1.24.2.              Qualifying Features

The site is designated for the following features:

  • Purple sandpiper (non-breeding) Calidris maritima
  • Turnstone (non-breeding)

1.24.3.              The Characteristics of the Site

  1. Comprises several discrete sections of rocky foreshore between Spittal, in the north of Northumberland, and an area just south of Blackhall Rocks in County Durham. These stretches of coast regularly support internationally important numbers of purple sandpiper and turnstone (1,739 individuals, 2.6 % of the Eastern Atlantic Flyway population). The Ramsar site also includes an area of sandy beach which supports a nationally important breeding colony of little tern and parts of three artificial piers which form important roost sites for purple sandpiper. The 96% of the site composed of Wetland Type D (rocky marine shore) includes cliffs, crags/ledges, intertidal rock, open coast (including bay), and pools and assists in shoreline stabilization, dissipation of erosive forces, and sediment trapping. Little terns are vulnerable to disturbance by tourists in the summer causing reduced breeding success, and the National Trust employs wardens in summer to protect the little tern colony. A range of recreational activities takes place along the coast, including walking, camping, sea angling, birdwatching, and water sports (water skiing, sailing, windsurfing and canoeing). Birdwatching is particularly popular at Druridge Bay. In addition to many day trippers who come to the site, a sizeable population of summer visitors stay in caravan parks and other accommodation along the coast.

1.24.4.              Conservation Advice

  1. Advice on management and operations is provided on the Natural England Designated Site’s View website, specifically in their Advice on Operations document (dated March 2022; Natural England, 2022).
  1. The conservation objectives for the site are to ensure that the integrity of the site is maintained or restored as appropriate, and ensure that the site contributes to achieving the aims of the Wild Birds Directive, by maintaining or restoring;
  • The extent and distribution of the habitats of the qualifying features
  • The structure and function of the habitats of the qualifying features
  • The supporting processes on which the habitats of the qualifying features rely
  • The population of each of the qualifying features, and
  • The distribution of the qualifying features within the site
    1. Natural England’s SACOs present attributes which are ecological characteristics or requirements of the classified species within a site. The listed attributes are those which best describe the site’s ecological integrity and which, if safeguarded, will enable achievement of the conservation objectives. These attributes have a target which is either quantified or qualified depending on the available evidence. The target identifies as far as possible the desired state to be achieved for the attribute.
    2. In many cases, the attribute targets show if the current objective is to either ‘maintain’ or ‘restore’ the attribute. The targets given for each attribute do not represent thresholds to assess the significance of any given effect. Instead, these targets are used along with the conservation objectives, and any case-specific advice issued by Natural England when assessing a project that may affect site integrity. Any proposals or operations which may affect the site, or its features should be designed so they do not adversely affect any of the attributes in the SACO or achievement of the conservation objectives.
    3. The SACO for the Northumbria Coast SPA (Natural England, 2019) has been taken into account when considering potential adverse effects on site integrity.

1.24.5.              Current Condition Status

  1. In 2016, Natural England trialled and rolled out a new condition assessment methodology that provides information on the condition of marine features within MPAs. Area Teams conduct these assessments following a standardised approach that assesses if feature- and site-specific targets have been met. To date, condition assessments have been carried out for marine habitat features of a number of SACs, and will be carried out for other SACs in the future. However, different processes are currently in place to report on the condition of non-marine habitat features and species features of SACs, and on the condition of features in MCZs and SPAs.
  2. A condition assessment for the Northumbria Coast SPA is not currently available.


