National Nature Reserves (NNRs) are places where wildlife comes first.
They were established to protect the most important areas of wildlife
habitat and geological formations in Britain, and as places for
scientific research. This does not mean they are "no-go areas" for
people. It means that we must be careful not to damage the wildlife of
these fragile places.
What does "national" mean? It
means that every NNR is "nationally important" and that they are all
among the best examples of a particular habitat. It also means that
NNRs are carefully managed on behalf of the nation. They are either
owned or controlled by English Nature or held by approved bodies such
as Wildlife Trusts.
How many are there? 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.
What type of habitats do NNRs cover? Nearly
every type of vegetation is found in England's NNRs, from coastal
salt-marshes, dunes and cliffs to downlands, meadows and the subtle
variations of our native woodlands. Scarce and threatened habitats such
as chalk downs, lowland heaths and bogs and estuaries are conserved in
NNRs.
What about rare species? Many NNRs contain
nationally important populations of rare flowers, ferns and mosses,
butterflies and other insects, and of course nesting and wintering
birds. Examples include unique alpine plants at Upper Teesdale and the
beautiful field of fritillary lilies at North Meadow Cricklade,
Wiltshire.We do not always advertise rarities, to avoid attracting too
much attention to them.
Do we welcome visitors? Yes
we do! We want people to appreciate these wonderful places. The
majority of NNRs have some form of access but to make it easier for
visitors we have "spotlighted" 35 reserves that offer the best
opportunities to experience wildlife and the countryside. These
Spotlight reserves are all identified in the NNR database.
We
ask you to follow the Country Code and respect any requests not to
stray into sensitive areas. Look out for our Site Managers or Voluntary
Wardens who will be pleased to help or advise you. Above all, enjoy
your visit.
