshire arable farming which dominate the Lowlands Regional boundary plateaux, to the river valleys and estuarine plains. The coast is almost entirely developed with the Natural Areas covered in London and the South East Region report exception of some superb natural harbours and spectacular cliffs. scene, but the detail has been, and Sustainable development requires Dense is found in will continue to be, shaped through integration, rather than balance or many areas, whilst the chalk forms human activity which is driven by trade off. Decision makers need to characteristic hills and escarpments. economic, social, and environmental build environmental and social In some areas there are intimate forces. criteria into the heart of their patterns of small fields, hamlets and policies and programmes - and winding lanes. Areas like the High Our ability to exploit the ensure that they are given the same Weald, the Wealden Greensand and environment for economic gain is weight as economic considerations the have an beginning to jeopardise our present at the beginning of the process. outstanding diversity of habitats and and future well-being. Since our This is what is meant by integration, species that are very rare, and of very decisions can have far-reaching and contrasts with the more familiar high quality, of which the Region effects on present and future situation, where proposals are drawn can be justifiably proud. The generations, we need to look at how up against economic criteria alone natural beauty of the Region we can act to maintain and improve and are only weighed against their provides the mainstay of a significant both our local and global environmental impact when they are tourism industry. environments. There is no doubt about to be implemented. that work at the Regional level can The distribution of wildlife and the be a powerful force in steering local The basic means for many of the texture of the landscape are the agendas for environmental action, Regional level structures and product of complex interactions. whilst providing strong links to organisations to act will be through The basic physical qualities of the national and international the planning process for built rock, soil and climate have set the programmes. development and infrastructure.

London and the South East Region Introduction 5 Planners have a key role in cities is maintained or improved. and implementation of policy and incorporating economic, The challenge will be to determine programmes for forestry, agriculture, environmental and social factors into which patterns and locations of water and recreation. Farming is the decisions about where to put homes, development prove most Region’s major land use. The jobs, shops and leisure facilities. In sustainable. habitats described in the following this way, demands on land, the chapters are predominantly part of environment and nature can be Conserving and enhancing nature agricultural management systems. managed more sustainably. can be compatible with development Farmland therefore provides a Regional Planning Guidance will be and, whilst the built environment has major source of opportunity for written to help with this process. fewer designated sites, Local Nature habitat creation and Reserves, pocket parks, green space maintenance, and species Current government policy and even private gardens, are the protection and enhancement. Its encourages investment in urban only contact the majority of people importance is reflected in the areas and existing centres rather have with nature. They are also issues and objectives that are than out of town sites. This means important reservoirs of biodiversity. listed at the start of each section. re-using previously developed urban land as much as possible, while Another essential role will be played The intensification of agriculture, ensuring that the quality of towns or by those charged with the design and associated decline in traditional land management, combined with the huge growth of the major towns and cities, has resulted in the reclamation and loss of much of the lowland semi-natural habitat of value to wildlife in London and the South East Region. The semi-natural habitats that remain are often small and isolated and are adversely affected by agricultural practices and pressure from development, including the use of pesticides and fertilisers, run-off of pollutants from industrial and housing estates, and the lowering of water tables through drainage and abstraction.

The populations of birds, mammals and plants which rely on the agricultural systems themselves have also plummeted. Major priorities therefore include: the sensitive management of existing habitats; increasing the area of existing habitats and re-establishing the links between them; and restoring the conditions in which the wildlife of cereal fields and pasture can also thrive.

Box Hill, . Peter Wakely/English Nature

London and the South East Region Introduction 6 Glossary How the contents of the report may be applied BAP: Biodiversity Action Plans for habitats and species.

Specific Relevant Biodiversity: Simply means the variety of life on application contents earth. It covers everything from human beings to trees, bacteria to blue whales. Many Regions have Sustainable We have sought to set biodiversity already produced or are working on Biodiversity development and Earth heritage in the context Audits and Action Plans which begin to catalogue and of sustainable development - and summarise their wealth of wildlife. This document to define the latter as a process of complements these and other initiatives, including integration. work on Local Agenda 21 and Local Biodiversity Action Plans, and existing Nature Conservation Strategies. Providing Descriptive text which outlines the context natural character of the Region. Earth heritage: We have a rich and diverse heritage of rocks, fossils, minerals and land forms. The Identifying Specific issues and objectives protection and management of these features is an issues and written for direct inclusion in integral part of nature conservation. objectives policy documents and/or distillation into policy to protect European Union Habitats and Birds Directives and enhance nature. requires the Government to designate and protect some of the most important areas for wildlife. They are or will be classified as Special Protection Areas Links to Key Natural Areas are named in (SPAs) and/or Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). international each section in order to ensure These sites are also Sites of Special Scientific Interest site designations that national priorities for habitat (SSSIs) but meet specific criteria for international and biodiversity conservation are taken into importance. In the case of marine SACs the SSSI account. They are identified as designation only applies down to the low water mark. supporting nationally important concentrations of a habitat or Habitat: is the natural home of any plant, and where Earth heritage feature and/or animals feed, breed and rest. international sites (Special Protection Areas and Special Areas Statutory guidance from the Secretary of State of Conservation) and biodiversity to the Regional Development Agencies (RDA) habitats and species. includes: Sustainable Development; Rural Policy; Regional Economic Strategies. White Papers Benchmarks A checklist is provided (Annex 1) include: Building Partnerships for Prosperity; The for nature to make an assessment of the Sustainable Development Strategy; contribution of policies, projects Rural White Paper; Urban White Paper. and programmes to the delivery of sustainability in relation to nature. Sustainable development: was defined by the 1987 World Commission Report on Environment and Development as “development which meets the needs Key contact The English Nature contact of the present without compromising the ability of points addresses are provided for the future generations to meet their needs”. It is often Region, including the Regional described as a ‘three legged stool’ whose legs comprise Lead Team, together with a list of environmental, economic and social. If any one of sources of information (Annex 2). them is missing as a consideration in decisions, the stool will topple.

London and the South East Region Introduction 7 Earth heritage

he London and the South The northern edge of the London Key issues and East Region is dominated Basin is delimited by the major ridge T by three geological features: of Cretaceous chalk that forms the objectives the trough-like syncline of the Chilterns and the Berkshire and , the dome-like Marlborough Downs, a series of hills structure of the Wealden anticline, dissected by networks of dry valleys Issue: maintenance of existing and the to the or coombes. The Berkshire and resource west. The London Basin has Marlborough Downs has the highest extensive sediments, mostly of concentration of Quaternary Sarsen ● Maintain important Earth London Clay and older Tertiary stones in England. During the heritage sites by: sediments of river deposits (e.g. Quaternary ice age these large stones ◗ agreeing, with extraction Reading Beds), which have yielded were weathered and carried across companies and landfill many fossils and archaeological the landscape as a result of the industries, the conservation remains. To the east, the Greater seasonal thawing of the permafrost. of important features; is a continuation of ◗ where necessary, clearing the London Basin syncline. Here The Thames and Avon Vales is a vegetation from rock faces; sand and clays form a low-lying low-lying plain of Jurassic clays which ◗ promoting responsible coastline that is indented by major surrounds the low Jurassic limestone fossil collecting from estuaries, including the Thames. hills of the Midvale Ridge. Both sensitive or vulnerable sites; ◗ ensuring that Earth heritage interests are considered as part of coastal sea defences under a Shoreline Management Plan; ◗ avoiding developments that interfere with the natural coastal processes of sedimentation and erosion.

Issue: underpromotion of Earth heritage

● Promote local Earth heritage by: ◗ encouraging site interpretation, for example through sign boards, trail guides, leaflets; ◗ promoting the links between and local habitats, landscape and archaeology; ◗ promoting the educational and scientific value of Earth heritage sites.