1.25. Firth of Tay and Eden Estuary SPA and Ramsar site

1.25.1.              Site Overview

  1. The Firth of Tay and Eden Estuary SPA is a complex of estuarine and coastal habitats in eastern Scotland from the mouth of the River Earn in the inner Firth of Tay, east to Barry Sands on the Angus coast and St Andrews on the Fife coast. For much of its length the main channel of the estuary lies close to the southern shore and the most extensive intertidal flats are on the north side, west of Dundee. In Monifieth Bay, to the east of Dundee, the substrate becomes sandier and there are also mussel beds. The south shore consists of fairly steeply shelving mud and shingle. The Inner Tay Estuary is particularly noted for the continuous dense stands of common reed along its northern shore. These reedbeds, inundated during high tides, are amongst the largest in Britain. Eastwards, as conditions become more saline, there are areas of saltmarsh, a relatively scarce habitat in eastern Scotland.
  2. The boundary of the SPA is contained within the following Sites of Special Scientific Interest: Inner Tay Estuary, Monifieth Bay, Barry Links, Tayport -Tentsmuir Coast and Eden Estuary.
  3. Key literature sources include:
  • Firth of Tay and Eden Estuary SPA - Citation (NatureScot 2018k);
  • Firth of Tay and Eden Estuary SPA - Conservation Objectives (NatureScot 2018l);
  • Firth of Tay and Eden Estuary SPA - Natura 2000 Standard Data Form (JNCC 2018g);
  • Firth of Tay and Eden Estuary SPA - Features (NatureScot 2017g);
  • Firth of Tay and Eden Estuary Ramsar - Citation (NatureScot 2021d); and
  • Firth of Tay and Eden Estuary Ramsar - Information Sheet (NatureScot 2005b).

1.25.2.              Qualifying Features

  1. The site is designated for the following features:
  • Little tern (breeding)
  • Bar-tailed godwit (non-breeding)
  • Greylag goose (non-breeding)
  • Pink-footed goose (non-breeding)
  • Redshank (non-breeding)
  • Non-breeding waterfowl assemblage including the following additional named components:
  • Cormorant
  • Velvet scoter
  • Shelduck
  • Eider
  • Common scoter
  • Icelandic black-tailed godwit Limosa limosa
  • Goldeneye
  • Red-breasted merganser
  • Goosander Mergus merganser
  • Oystercatcher
  • Grey plover
  • Sanderling Calidris alba
  • Dunlin
  • Long-tailed duck

1.25.3.              The Characteristics of the Site

  1. The Firth of Tay and Eden Estuary SPA has a total area of 6947.62 ha. It is a complex of estuarine and coastal habitats in eastern Scotland adjacent to the city of Dundee. The site includes extensive invertebrate-rich intertidal mudflats and sandflats created by the massive sediment load deposited by the River Tay, as well as large areas of reedbed and sand dune and a small amount of saltmarsh. At least four species of wintering waterfowl are present above the 1% threshold of international importance, and on average some 48,000 waterfowl are supported there in winter, including 14 species in nationally important numbers. Some disturbance is caused in some parts of the site by large numbers of walkers and illegal use of all-terrain bicycles, but these and other potential threats are considered manageable. Students from many nearby universities conduct research on the site.

1.25.4.              Conservation Objectives

  1. Advice on the management and operations of the Firth of Tay and Eden Estuary SPA and Ramsar is unavailable.
  1. The conservation objectives for the site are:
  • To avoid deterioration of the habitats of the qualifying species or significant disturbance to the qualifying species, thus ensuring that the integrity of the site is maintained; and
  • To ensure for the qualifying species that the following are maintained in the long term:
  • Population of the species as a viable component of the site
  • Distribution of the species within site
  • Distribution and extent of habitats supporting the species
  • Structure, function and supporting processes of habitats supporting the species
  • No significant disturbance of the species

1.25.5.              Current Condition Status

  1. Table 1.21   Open ▸ provides a summary of the protected features within the site, their condition within the site (where known) based on the latest NatureScot SCM assessment, and the broader conservation status of the protected features.
  2. Feature condition refers to the condition of the protected feature at a site level. Broader conservation status is the overall conservation status of the feature within the UK based on Stanbury et al., (2021).
Table 1.21:
Firth of Tay and Eden Estuary SPA Feature Condition Assessment

