Protected Areas
Anyone who has visited the Solent coast can not have missed its variety of landscapes. It moves from unspoiled countryside to urban waterfront, industrial refinery to historic castle and sites of conservation interest to busy marina. Our coast is rich with natural, environmental and cultural assets. Therefore much of the coastal zone is protected through conservation designations for its wildlife, landscape character or its cultural heritage value.Our designations are either international, national or local and each provides an area, site or building with a certain level of protection from destruction, development or interference. Designations may overlap.
Nature Conservation Designations
Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
SSSI's are designated as the best examples of wildlife habitats, geological features and landforms. The SSSI designation applies throughout Great Britain and in England notification of site designation is carried out by Natural England. Sites are chosen to be representative of British habitats with each site seen as an integral part of the national set. The aim being to maintain the present diversity of animals and plants. For biological sites designation is based on an established set of criteria which include naturalness, diversity, typicalness, size, fragility and rarity.
Local Nature Reserves
Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) are for both people and wildlife. They are places with wildlife or geological features that are of special interest locally. They offer people special opportunities to study or learn about nature or simply to enjoy it.There are over 1050 LNRs in England. They range from windswept coastal headlands, ancient woodlands and flower-rich meadows to former inner city railways, long abandoned landfill sites and industrial areas now re-colonised by wildlife. In total they cover almost 40,000 ha - an impressive natural resource which makes an important contribution to England's biodiversity. There are 10 local nature reserves in the Solent which cover the range of coastal habitats found here.
National Nature Reserves (NNR)
National Nature Reserves (NNRs) were established to protect the most important areas of wildlife habitat and geological formations in Britain. The aim is to secure protection and appropriate management of the most important areas of wildlife habitat, to provide a resource for scientific research and to provide a resource for recreation so long as this does not compromise the wildlife habitat. Natural England has powers, stemming from the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 to designate land as NNR.Every NNR is "nationally important" and are among the best examples of a particular habitat. NNRs are carefully managed on behalf of the nation, they are either owned or controlled by Natural England or held by approved bodies such as Wildlife Trusts. They are "no-go areas" for people but care must be taken not to damage the wildlife of these fragile places.
At the end of March 2004 there were 215 NNRs in England covering over 87,900 hectares. The Reserves are scattered through England, from Lindisfarne in Northumberland to The Lizard in Cornwall. Nearly every rural county has at least one. There are 3 NNRs in the Solent: Titchfield Haven; the North Solent; and Newtown Harbour on the Isle of Wight.
Natura 2000
Natura 2000 is the European Union-wide network of protected areas, recognised as ‘sites of Community importance’ under the EC Habitats Directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora) - The EC Habitats Directive.The Natura 2000 network includes two types of designated areas: Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protection Areas (SPA). SACs are designated under the EC Habitats Directive and SPAs are classified under the EC Wild Birds Directive (Council Directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds) - The EC Wild Birds Directive (on Europa website).
Natura 2000 sites are proposed for selection by the statutory nature conservation agencies and are coordinated through the JNCC. In the Solent there are 3 SPA designations and one maritime SAC and 3 RAMSAR sites which make up the Solent European Marine Site.
Wetlands of International Importance (RAMSAR sites)
Ramsar sites are wetlands of international importance designated under the Ramsar Convention. Sites proposed for selection are advised by the UK statutory nature conservation agencies, or the relevant administration in the case of Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies, co-ordinated through JNCC. In selecting sites, the relevant authorities are guided by the criteria set out in the Convention. These are detailed below:
- Hosting an assemblage of rare, vulnerable or endangered species;
- Regularly supports more than one percent of waterfowl species;
- Regularly supports 20,000 wildfowl;
- Special value for maintaining diversity.
In the UK, the first Ramsar sites were designated in 1976. Since then, many more have been designated. There are 3 Ramsar sites in the Solent which cover similar areas to the areas designated at SPA under the Birds Directive.
Landscape Designations
England's finest countryside is designated by Natural England (before October 2006 by the Countryside Agency) as National Parks or Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
These areas are protected by law to ensure conservation and enhancement of their natural beauty not just for the present, but also for future generations. In addition, Heritage Coasts represent stretches of our most beautiful, undeveloped coastline, but do not enjoy the same statutory status as the other two designations. Together all three are often referred to as 'protected landscapes'.
National Park
National Parks are designated under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 in order to protect beautiful areas of our nation. They are specified by reason of their natural beauty and the opportunity they afford for open-air recreation.
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is exactly what it says it is: a precious landscape whose distinctive character and natural beauty are so outstanding that it is in the nation's interest to safeguard them. Each AONB has been designated for special attention by reason of their high qualities. These include their flora, fauna, historical and cultural associations as well as scenic views. AONB landscapes range from rugged coastline to water meadows to gentle downland and upland moors.
The Countryside and Rights of Way Act, 2000 (the "CRoW" Act) added further regulation and protection, ensuring the future of AONBs as important national resources.
In the Solent, half of the Isle of Wight has been charatacterised as an AONB as has the whole of Chichester Harbour.
Heritage Coast
Thirty two percent of the English coastline is conserved as Heritage Coast. In the Solent, the Island has two stretches of coast, which have been formally designated as Heritage Coast and fall entirely within the designated AONB. These coastal areas have particular characteristics because of their natural landscape beauty, distinctive flora and fauna and their heritage features of archaeological and architectural interest.
The Tennyson Heritage Coast, named after the Poet laureate who lived in Farlington House overlooking Freshwater Bay, begins at Totland on the Solent and stretches along the southwest shore of the Isle of Wight nearly to Ventnor. The Hampstead Heritage Coast stretches along the northwestern (Solent) shore of the Isle of Wight from Yarmouth harbour to Thorness Bay, near Cowes. At Boulder, near Hampstead, these cliffs are especially rich in fossils - it has been claimed that this exposed deposit of Oligocene fossils embedded in the clay is the richest on earth.