Beachy Head, . Peter Wakely/English Nature

London and the South East Region Earth heritage 8 Main Earth heritage features 65. Chilterns of key Natural Areas ● Ancient Thames river gravels 64 52 exposures in pits and quarries 67 52. West Anglian Plain ● Chalk dry valleys and 55 70 ● Formerly economically periglacial landforms 65 important ironstone deposits ● Chalk escarpment and 63 66 ● Middle Jurassic limestones and landscape, clay capping and 74 69 clays showing a great variety of associated exposures 73 72 71 107 environments 77 75 76 ● 66. London Basin 108 Oxford Clay exposures in 109 brickpits of importance for ● Exposures of Tertiary palaeontology and stratigraphy sedimentary rocks and their ● 70. Wealden Greensand Fossil-rich limestones and clays fossil plant remains at the junction of the Oxford and ● Exposures of Thames gravels ● Lower Greensand and Gault Ampthill Clays with rich faunas and associated fossiliferous sequence in classical area ● Exposures of well known river terrace deposits ● Pleistocene deposits including fossiliferous Cambridge ● Archaeological artefacts loess Greensand with diverse faunas located in Quaternary deposits ● Pleistocene landslip features; including reptile bones cambering and gullying ● Quaternary glacial deposits 67. Greater Thames Estuary ● Quaternary river terrace gravels 71. Romney Marshes with important fossil faunas ● Exposures of Tertiary sedimentary rocks and fossils ● Lower Cretaceous 55. ● Exposures of Thames gravels environments and associated fossiliferous ● Flandrian coastal evolution ● Cotswold scarp slope and clay river terrace deposits vales ● Archaeological artefacts in 72. High Weald ● Exposures of limestones in Quaternary deposits ● Uppermost Jurassic Cotswold scarp and valleys ● Low-lying ‘soft’ coastline ● environments - Purbeck Cotswold stone buildings indented by major estuaries Group and scattered with islands ● Lower Cretaceous 63. Thames and Avon Vales ● Two of the best saltmarsh stratigraphy and environments ● morphology sites in Britain Outcrops of Oxford and - Beds Group of ● has some of Kimmeridge Clays in brickpits Wealden Series ● Most northerly deposits of the best examples of modern ● Lower Cretaceous mass movement in Britain Wealden rocks in Britain palaeontology ● Upper Jurassic ‘Corallian’ 69. North Downs limestones and fossil remains in 73. Low Weald and Pevensey classic area ● Cretaceous stratigraphy ● ● Weald Clay Formation, Most northerly exposures of ● Downs landscape of chalk Wealden Series Portlandian rocks escarpment and dry valleys ● Palaeontology of the Weald ● Periglacial deposits and Clay Formation 64. Midvale Ridge coombe rock along the foot ● Upper Cretaceous Chalk ● slope of the Downs Classic ‘Corallian Group’ stratigraphy and palaeontology localities, some internationally ● Coastal exposures showing the well-known with important Cretaceous rocks and nature ammonite fossils of the Alpine folding ● Important Kimmeridgian reptile faunas continued on page 11

London and the South East Region Earth heritage 9 areas have yielded abundant fossil structure is the High Weald, a 9,500 years and which includes the remains, with the Midvale Ridge geologically complex area of Lower extensive shingle foreland at being particularly rich in ammonite Cretaceous clays and sandstones that Dungeness. fossils, with some reptile and is locally fossiliferous, and has yielded dinosaur remains. Further west are a substantial vertebrate fossil fauna. The outer edge of the Wealden the Cotswolds, prominent limestone The High Weald is surrounded by anticline is of Cretaceous chalk, a hills with valleys floored by softer the low-lying Cretaceous Weald pure limestone forming the North Jurassic clays. To the north-east is Clay formation of the Low Weald Downs and the North Kent Plain in the West Anglian Plain of Jurassic and Pevensey which is in turn the north, the South Downs in the marine clays and Quaternary rocks. surrounded by the Cretaceous south and the Hampshire Basin to Greensand escarpment. To the the west. The chalk hills of the The Wealden anticline dominates south-east lies Romney Marshes, Downs have networks of dry valleys the area to the south of the London formed of Flandrian coastal deposits with ephemeral streams or Basin. At the core of this dome-like that have accumulated over the last ‘winterbournes’.

Alum Bay, Isle of Wight. Peter Wakely/English Nature

London and the South East Region Earth heritage 10 Within the Hampshire Basin, the South Coast Plain and Hampshire 74. South Downs ● Late Pleistocene periglacial Lowlands and the has a erosion ● Cretaceous stratigraphy low relief of Tertiary sands, silts and ● Modern coastal ● South Downs landscape of clays. In contrast, the Isle of Wight is geomorphology, e.g. mass chalk dry valleys and dominated by an east-west movement, chalk platforms winterbournes Cretaceous chalk ridge. To the south ● Periglacial deposits and the eroding Lower Cretaceous coast 108. Folkestone to Selsey Bill coombe rock at the foot of the of clays and sands provides Europe’s Downs ● Upper Cretaceous most prolific source of Wealden fossil ● Coastal exposures of the chalk stratigraphy and environments reptiles. To the north the island is showing the nature of the - Hastings Beds Group and dominated by richly fossiliferous Alpine folding Weald Clay Tertiary clays and sands. ● Lower Cretaceous 75. South Coast Plain and palaeontology The North Kent Coast has low cliffs Hampshire Lowlands ● Upper Cretaceous of boulder clay and low, vertical chalk stratigraphy and environments cliffs that extend into Pegwell Bay ● Upper Cretaceous stratigraphy ● Lower Tertiary stratigraphy within the East Kent Coast. Here and environments ● Lower Tertiary palaeontology extensive deposits of Pleistocene chalk ● Lower Tertiary stratigraphy ● Evolution of the River Solent and flint rubble, wind-blown sands ● Lower Tertiary palaeontology and Pleistocene environments and river gravel deposits associated ● Evolution of the River Solent ● Flandrian coastal evolution with the River Stour are also exposed, and Pleistocene environments ● Large shingle cuspate foreland and from south of Pegwell Bay to ● Modern coastal geomorphology of Dungeness Folkestone there are extensive chalk ● Shingle spit (with series of cliffs. The cliffs from Kingsdown to 76. Isle of Wight sub-parallel ridges) at Pagham Dover are among the most active ● Lower Cretaceous Wealden Harbour vertical cliffs in England and Wales, palaeontology, stratigraphy and ● Geomorphologically with many landslips. The coastline palaeoenvironments important chalk cliffs of from Folkestone to Selsey Bill is ● Upper Cretaceous stratigraphy Beachy Head varied, providing a cross-section ● Tertiary palaeontology, though the Wealden anticline. There stratigraphy and 109. Solent and Poole Bay is an extensive shingle foreshore at palaeoenvironments ● Lower Cretaceous Wealden Dungeness. Between Rye Bay and ● Coastal geomorphology Eastbourne there are cliffs dominated stratigraphy and palaeoenvironments (IoW) by Lower Wealden sandstones and 77. New Forest clays, and from Beachy Head to ● Lower Cretaceous Wealden there are high, vertical chalk ● Tertiary stratigraphy palaeontology (IoW) cliffs that include the scenic Seven ● Tertiary fossils including ● Upper Cretaceous Sisters and Beachy Head. The coast molluscs, vertebrates and stratigraphy (IoW) between Shoreham and Selsey Bill is plants ● Tertiary stratigraphy and low-lying and dominated by ● Quaternary river gravels and palaeoenvironments fossiliferous Tertiary clays and sands, associated Palaeolithic ● Tertiary palaeontology which extend into Solent and Poole habitation ● Evolution of the River Solent Bay. Here river terrace gravels, and Pleistocene environments deposited by the ancient Solent and 107. East Kent Coast ● Coastal geomorphological subsequently drowned by the rising ● Upper Cretaceous stratigraphy features including Hurst Spit, sea, separate the Isle of Wight from ● Lower Tertiary stratigraphy and the the mainland and are rich in ● Lower Tertiary palaeontology Needles archaeological remains, with evidence of early human occupation.

London and the South East Region Earth heritage 11 Freshwater

ondon and the South East nationally important clay river. The Key issues and Region has a great diversity New Forest is of particular interest L of rivers and streams that as the river waters flow across acid objectives includes the large, slow-flowing and base-enriched rocks, giving rise rivers that drain the West Anglian to a diverse flora, such as in the Plain, and the extensive network of River. Issue: water quality lowland rivers and streams in the London Basin, many of which are Chalk rivers feature prominently in ● Maintain or restore high tributaries of the Thames. The this Region. The upper reaches are water quality by: Thames and Avon Vales has generally fast-flowing, spring-fed ◗ improving sewage numerous calcareous rivers and a streams, with sections known as treatment; number of streams in Kent flow ‘winterbournes’ that dry out in ◗ safeguarding rivers, lakes along clay-bottomed valleys, summer. These winterbournes are and ponds from agricultural including the Beult which is a characteristic of the Cotswolds, the and urban run-off.

Issue: water quantity/management

● When planning and undertaking abstraction and engineering work, avoid damaging sites of wildlife interest. ● Promote sustainable use of water resources.

Issue: recreation

● Avoid detrimental impacts on habitats and species by managing the recreational use of rivers, and other water bodies appropriately.

Issue: lack of or inappropriate management

● Manage waterside habitats appropriately by: ◗ re-establishing natural waterside and submerged habitats; ◗ restoring dynamic river processes, especially in floodplains

Lymington River. Peter Wakely/English Nature

London and the South East Region Freshwater 12 Chilterns, Berkshire and Marlborough Downs, the North Characteristic habitats of Downs and the South Downs. key Natural Areas There are several nationally important chalk rivers in the Region, 63. Thames and Avon Vales namely the Test, the Kennet and its ● Many clay-bottomed rivers, tributary, the , and, most 63 most forming tributaries of the 79 66 importantly, the Avon and the Thames 78 Itchen which have international ● Canals, including Kennet and 75 status as candidate Special Areas of Avon, Oxford, and Grand 77 Conservation (SAC). Union Canals ● Extensive marl lake systems The rivers and streams support a ● Extensive ditch systems wealth of aquatic life and chalk 75. South Coast Plain and 66. London Basin Hampshire Lowlands ● Extensive network of rivers ● Chalk rivers, including the and streams (the Thames and nationally important River its tributaries) Itchen and ● Numerous canals, including ● Series of gravel pits around the , and Kennet and Avon Canals ● Many farm ponds ● Series of flooded gravel pits and reservoirs 77. New Forest ● Man-made lakes in Royal ● Parks Many rivers and streams, including outstanding stretches of chalk rivers, e.g Avon ● Outstanding lowland rivers

Starfruit. and streams, e.g. Lymington Peter Wakely/English Nature River ● Many ponds, including nutrient-poor (e.g. Hatchet Candidate Special Areas of Conservation Pond) and temporary ponds ● The New Forest (New Forest) 78. ● River Avon (New Forest) ● Chalk rivers, including the ● River Itchen (Hampshire Downs; South Coast Plain and Hampshire nationally important River Lowlands) Itchen ● Ponds Special Protection Areas ● Stodmarsh (North Kent Plain) 79. Berkshire and Marlborough Downs

Potential Special Protection Areas ● Rivers and streams, including chalk rivers, e.g. Rivers Kennet ● Arun Valley (Wealden Greensand) and Lambourn ● Avon Valley (New Forest) ● habitats, e.g. Kennet ● Lee Valley (London Basin) and Avon canal ● South West London Water Bodies (London Basin) ● Ponds ● Dungeness to Pett Levels (Romney Marshes) NB Priority BAP habitats in italics

London and the South East Region Freshwater 13 rivers are particularly rich in species. The flora of the chalk rivers is characterised by water- crowfoots, water-starwort and lesser water-parsnip, with pondweeds and water lilies more prominent in some parts. River water-dropwort, a BAP species, occurs in some of the chalk rivers in the Region. The rivers and streams also have a diverse fauna, with invertebrates such as the white-clawed crayfish, the fine- lined pea mussel, important populations of the southern damselfly, and fish such as brook lamprey, river lamprey and salmon. The Region is also important for water voles, particularly the Wealden river catchments and otters are now recolonising some river systems.

Several canals cross the Region, including the Kennet and Avon , Kent. Peter Wakely/English Nature Canal which runs through the Thames and Avon Vales, Berkshire and Marlborough Downs and London Basin. The London Basin has numerous canals including the , which is nationally important for aquatic plants and invertebrates. It is botanically the most species-rich freshwater system in England, containing about half of Britain’s native aquatic higher plant species, and has 24 dragonfly species. The waterside habitats along the soft banks of the support strong populations of water vole.

An extensive series of flooded gravel pits and clay pits occurs in the river floodplains and, together with reservoirs, form significant landscape features in some areas, for example in West Anglian Plain and London Basin. These water Arrowhead. Allan Drewitt/English Nature

London and the South East Region Freshwater 14 bodies have a wide range of water and substrate types, with a corresponding variety of aquatic plants. Many of these large water bodies are important for breeding and wintering waterfowl and some, for instance Lee Valley in the London Basin, are potential Special Protection Areas (SPA) for internationally important populations of wildfowl such as gadwall and shoveler. Other artificial water bodies include ornamental lakes in London’s Royal Parks in London Basin and in the parklands of Wealden Greensand.

There are few large natural lakes in the Region but ponds are widespread. The New Forest has ponds of international importance, including the nutrient-poor Hatchet Pond and a series of temporary ponds that dry out in summer. The latter are important for rare invertebrates such Hatchet Pond, New Forest. Peter Wakely/English Nature as the tadpole shrimp, which is found in only one temporary pool of the New Forest, and the fairy shrimp. The priority BAP species, starfruit and brown galingale, are only found in a small number of ephemeral ponds in the Region.

Many other ponds were formed through past human activity such as mining or marl extraction. In Wealden Greensand and High Weald there are a number of ‘hammer ponds’ which originated from the Wealden iron industry. A wide variety of water beetles and reed beetles occur in the hammer ponds of the Wealden Greensand, including the spangled water beetle (a BAP species). Many of the pools support important populations of amphibians, including the internationally threatened great- crested newt which is widespread in the Region. , Berkshire. Peter Wakely/English Nature

London and the South East Region Freshwater 15 Inland rock

xposures of rock habitat are a predominantly western distribution Key issues and not extensive in London in Britain. These sandstone rock E and the South East Region habitats are characterised by two objectives but two Natural Areas have rock BAP species, the Tunbridge filmy- habitats that are of international fern and hay-scented buckler-fern, importance: High Weald and the and large numbers of liverworts Issue: rock removal Berkshire and Marlborough Downs. including Saccogyna viticulosa, ● Prevent the removal of Scapania umbrosa and the veilwort stone. The High Weald has numerous Pallavicinia lyelli (a BAP species). scattered outcrops of sandstone Mosses include Dicranum scottanum, Issue: recreation rocks, some of which are large. Such Tetrodontium brownianum and ● Protect rock habitats and outcrops are a distinctive feature of Orthodontium gracile (also a BAP their vegetation, by avoiding the countryside around Tunbridge species). disturbance through rock Wells. Large outcrops of this climbing. sandstone occur within the steep, The important rock habitats within wooded ravines (known locally as the Berkshire and Marlborough Issue: agriculture ‘gills’) and support internationally Downs are the world-famous ● Where overgrazing is important communities of lower ‘Sarsen’ stones. During the causing erosion and abrasion plants, including some species which Quaternary ice age these large stones of lichen and bryophyte prefer more humid climates and have were weathered and carried across communities, reduce stocking levels. ● Avoid spraying fertilisers and herbicides in areas adjacent to Sarsen stones.

Issue: management ● Clear rhododendron and vegetation that is overshadowing rocks with important lower plant communities, while retaining sufficient shelter and humidity.

Issue: public awareness ● Develop interpretation of Sarsen stones and important rock outcrops to raise awareness of their geological and nature conservation importance.

Hay-scented buckler-fern. Paul Sterry/Nature Photographers Ltd.

London and the South East Region Inland rock 16 79 72

Characteristic habitats of key Natural Areas

72. High Weald

● Sandstone rock outcrops in gill woodlands, with important lower plant communities

79. Berkshire and Marlborough Downs Sarsen stones. Peter Wakely/English Nature ● Sarsen stones, supporting the landscape as a result of the stones, Ramalina siliquosa and important lower plant seasonal thawing of the permafrost, Candelariella coralliza which are communities and deposited at a considerable more usually found on rocky coasts, distance from their original source and Rhizocarpon geographicum and area. Formed of sandstone, Sarsen Lecidea cyathoides which typically stones provide one of the few natural have a north-western distribution. exposures of hard, acidic rock in The Sarsen stones also support lowland Britain and they support a notable mosses, including the diverse relict lower plant flora of nationally scarce Grimmia laevigata great importance. The communities and Grimmia decipiens, of which the at Ashdown Park, for example, have latter occurs only on Sarsen stones probably taken centuries to develop. in the Berkshire and Marlborough Among the many lichen species Downs, and the moss Orthotrichum present is Buellia saxorum which in rupestre which is rare in southern Britain is found only on Sarsen England and susceptible to shading.

Candidate Special Areas of Conservation None

Special Protection Areas None NB Priority BAP habitats in italics

London and the South East Region Inland rock 17 , fen and swamp

alley mire is the most Anglian Plain, London Basin, Key issues and extensive type of bog in Wealden Greensand, South Coast V London and the South East Plain and Hampshire Lowlands and objectives Region. It forms along valley floors the Isle of Wight. Most of these areas where drainage is impeded, resulting of valley mire occur in association in the development of peat deposits. with wet heath. Issue: water quantity The New Forest is internationally ● Maintain the hydrological important for valley mires, and has Fen vegetation is more widespread. integrity of wetlands by: the largest area of this habitat in the Many of the fens in the Region have a ◗ avoiding developments that whole of western Europe. These rich flora and support nationally rare impact adversely on valley mires are dominated by and scarce plants such as narrow- groundwater; Sphagnum bog mosses, sedges, rushes leaved marsh-orchid, fen pondweed, ◗ eliminating over- and insectivorous plants such as broad-leaved cottongrass, marsh abstraction of water to sundews and butterworts, and in helleborine and blunt-flowered rush. protect groundwater levels; places show a transition of vegetation The Midvale Ridge has the greatest ◗ restoring water levels of from acid mire to calcareous fen. concentration of calcareous fens and valley mires and fens. The mires support a rich flora and an flushes in and the important invertebrate fauna, fens here are unique, as their Issue: water quality including the BAP species marsh characteristics are intermediate ● Restore the water quality of clubmoss, bog orchid, pillwort, the between the fens in north Wales and wetlands by: black bog ant and the southern in East Anglia. Although scattered ◗ eliminating harmful run-off damselfly. Smaller areas of valley throughout Midvale Ridge, the or other sources of nutrient mire are found in other parts of the flushes and fens are most extensive in enrichment; Region, most notably in the West the Cothill Fen area, which is a ◗ improving sewage treatment works where necessary; ◗ encouraging low-intensity agriculture in areas surrounding important wetland habitats.

Issue: habitat re-creation and management ● Re-create or extend areas of mires and swamps by: ◗ maintaining or enhancing water level management; ◗ purchasing land of low nature conservation interest for the creation of new fens and reedbeds. ● Restore or reed- cutting to neglected tall fen habitats.

Thursley NNR, Surrey. Peter Wakely/English Nature

London and the South East Region Bog, fen and swamp 18 candidate Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Elsewhere in the Region fen vegetation occurs in a variety of situations, including the river valleys and floodplains of the Hampshire Downs, London Basin, 64 Berkshire and Marlborough Downs, South Coast Plain and Hampshire Lowlands, and Low Weald and Pevensey. They also occur with 77 calcareous flushes along spring lines, such as in the South Coast Plain and Hampshire Lowlands. Characteristic habitats of Swamp vegetation is widespread and key Natural Areas many of the river floodplains, for instance in the London Basin and 64. Midvale Ridge Berkshire and Marlborough Downs, have mosaics of fens, rush pasture, ● Several relatively large areas wet grassland and swamp habitats. Common butterwort. of fens Peter Wakely/English Nature These areas support a diverse fauna ● Unique fen vegetation, with many rare invertebrates, Stodmarsh in the North Kent Plain, intermediate between the including the BAP species marsh in the South Coast Plain and other main types in Britain fritillary, marsh mallow moth, Hampshire Lowlands, the Thames ● Small, isolated areas of purple southern damselfly, large marsh and Avon Vales and Wealden moor-grass and rush pastures grasshopper and Desmoulin’s whorl Greensand. Extensive reedbeds are ● Widespread springs and snail. The New Forest and the River also found in the tidal reaches of flushes Itchen are candidate SACs for the rivers, for example in the New Forest southern damselfly, and the Kennet and the Greater Thames Estuary. 77. New Forest and Lambourn Floodplain is a Smaller areas of reedbed occur on the ● Many valley mires, some candidate SAC for Desmoulin’s margins of clay and gravel pits, such covering large areas whorl snail. as in Romney Marshes and West ● Some areas of fen vegetation Anglian Plain. Reedbeds support a ● Numerous springs, especially Reedbeds are widespread in the number of breeding birds that can on valleysides Region and they occur most include reed warbler, sedge warbler extensively in river valleys and and bearded tit, and are important floodplains, for example at for wintering bittern.

Candidate Special Areas of Conservation ● Cothill Fen (Midvale Ridge) ● Kennet and Lambourn Floodplain (London Basin; Berkshire and Marlborough Downs) ● The New Forest (New Forest) ● Thursley, Ash, Pirbright and Chobham (Wealden Greensand; London Basin)

Special Protection Areas ● Stodmarsh (North Kent Plain) ● The New Forest (New Forest) NB Priority BAP habitats in italics

London and the South East Region Bog, fen and swamp 19 Woodland

ondon and the South East stands of mature woods in Key issues and Region is one of the most London Basin, Low Weald and L heavily wooded areas in Pevensey, the Chilterns, North objectives England and includes many of the Downs, High Weald, Wealden largest continuous areas of ancient Greensand, South Downs and the woodland, with only Romney New Forest. Most of the beech Issue: development Marshes and the Greater Thames woodland has been managed for ● When planning development, Estuary have little woodland cover. many years and pollarded or avoid the loss of ancient and coppiced beech woods, often semi-natural woodland and Of the wide variety of woodland replanted with sweet chestnut, occur hedgerows. types present, the Region is of frequently. Many of the British particular note in containing the beech woods that are candidate Issue: habitat fragmentation majority of lowland beech woodland Special Areas of Conservation ● Create new semi-natural in Britain. There are extensive (SACs) lie within this Region. broadleaved woodland and scrub: ◗ around existing blocks of woodland; ◗ especially where it will link fragments; ● Re-create hedgerows, especially where this will link fragments.

Issue: management ● To encourage sustainable management of existing woods, promote the market for local woodland materials, especially coppice products. ● Promote restoration of coppicing and pollarding, where this will have benefits for wildlife. ● Restore suitable grazing practices to wood pastures and parkland. ● Maintain populations to reduce their impact in woods, particularly coppices.

Issue: conversion to plantation ● To improve the conservation value of plantations, restore native broadleaved trees in ancient woodland replanted with .

The Mens, . Peter Wakely/English Nature

London and the South East Region Woodland 20 Characteristic habitats of 69. North Downs key Natural Areas ● Extensive areas of ancient 52 lowland beech and yew woods 52. West Anglian Plain ● Extensive areas of lowland 55 70 65 mixed woodland, ● Clusters of ancient woods, 66 including large oak-hornbeam mostly lowland mixed 69 deciduous woodland woods 73 72 ● Box woodland 77 55. Cotswolds ● Large areas of 74 plantation ● Lowland beech and yew woodland 70. Wealden Greensand ● Extensive stands of yew, ● Lowland mixed deciduous including the largest yew woodland on plateau ● Large areas of lowland beech woodland in England ● Some large blocks of and yew woodland ● Some lowland mixed conifer plantations ● Lowland mixed deciduous deciduous woods, including ● Some landscaped parklands woodland large-leaved lime woodland on plateaux ● Wet woodland in river valleys, ● mostly alder Some plantation woodland 65. Chilterns ● Some conifer plantations 77. New Forest ● The most extensive area of 72. High Weald ● Extensive area of mature native lowland beech and lowland beech and yew yew woodland in Europe ● Large areas of lowland beech woodland ● Yew stands in understorey and yew woodland ● Large areas of lowland mixed of lowland beech woods ● Some wet woodland deciduous woodland ● Some areas of lowland ● Lowland mixed deciduous ● Extensive areas of wet mixed deciduous woodland woodland woodland ● Some lowland wood pastures ● Ancient lowland wood pasture ● Lowland wood pastures and and parklands (some former woodland unique to the New parkland (former deer deer parks) Forest parks) on plateaux ● Occasional conifer plantations ● Forestry plantations

66. London Basin 73. Low Weald and Pevensey

● Extensive areas of lowland ● Extensive areas of lowland beech and yew woodland beech and yew woodland ● Significant areas of ● Many lowland mixed lowland mixed deciduous deciduous woods woodland, including oak- ● Some wet woodland, mostly hornbeam woods alder, e.g. along River Ouse ● Small areas of wet woodland (mostly alder) in wet 74. South Downs gullies ● Large area of lowland beech ● Numerous large lowland and yew woodland wood pastures and parklands NB Priority BAP habitats in italics

London and the South East Region Woodland 21 Yew is relatively common in beech Woods is a candidate SAC. Many management of these woods. woods and in some circumstances it of these ancient oak woods show Several of them are candidate SACs. can form a distinctive woodland in evidence of a long history of which it completely dominates both management by coppicing, often as Other woodland types in the Region the canopy and the woodland floor. hazel coppice with oak and ash include some areas of wet woodland, The woods of the North Downs and standards. predominantly alder, for example the South Downs often contain along the river valleys of the New stands of yew-dominated woodland, The Region is also of great Forest, Hampshire Downs and Low one of which (Kingley Vale importance for the large number of Weald and Pevensey. A very rare candidate SAC) has the largest stand lowland wood pastures, traditionally type of wet woodland, of birch and of yew in Europe. This Region also in agricultural production for willow with some alder, occurs over supports two nationally important grazing and wood production, and the valley bog of the New Forest, for box woods, in the North Downs and parklands, which often had an which the site is a candidate SAC. at Ellesborough in the Chilterns. additional amenity function (for instance the royal deer parks). In many areas of the Region Large areas of lowland mixed Wood pastures and parklands are woodland has been converted to deciduous woods occur across the notable in the London Basin, conifer plantations, with large areas Region and ancient oak woods are a Wealden Greensand, High Weald, occurring in North Kent Plain, feature of many areas, including the Low Weald and Pevensey and the North Downs and Wealden Wealden Greensand, High Weald, New Forest, and these are Greensand. Low Weald and Pevensey, London dominated by beech, oak and in Basin, North Kent Plain and the some areas, hornbeam. The Hedgerows are common in parts of West Anglian Plain. Oak-hornbeam presence of many old, pollarded the Region and form important woodland is only well established in trees and a large number of veteran features of some areas, for example some parts of the Region and Blean trees is a reflection of the traditional in the High Weald, the Chilterns, the Isle of Wight, the Low Weald and Pevensey, and the Thames and Avon Vales, although many former hedges have been lost by conversion to large-scale fields. However, the remaining hedges are generally well stocked with trees and many show a long history of pollard management; veteran trees are a feature of some.

The woods of the Region are rich in rare and uncommon plant species including the BAP species green hound’s-tongue, many orchids such as the very rare ghost orchid, and the narrow-lipped helleborine which is especially found in beech woods. A wide range of epiphytic species also occur, such as knothole moss (a BAP species) and the Chilterns is one of only three localities in Britain where the liverwort Metzgeria fruticulosa grows on leaves of box. Several rare species of fungi are strongly associated Mole Gap, Reigate Escarpment, Surrey. Peter Wakely/English Nature with the beechwoods, including

London and the South East Region Woodland 22 Devil’s bolete (a priority BAP species), old man of the woods and the very poisonous, red-staining inocybe.

The ancient woods and the wood pastures and parklands support a remarkable number of lichens, mosses, fungi and invertebrates. The fauna is very rich in beetles and includes many BAP species such as the stag beetle, the violet click beetle, and ten species of beetle associated with dead wood habitats on veteran trees in south-east England. A large number of butterflies and moths are also associated with woods in the Region, including the following BAP species: the square-spotted clay moth and the common fan-foot moth, for which the broadleaved woodland in the Region is a main stronghold; the waved carpet moth which prefers coppiced woodlands in the Region; the pearl-bordered fritillary; the olive crescent moth; and the dark crimson underwing, which in Britain is confined to mature oak woodland in the New Forest.

The ancient woods and parklands also support a notable range of Windsor Forest and Great Park, Berkshire. Peter Wakely/English Nature breeding birds, including lesser- spotted woodpecker, nightingale, Candidate Special Areas of Conservation hawfinch and redstart. Firecrest and ● Blean Complex (North Kent Plain) nightjars are found in a number of ● Burnham (London Basin) the conifer and broadleaved ● Chilterns Beechwoods (Chilterns) plantations. Populations of the ● East Hampshire Hangers (Hampshire Downs; Wealden Greensand) dormouse occur in many ancient ● (Low Weald and Pevensey) and coppiced woods in the Region ● Kingley Vale (South Downs) and there is an important population ● Mole Gap to Reigate Escarpment (North Downs) of red squirrels in the woods on the ● (South Downs) Isle of Wight. The Region is also ● (Low Weald and Pevensey) important for a number of bat ● The New Forest (New Forest) species, such as the pipistrelle, ● Windsor Forest and Great Park (London Basin) serotine and Bechstein’s bat, which use a range of habitats including Special Protection Areas woodland. The Region also includes ● The New Forest (New Forest) one of only two known roost sites for the rare barbastelle bat.

London and the South East Region Woodland 23 Lowland grassland and heath

ondon and the South East species. These include the endemic Key issues and Region is of outstanding early gentian which has its L importance for lowland stronghold in south-east England, objectives calcareous grasslands, particularly ground-pine which occurs chalk grassland and limestone predominantly on the North Downs, grassland. Chalk grasslands and the fringed gentian which in Issue: pressure for agricultural predominate in the Region and are Britain is found only in the intensification distinctive features of the North Chilterns. Several chalk grasslands Downs, the South Downs, the Isle are of outstanding importance for ● Avoid further agricultural of Wight, the Chilterns and the individual orchid species: Castle Hill intensification by: Berkshire and Marlborough Downs. in the South Downs has one of the ◗ encouraging traditional, Together these areas contain a large largest populations in Britain of the low-intensity agriculture; proportion of the total area of chalk early spider orchid and ◗ promoting agri- grassland in Britain, and several sites Downs (also in the South Downs) environment schemes, where in the Region are candidate Special has one of the largest colonies of changes in farming practice Areas of Conservation (SACs). The burnt orchid in Britain. The lower would benefit wildlife. Cotswolds and the Midvale Ridge plant flora of chalk grassland is also support significant areas of outstanding, particularly for limestone grassland, which has a bryophytes and lichens, for instance Issue: opportunities for habitat distinct but nonetheless rich flora. on in the South Downs. creation Elsewhere there are fragments of The limestone grasslands of the chalk grassland in the South Coast Cotswolds and the Midvale Ridge ● Create or restore grassland Plain and Hampshire Lowlands and are similarly rich in plant species. and heaths, especially where the North Kent Plain. this extends existing areas or The invertebrate fauna of the chalk links fragments. Chalk grassland is one of the richest and limestone grasslands includes ● Create wet grasslands: plant habitats in Britain and those in notable populations of scarce and ◗ by increasing groundwater London and the South East Region threatened butterflies such as the levels on river floodplains; support a variety of rare and scarce chalkhill blue, small blue, dingy ◗ by restoring appropriate flooding regimes on floodplains.

Issue: lack of appropriate management

● Promote appropriate management through: ◗ extensive, low-intensity grazing on grasslands and heaths; ◗ scrub control on heaths and grasslands, where appropriate; ◗ clearing rhododendron where it has invaded.

Lewes Downs, East Sussex. Peter Wakely/English Nature

London and the South East Region Lowland grassland and heath 24 Characteristic habitats of 66. London Basin key Natural Areas ● Notable areas of lowland dry heath and lowland wet heath 55. Cotswolds ● Wet and acid grasslands 55 70 ● ● Neutral grasslands in river 65 Lowland calcareous grassland 63 (limestone grassland) valleys 66 ● Neutral unimproved grassland ● Extensive floodplain and coastal 78 69 75 72 (species-rich meadows or grazing marshes 77 pasture) on lower slopes ● Small area of lowland 76 ● Areas of remnant wet calcareous grassland 74 grasslands along river valleys 69. North Downs ● Wet neutral grassland in river 63. Thames and Avon Vales ● Lowland calcareous grasslands valleys ● Wet neutral grasslands in river including internationally ● Small fragments of lowland valleys important chalk grasslands heathland, including chalk ● Dry grasslands in clay vales ● Small fragments of lowland heath ● Concentration of mostly heathland on the Downs, small, species-rich lowland hay particularly chalk heath 76. Isle of Wight meadows ● 70. Wealden Greensand Lowland calcareous grassland, mostly chalk grasslands 65. Chilterns ● Large areas of dry and wet ● Some dry neutral grasslands ● Lowland calcareous grassland lowland heath, including on northern plain including important chalk internationally important sites ● Fragments of well-developed grassland and chalk scrub ● Extensive floodplain grazing lowland heathland ● Nationally important marshes in river valleys ● Coastal and floodplain grazing bryophytes in chalk grassland marshes in river valleys ● Some areas of lowland heath, 72. High Weald including chalk heath ● Lowland wet grasslands on 77. New Forest the ● Neutral grasslands (often ● Some of the most extensive mosaics with grasslands and areas of lowland heath in the fens), including numerous Region enclosed meadows ● Lowland acid grasslands 74. South Downs associated with grass heaths; ● Lowland calcareous grassland, isolated pockets within wet including internationally grasslands important sites ● Extensive areas of lowland ● Large populations of rare heath orchids ● Fragments of lowland heath, 78. Hampshire Downs including chalk heath ● Lowland calcareous grasslands, mostly chalk grasslands on 75. South Coast Plain and steeper slopes Hampshire Lowlands ● Wet neutral grasslands in river ● Lowland calcareous grasslands valleys (chalk grassland) Shepherd’s-needle. NB Priority BAP habitats in italics Peter Wakely/English Nature

London and the South East Region Lowland grassland and heath 25 invertebrate populations, and for breeding and wintering waterfowl. For example, the grazing marshes of the Arun Valley are the British stronghold for sharp-leaved pondweed and Pevensey Levels are the main British stronghold for the fen raft spider. Dry neutral grasslands are found across the Region but unimproved, species-rich examples occur mostly as scattered fragments.

Lowland acid grassland occurs in a number of areas in the Region. The New Forest, Wealden Greensand and Romney Marshes are important for lowland dry acid grassland. In the New Forest significant areas occur on gravel terraces, on areas of wind-blown sand along the Avon valley and on mature shingle deposits on the coast. Important areas are found on coastal shingle at Dungeness in Romney Marshes and within Wealden Greensand where small patches occur within the parklands. These grasslands can Lullington Heath, Sussex. Peter Wakely/English Nature support a number of nationally skipper, dark green fritillary and Coast Plain and Hampshire scarce species such as mossy silver-spotted skipper. The Lowlands, Thames and Avon Vales, stonecrop and smooth cat’s-ear. Cotswolds are a national stronghold London Basin, the Isle of Wight and Elsewhere in the Region small areas of the Duke of Burgundy fritillary the West Anglian Plain. The of lowland acid grassland form butterfly. The hornet robberfly, a floodplain grasslands of the Thames mosaics with wet grassland, for priority BAP species, occurs in chalk and Avon Vales are notable for they example in the South Coast Plain grassland within Berkshire and support the only known colony of and Hampshire Lowlands, or it Marlborough Downs and the creeping marshwort in Britain. Wet occurs in association with lowland Chilterns. The remnant chalk grassland occurs along many heath, such as in Wealden grasslands of the Hampshire Downs streamsides and river valleys in other Greensand, North Kent Plain, are an important habitat for parts of the Region, for example in London Basin and the New Forest. breeding stone curlews. Wealden Greensand, and along the coast, including the significant The Region has relatively large areas Neutral grasslands occur across the grazing marshes of the Greater of lowland heathland and Region and the wet, unimproved Thames Estuary and the North outstanding examples occur in neutral grasslands are of particular Kent Plain, on Romney Marshes several Natural Areas. The New note, for these include extensive and on the Pevensey Levels in the Forest has the most extensive tracts areas of floodplain and coastal Low Weald and Pevensey. These of lowland wet heath and dry heath grazing marshes. Significant wet wet grasslands are drained by a in southern England, and is unusual neutral grasslands occur along river network of ditches and are of in that it has a long history of floodplains in the New Forest, South importance for their plant and grazing by ponies and cattle.

London and the South East Region Lowland grassland and heath 26 Wealden Greensand has a land, coastal and riverine plains, for concentration of dry heathland with example in the West Anglian Plain, some wet heath, including Hampshire Downs, South Coast Forest and the Thursley, Ash, and Hampshire Lowlands, Thames Pirbright and Chobham candidate and Avon Vales, North Kent Plain SAC. Ashdown Forest in the High and Wealden Greensand. In many Weald has one of the most extensive areas small arable fields occur as lowland heaths in the Region. part of mixed farming regimes. London Basin has significant areas Species once associated with arable of dry, wet and humid heath, for fields in the Region are now rare, example at Greenham Common in but the cereal field margins Berkshire, with larger tracts of occasionally still support uncommon heathland in Surrey and north BAP plants such as broad-leaved Hampshire. Many of these cudweed, red-tipped cudweed and heathlands are potential Special shepherd’s-needle. Farmland also Protection Areas (SPAs). supports the brown hare, and birds such as corn bunting, linnet and tree Smaller areas of lowland heath are sparrow, all of which have suffered scattered across the Region, and major declines in population as a chalk heath, a rare habitat result of habitat loss through characterised by a mixture of both changing agricultural practice. acid-loving and calcareous plants, is present in several areas. Notable Early spider orchid. fragments of chalk heath remain at Peter Wakely/English Nature Lullington Heath in the South Downs, and in the North Downs, the Chilterns and the Isle of Wight. Candidate Special Areas of Conservation ● Castle Hill (South Downs) The lowland heathland and grass- ● Folkestone to Etchinghill Escarpment (North Downs) heath support numerous ● Isle of Wight Downs (Isle of Wight) invertebrates, many rare or ● Lewes Downs (South Downs) threatened, including the BAP ● Lydden and Temple Ewell Downs (North Downs) species: silver-studded blue butterfly ● Oxford Meadows (Thames and Avon Vales) and high brown fritillary, the lunar ● (North Downs) yellow underwing moth, the bee-flies ● The New Forest (New Forest) Thyridanthrax fenestratus and Bombylus ● Thursley, Ash, Pirbright and Chobham (Wealden Greensand; minor, and the hornet robberfly. London Basin) Animals special to heathland, ● (North Downs) including smooth snakes, sand lizards, Dartford warblers, nightjars and Special Protection Areas woodlarks occur on some sites, and ● Ashdown Forest (High Weald) adders, grass snakes, slow-worms and ● The New Forest (New Forest) common lizards are widespread. One ● Wealden Heaths (Wealden Greensand) of the few remaining heathland populations of the natterjack toad occurs in within Potential Special Protection Areas Wealden Greensand. ● Arun Valley (Wealden Greensand) ● Avon Valley (New Forest) The most extensive cereal farming ● (London Basin) occurs on the gently undulating

London and the South East Region Lowland grassland and heath 27 Maritime

halk cliffs are a coasts of the Isle of Wight. Key issues and characteristic feature of Significant stretches of soft cliffs C many parts of the coastline occur in the Region, including objectives of London and the South East where the Region. Thanet has long stretches impressive series of landslides of chalk cliff and there are high, support nationally important plant Issue: sea level rise/global warming vertical chalk cliffs at Dover. There communities; at Fairlight Cove in ● Plan for continued coastal are extensive chalk cliffs between Folkestone to Selsey Bill which has erosion and sea level rise by: Brighton and Eastbourne, which ◗ having a sustainable sea also been subject to landslides; at defence strategy in place; includes the scenic Seven Sisters Selsey Bill; and on the northern ◗ preventing development on coastline and Beachy Head, and on coast of the Isle of Wight. The cliffs areas subject to coastal the south-eastern and south-western on the south coast of the Isle of erosion or flooding; ◗ creating, where habitats have been lost to erosion, suitable maritime habitats to landward.

Issue: maintenance of coastal processes ● Allow natural, dynamic coastal processes to operate by: ◗ avoiding developments that interfere with natural sedimentation and erosion; ◗ minimising dredging; ◗ mitigating harmful impacts of necessary dredging.

Issue: water quality ● Maintain or restore high water quality by: ◗ reducing inputs of untreated sewage effluents; ◗ reducing contamination from industrial discharges and agricultural run-off.

Issues: fisheries ● Ensure exploitation of marine wildlife resources is sustainable.

Issue: recreation and tourism ● Avoid detrimental impacts on key wildlife features by: ◗ promoting recreation and tourism that is environmentally sensitive; ◗ avoiding development of tourism infrastructure that would demand unsustainable sea defences.

Dungeness, Kent. Peter Wakely/English Nature

London and the South East Region Maritime 28 Wight form one of the longest lengths of naturally-developing soft Characteristic habitats of cliffs on the British coastline. These key Natural Areas are important for a number of lower plants such as the moss Philonotis 67. Greater Thames Estuary 67 marchica and the liverwort Southbya ● Several vegetated shingle spits nigrella, both of which are extremely ● Large areas of saltmarsh within 106 rare and characteristic of these cliffs estuaries 107 and landslips. Together with the ● Numerous saline lagoons, adjacent chalk cliffs, the south coast mostly within saltmarsh of the Isle of Wight is a candidate 108 ● Intertidal mudflats within 109 Special Area of Conservation (SAC). estuaries ● Sabellaria spinulosa reefs There are few sand dunes in the ● Extensive intertidal chalk reefs Region, and fewer still are extensive. 106. North Kent Coast ● Some subtidal rock including The most notable dunes are at sandstone, limestone and Sandwich Bay at the mouth of the ● Chalk cliffs on Isle of Thanet chalk reefs River Stour. This area is a candidate ● Subtidal and intertidal chalk SAC for several types of dune reefs 109. Solent and Poole Bay vegetation, including the only large ● Small vegetated shingle beach ● Extensive stretches of cliffs, area of fixed dune grassland in at Coldharbour especially chalk cliffs and soft south-east England. These dunes cliffs of sand and clay are extremely species-rich and 107. East Kent Coast ● Small number of sand dune include a number of rare and scarce ● Extensive chalk cliffs sites species such as fragrant evening- ● Intertidal mudflats and ● Several shingle beaches and primrose, bedstraw broomrape and sandflats in Pegwell Bay spits, including vegetated sand catchfly, as well as Britain’s ● Saltmarsh along banks of River shingle at largest population of lizard orchid. Stour ● Numerous saline lagoons There is also a population of lizard ● Sand dunes at mouth of around and Isle of orchid on the dunes near Rye. Pegwell Bay Wight ● Shingle beach at Kingsdown ● Large areas of saltmarsh in Dungeness is the most outstanding ● Subtidal and intertidal chalk large, shallow enclosed of the numerous shingle beaches in reefs estuaries and embayments of the Region. It is the largest shingle the Solent beach in Britain and has the most 108. Folkestone to Selsey Bill ● Large areas of intertidal diverse and extensive shingle ● Soft clay cliffs at Folkestone mudflats in estuaries and vegetation in Europe. There are also with significant undercliff embayments important vegetated shingle beaches vegetation ● Intertidal and subtidal rocky at Rye Harbour, , ● Chalk cliffs from Brighton to reefs on the Isle of Wight, at Browndown at the mouth of the Beachy Head including chalk reefs Solent and at St Helen’s, Duver on ● Several small sand dune sites the Isle of Wight. Many of these ● Numerous shingle beaches beaches support large populations of dominated by the scarce plants such as sea pea and sea internationally important site kale, and Dungeness is the only site at Dungeness in Britain where stinking hawk’s- ● Small areas of saltmarsh within beard is found. Dungeness supports estuaries an outstanding diversity of ● Several brackish water lagoons invertebrates, including six moths, including Widewater lagoon NB Priority BAP habitats in italics two flies, one bug and two spiders

London and the South East Region Maritime 29 that are known nowhere else in lagoon sand shrimp, the lagoon saltmarsh to terrestrial vegetation Britain. Rye Harbour supports a sandworm and the tentacled lagoon have survived. Birds such as similar but less diverse fauna. worm. The lagoons of the Solent oystercatcher, redshank and Several of the shingle sites in the and the Isle of Wight have a shelduck breed on saltmarshes in the Region support breeding colonies of particularly rich fauna and some are Region and black-headed gulls, seabirds, such as little terns, lesser within a candidate SAC. Elsewhere common terns, Sandwich terns and black-backed gulls, Mediterranean in the Region there are other small little terns breed on saltmarshes gulls and Sandwich terns. saline lagoons within shingle and associated with shingle spits. saltmarsh. The Region has a large number of There are extensive sections of both mostly small saline lagoons. The Saltmarshes are widespread, with intertidal sediment and intertidal marshes of the Greater Thames the largest areas occurring in the rock around the coastline. Large Estuary have numerous lagoons and Greater Thames Estuary and within areas of intertidal mudflats and saline pools (mostly the result of the estuaries and embayments of the sandflats occur within the estuaries former sand and gravel extraction), Solent. The saltmarshes in the of the Greater Thames, in the and there are many lagoons in the estuaries of the Solent are of embayments of the Solent, and there marshes and behind seawalls on the international importance and are intertidal sandflats within coast of the Solent and the Isle of include populations of the rare Pegwell Bay in the East Kent Coast. Wight. Saline lagoons have a smooth and small cord-grasses. At some locations, for example in characteristic fauna and flora and Elsewhere in the Region there are the Solent, large beds of seagrasses those in the Region support isolated areas of saltmarsh in the grow on the intertidal flats, forming relatively large populations of a generally small and narrow estuaries a priority BAP habitat. Intertidal number of rare and scarce species, along the coast, and in some shingle dominates large stretches of including the starlet sea anemone, localities the natural transitions from the shore within Folkestone to Selsey Bill. The extensive intertidal habitats are of outstanding importance for wintering and migrating waterfowl and support internationally important populations of brent goose, grey plover, redshank, knot, oystercatcher, dunlin and curlew. Many of these areas are Special Protection Areas (SPAs).

Intertidal rock is dominated by chalk platforms, which are often at the foot of chalk cliffs. The chalk foreshore of Thanet, that runs from the North Kent Coast into the East Kent Coast, is of international importance and is especially rich in algae, being the only location for some species. There are also long stretches of chalk shores at Dover, between Brighton and Eastbourne, and on the south-eastern and south- western coasts of the Isle of Wight. Elsewhere in the Region, outcrops of

Chichester Harbour, West Sussex. Peter Wakely/English Nature sandstone and limestone form rocky

London and the South East Region Maritime 30 Lymington-, Hampshire. Peter Wakely/English Nature intertidal habitats, for example the sandstone rock platform at Hastings, Candidate Special Areas of Conservation and the limestone reefs off Selsey Bill ● Dungeness (Folkestone to Selsey Bill; Romney Marshes) and around the Isle of Wight. Rocky ● Sandwich Bay (North Kent Coast) coastlines are important habitats for ● Solent and Isle of Wight Lagoons (Solent and Poole Bay) wintering waders such as turnstone. ● Solent Maritime (Solent and Poole Bay) ● South Wight Maritime (Solent and Poole Bay) Around most of the Region’s coast ● (North Kent Coast) large areas of the sea bed are covered by mixed sediments of sands and Special Protection Areas gravels. However, in many areas the ● Benfleet and Southend (Greater Thames Estuary) intertidal rocky shores extend into ● Chichester and Langstone Harbours (Solent and Poole Bay) the subtidal where they form some ● Dungeness to Pett Level (Folkestone to Selsey Bill; Romney of Britain’s most important reefs. Marshes) Chalk reefs, a priority BAP habitat, ● Medway Estuary and Marshes (Greater Thames Estuary) occur at Thanet and along the ● Pagham Harbour (Folkestone to Selsey Bill) southern shore of the Isle of Wight, ● Harbour (Solent and Poole Bay) and there is a variety of reef types ● Solent and Water (Solent and Poole Bay) and associated communities off the ● (Greater Thames Estuary) coast of Folkestone to Selsey Bill ● Thanet Coast and Sandwich Bay (North Kent Coast; East Kent and the Isle of Wight. These include Coast) limestone, sandstone and chalk reefs. Two areas in the Region, Potential Special Protection Areas Thanet Coast and South Wight ● Thames Estuary Marshes (Greater Thames Estuary) Maritime, are candidate SACs for their reef habitats.

London and the South East Region Maritime 31 Annex 1: Benchmarks for nature

he conservation of nature is plan, nature conservation strategy Biodiversity and Earth a key test of sustainable or priority setting document for heritage T development. The list nature; any Government Planning below provides a set of questions to Policy Guidance or Regional ● Will any areas with be applied as positive indicators for Planning Guidance; Local local/national/international biodiversity and Earth heritage, Development Plans/Unitary designation for nature where relevant strategies, policies, Development Plans/Structure conservation be affected or projects and programmes are under Plans/etc? directly damaged? consideration. These may include ● Is there active contribution to the ● Is there scope for the developments such as agricultural resolution of Natural Area issues enhancement of biodiversity improvement or intensification, and the delivery of UK, Regional through the provision of: coastal and flood defence works and and Local Biodiversity Action Plan opportunities for achieving the water abstraction, as well as built targets and Natural Area objectives? targets for priority habitats and development or infrastructure such ● Has there been an appraisal of the species in the context of UK, as roads, rail and energy. environmental impact of policies, Regional and Local Biodiversity plans and programmes within Action Plans; improved habitat Regional strategic documents? and/or the creation of additional Policy links (See: the eight step approach in habitat for plants and animals, ● Is there compatibility with Department of the Environment, appropriate to the local character? relevant policies within: any Transport and the Regions Policy ● Will any non-designated habitat local/regional Biodiversity Action Guidance: ‘Policy Appraisal and such as woodland, grassland and Plan, sustainable development the Environment’, DETR 1998) other vegetation, linking habitats

Brownie Group at Thursley, Surrey. Peter Wakely/English Nature

London and the South East Region Annex 1 32 such as trees, hedges, grass strips, development that impacts on ditches, that may be destroyed, or natural processes; etc.) fragmented be fully ● Is there scope for the enhancement compensated/mitigated for? of geological interest? (e.g. ● Do any plant and tree planting Through the improvement of programmes use an appropriate geological exposures or features; mix of species native to the the creation of additional geological Natural Area in question? exposures or features, etc.) ● Will any habitat be in danger of abandonment, under management, change or intensification of Environmental good management? (e.g. Overgrazing, practice for nature loss of crop rotations and arable- ● Has an environmental impact pasture mosaics; shift from spring assessment been carried out? sown to autumn sown cereals, loss ● Will post implementation impacts of winter stubbles, application of be assessed and managed by artificial fertiliser, etc. - leading to regular review and monitoring impacts on associated farmland programmes? species) ● Will any habitat be in danger of a secondary or indirect damage? (e.g. Community Wetland or aquatic habitats and ecosystems in danger of drying out, involvement for nature loss or degradation as a result of ● Will all sections of the community over-abstraction of surface and be consulted as part of the Marsh helleborine. groundwaters, pollution and decision making process? Peter Wakely/English Nature eutrophication of surface and ● Have the needs of local to gain access to nature and groundwaters; development in a communities for access to, and wildspace? flood plain which may require experience of, nature been taken ● Will there be a contribution to canalisation of watercourses into account? improving the quality of life by impacting on river valley wetlands ● Does the project help vulnerable, local inhabitants, for example: and aquatic ecosystems; coastal disadvantaged or excluded groups through improved general access to nature, but in particular on foot or by public transport? Designated areas ● Will local distinctiveness for National/International Nature Conservation Designations: nature be valued, and community Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and cultural identity be National Nature Reserves (NNR) strengthened? Special Protection Areas (SPA) ● Will community enterprises for Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) nature be encouraged? Ramsar Sites Local Nature Conservation Designations (often non-statutory but recognised in local plans, PPG and other similar documents): Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC - locally other terms may be used) Local Nature Reserves (LNR) Regionally Important Geological/Geomorphological Sites (RIGS) (Modified and adapted from a document Non-statutory nature reserves produced by the Environment & Energy Management Team, Government Office for the South West).

London and the South East Region Annex 1 33 Annex 2: Sources of information

ach Natural Area has an English Nature. In prep. Overview of Porley, R. and McDonnell, A. 1997. associated profile which coastal habitats by Natural Area. Rare and scarce vascular plants and E contains the issues and English Nature, Peterborough. bryophytes in Natural Areas. English objectives specific to that ecological Nature Research Report No. 267. unit. These have already been Gardiner, A.J. 1996. Freshwater English Nature, Peterborough. passed on to our key partners, wetlands in England. A Natural including local authorities. The Areas approach. English Nature Reid, C.M., Kirby, K.J. and Cooke, complete set of profiles for England Research Report No. 204. English R.J. 1996. A preliminary assessment is available from English Nature’s Nature, Peterborough. of woodland conservation in England local teams on a CD-ROM. by Natural Areas. English Nature Research Report No. 186. English Grice, P.V., Brown, A.F., Carter, I.C. Nature, Peterborough. National overviews of habitats, and Rankine, C.A. 1994. Birds in species and earth heritage England: a Natural Areas approach. Sanderson, N.A. 1998. A review of English Nature Research Report No. Brown, A.E., Burn, A.J., Hopkins, the extent, conservation interest and 114. English Nature, Peterborough. J.J. and Way, S.F. (Editors). 1997. management of lowland acid The Habitats Directive: selection of grassland in England. Volume I: Special Areas of Conservation in the Jefferson, R.G. 1997. Lowland Overview. English Nature Research UK. Joint Nature Conservation grassland in Natural Areas. National Report No. 259. English Nature, Committee Report No. 270. Joint assessment of significance. English Peterborough. Nature Conservation Committee, Nature Research Report No. 171. Peterborough. English Nature, Peterborough. Sanderson, N.A. 1998. A review of the extent, conservation interest and Drake, M., Clements, D., Eyre, M., King, A., Glasser, N., Larwood, J., management of lowland acid Gibbs, D. and Kirby, P. 1998. Littlewood, A., Moat, T. and Page, grassland in England. Volume II: Invertebrates and their habitats in K. 1996. Earth heritage County Descriptions. English Nature Natural Areas. Volume 1: Midland conservation in England: a Natural Research Report No. 259. English and Northern Areas. English Nature Areas perspective. English Nature Nature, Peterborough. Research Report No. 298. English Research Report No. 158. English Nature, Peterborough. Nature, Peterborough. All available free from the Enquiry Service, English Nature, Drake, M., Clements, D., Eyre, M., Kirby, K. and Reid, C. 1997. Northminster House, Peterborough Gibbs, D. and Kirby, P. 1998. Preliminary nature conservation PE1 1UA Tel. 01733 455101 Invertebrates and their habitats in objectives for Natural Areas. Fax. 01733 568834. Natural Areas. Volume 2: Southern Woodland and forestry. English Areas. English Nature Research Report Nature Research Report No. 239. Natural Areas CD-ROM. No. 298. English Nature, English Nature, Peterborough. Peterborough. Available, priced £15, from Telelink Ltd., PO Box 100, , Michael, N. 1996. Lowland Drewitt, A.L., and Manley, V.J. Hampshire PO14 2SX Tel. 01329 heathland in England. A Natural 1997. The vegetation of the 331300 Fax. 01329 330034. Areas approach. English Nature mountains and moorlands of Research Report No. 170. English England. English Nature Research Natural Area Profiles Report No. 218. English Nature, Nature, Peterborough. Peterborough. The individual profiles used in this Mitchell-Jones, A.J. and Gent, A.H. report are available from the Local English Nature 1997. Wildlife and 1997. Priority Natural Areas for Team, address and telephone number fresh water, an agenda for sustainable mammals, reptiles and amphibians. shown on the back cover, or can be management. English Nature, English Nature Research Report No. found on English Nature’s web page Peterborough. 242. English Nature, Peterborough. at www.english-nature.org.uk.

London and the South East Region Annex 2 34 1 98

2

5 3 120 99 6 9 4 11 10 7

119 17 100 8 18

16 118 12 15 19 20 13 14 21 117 24 22 101 26 23 25 34 35 36 30 27 29 32 103 28 31 33 102 47 41 40 38 104 48 24 39 37 Key 42 46 43 45 County boundary 58 Character Area boundary (Natural 57 44 50

Areas consist of one or more 52 51 49 105 59 56 54 Character Areas) 60 61 53 55

64 65 66 106 116 63 67 62 79 68 115 70 86 84 85 69 87 78 107 87 80 86 88 73 86 72 71 83 74 93 89 77 75 90 114 81 76 108 94 92 82 82 109 Grid 111 North 95 91 110

96 113 97 112

1 North Northumberland Coastal Plain 25 Dark Peak 49 Coast and Heaths 73 Low Weald and Pevensey 97 The Lizard 2 Border Uplands 26 Urban Mersey Basin 50 East Anglian Plain 74 South Downs 98 3 Solway Basin 27 Meres and Mosses 51 East Anglian Chalk 75 South Coast Plain and Hampshire Lowlands 99 Tyne to Tees Coast 4 28 Potteries and Churnet Valley 52 West Anglian Plain 76 Isle of Wight 100 Saltburn to Bridlington 5 Coal Measures 29 South West Peak 53 Bedfordshire Greensand Ridge 77 New Forest 101 Bridlington to Skegness 6 Durham Magnesian Limestone Plateau 30 White Peak 54 Yardley-Whittlewood Ridge 78 Hampshire Downs 102 The Wash 7 Tees Lowlands 31 Derbyshire Peak Fringe and Lower Derwent 55 Cotswolds 79 Berkshire and Marlborough Downs 103 Old Hunstanton to Sheringham 8 Yorkshire Dales 32 Sherwood 56 Severn and Avon Vales 80 South Downs 104 Sheringham to Lowestoft 9 Eden Valley 33 Trent Valley and Rises 57 and Teme Valley 81 105 Suffolk Coast 10 Cumbria Fells and Dales 34 North Lincolnshire Coversands and Clay Vales 58 Clun and North West Herefordshire Hills 82 Isles of Portland and Purbeck 106 North Kent Coast 11 West Cumbria Coastal Plain 35 59 Central Herefordshire 83 Wessex Vales 107 East Kent Coast 12 36 Lincolnshire Coast and Marshes 60 Black Mountains and Golden Valley 84 108 Folkestone to Selsey Bill 13 Lancashire Plain and Valleys 37 The Fens 61 Dean Plateau and 85 Somerset Levels and Moors 109 Solent and Poole Bay 14 Southern Pennines 38 Lincolnshire and Rutland Limestone 62 , Avon Valleys and Ridges 86 Mid Somerset Hills 110 South Dorset Coast 15 Pennine Dales Fringe 39 Charnwood 63 Thames and Avon Vales 87 and the Quantocks 111 Lyme Bay 16 Vale of York and Mowbray 40 Needwood and South Derbyshire Claylands 64 Midvale Ridge 88 Vale of Taunton and Quantock Fringes 112 Start Point to Land’s End 17 and Hills 41 Oswestry Uplands 65 Chilterns 89 Blackdowns 113 18 Vale of Pickering 42 Shropshire Hills 66 London Basin 90 Redlands 114 Land’s End to Minehead 19 Yorkshire Wolds 43 Midlands Plateau 67 Greater Thames Estuary 91 South Devon 115 Bridgwater Bay 20 Holderness 44 Midland Clay Pastures 68 North Kent Plain 92 116 Severn Estuary 21 Humber Estuary 45 Rockingham Forest 69 North Downs 93 The Culm 117 Liverpool Bay 22 Humberhead Levels 46 Breckland 70 Wealden Greensand 94 Bodmin Moor 118 Morecambe Bay 23 Southern Magnesian Limestone 47 North Norfolk 71 Romney Marshes 95 Cornish Killas and Granites 119 Cumbrian Coast 24 Coal Measures 48 72 High Weald 96 West Penwith 120 Solway Firth

Based upon the 1:10000 maps with permission of the controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. © Crown Copyright Revised to December 1996 7 GreaterThamesEstuary 67. LondonBasin 66. Natural theylead: forwhich Areas Fax. 01714043369 Tel. 01718316922 WC1N 3JZ London 26-27 BoswellStreet Ormond House (Lead Team forLondon) and LondonTeam Essex, Hertfordshire toSelseyBill 108.Folkestone SouthDowns 74. LowWeald andPevensey 73. HighWeald 72. Wealden Greensand 70. Natural theylead: forwhich Areas Fax. 01273483063 Tel. 01273476595 BN7 2LU East Sussex Lewes 31 HighStreet Howard House (Regional LeadTeam) Team Sussex andSurrey English NatureLocalTeams inLondonandtheSouthEastRegion 107.East KentCoast 107.East KentCoast 106.North RomneyMarshes 71. NorthDowns 69. NorthKentPlain 68. Natural theylead: forwhich Areas Fax. 01233812520 Tel. 01233812525 TN25 5DB Kent Ashford Wye Coldharbour Farm Management Centre The Countryside Kent Team andPooleBay 109.Solent HampshireDowns 78. NewForest 77. IsleofWight 76. SouthCoastPlainand 75. Natural theylead: forwhich Areas Fax. 01703283834 Tel. 01703283944 SO43 7BU Hampshire Lyndhurst 1 SouthamptonRoad Wight Team Hampshire andIsleof ISBN 185716455 5©EnglishNature1999 Web site:http://www.english-nature.org.uk English Nature,NorthminsterHouse, PeterboroughPE11UA This isoneofarangepublications publishedbyPublicity&Marketing, natural featuresthroughoutEngland. English Natureisthegovernment agencythatchampionswildlifeand Natural Areasforwhichtheylead Hampshire Lowlands Fax. 01635268940 Tel. 01635268881 RG19 8EL Berkshire Crookham Common Thornford Road Foxhold House Team Thames andChilterns BerkshireandMarlborough 79. Natural theylead: forwhich Areas Fax. 01380721411 Tel. 01380726344 SN10 2RT Hambleton Avenue Prince MauriceCourt Wiltshire Team 5 Chilterns 65. MidvaleRidge 64. ThamesandAvon Vales 63. Natural theylead: forwhich Areas Downs 2 West AnglianPlain 52. Natural theylead: forwhich Areas Fax. 01733394093 Tel. 01733405850 PE2 5UR Peterborough Orton Waterville Nene Park Ham Lane Ham LaneHouse Team Northamptonshire Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, 5 Cotswolds 55. Natural theylead: forwhich Areas Fax. 01531638501 Tel. 01531638500 HR8 1EP Herefordshire Nr. Ledbury Eastnor Bronsil House Three CountiesTeam

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