Table 1.21: Firth of Tay and Eden Estuary SPA Feature Condition Assessment


1.26. Lindisfarne SPA and Ramsar site

1.26.1.              Site Overview

  1. Lindisfarne, or Holy Island, is a large island off the north-east coast of Northumberland. The SPA, designated in 1990, is also a Ramsar site and a National Nature Reserve, managed by Natural England (Natural England 1990). Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve depends upon funding to maintain conservation efforts. Considerable funding and resources are required to sustain and improve conservation efforts, such as the Shorebird Project Protection Scheme for the breeding tern species (Natural England 2017).
  2. Lindisfarne has a road connecting the island to the mainland, which is only accessible at low tide. There are a wide range of coastal habitats within the SPA, which support a large assemblage of birds. Large intertidal mud and sandflats provide an important food source for wading birds, such as the grey plover, bar-tailed godwit, redshank and dunlin. The mudflats host an important number of invertebrate prey, including polychaete worms and bivalves. The light-bellied brent geese and wigeon also feed upon the Zostera spp. And Ulva spp. which grow upon the mudflats, and are some of the largest areas in the north-east of England. This provides a food source for some of the geese and the wigeon, as well as a refuge for roosting birds when the tide is high. Rafts of sea ducks overwinter in the shallow waters surrounding the island, including long-tailed duck, eider and common scoter. These waters also provide an important foraging area for tern species during the breeding season. The island also has other habitats which support the bird population, including large sand dune habitats and a rocky shore.
  3. Lindisfarne SPA also supports an internationally important assemblage of non-breeding waterbirds.
  4. Key literature sources include:
  • Lindisfarne SPA - Citation (Natural England 2014c);
  • Lindisfarne SPA - Conservation Objectives (Natural England 2019i);
  • Lindisfarne SPA - Nature 2000 Standard Data Form (JNCC 2015d);
  • Lindisfarne SPA - Site Details (Natural England 2014d); and
  • Lindisfarne Ramsar - Information Sheet (Natural England 1999a).

1.26.2.              Qualifying Features

The site is designated for the following features:

  • Bar-tailed godwit (non-breeding)
  • Common scoter (non-breeding)
  • Dunlin (non-breeding)
  • Eider (non-breeding)
  • Golden plover (non-breeding)
  • Grey plover (non-breeding)
  • Greylag goose (non-breeding)
  • Light-bellied brent goose (non-breeding) Branta bernicla hrota
  • Long-tailed duck (non-breeding)
  • Red-breasted merganser (non-breeding)
  • Redshank (non-breeding)
  • Ringed plover (non-breeding)
  • Sanderling (non-breeding)
  • Shelduck (non-breeding)
  • Whooper swan (non-breeding) Cygnus cygnus
  • Wigeon (non-breeding)
  • Non-breeding waterbird assemblage

1.26.3.              The Characteristics of the Site

  1. Extensive intertidal flats, with a large area of saltmarsh, a major sand dune system with well-developed dune slacks supporting beds of Zostera. The slacks provide food for an internationally important flock of wintering light-bellied brent geese (2,428), of the Spitzbergen breeding population. Various species of ducks and geese winter in internationally important numbers regularly exceeding 20,000 individuals. The site is of national importance for breeding terns. The dune systems support a rich flora and diverse invertebrate fauna. Tourism attracts up to 750,000 visitors annually.

1.26.4.              Conservation Objectives

  1. Advice on management and operations is provided on the Natural England Designated Site’s View website, specifically in their Advice on Operations document (dated March 2022; Natural England, 2022).
  1. The conservation objectives for the site are to
  2. Ensure that the integrity of the site is maintained or restored as appropriate, and ensure that the site contributes to achieving the aims of the Wild Birds Directive, by maintaining or restoring;
  • The extent and distribution of the habitats of the qualifying features
  • The structure and function of the habitats of the qualifying features
  • The supporting processes on which the habitats of the qualifying features rely
  • The population of each of the qualifying features, and,
  • The distribution of the qualifying features within the site.
    1. Natural England’s SACOs present attributes which are ecological characteristics or requirements of the classified species within a site. The listed attributes are those which best describe the site’s ecological integrity and which, if safeguarded, will enable achievement of the conservation objectives. These attributes have a target which is either quantified or qualified depending on the available evidence. The target identifies as far as possible the desired state to be achieved for the attribute.
    2. In many cases, the attribute targets show if the current objective is to either ‘maintain’ or ‘restore’ the attribute. The targets given for each attribute do not represent thresholds to assess the significance of any given effect. Instead, these targets are used along with the conservation objectives, and any case-specific advice issued by Natural England when assessing a project that may affect site integrity. Any proposals or operations which may affect the site, or its features should be designed so they do not adversely affect any of the attributes in the SACO or achievement of the conservation objectives.
    3. The SACO for the Lindisfarne SPA (Natural England, 2019) has been taken into account when considering potential adverse effects on site integrity.

1.26.5.              Current Condition Status

  1. In 2016, Natural England trialled and rolled out a new condition assessment methodology that provides information on the condition of marine features within MPAs. Area Teams conduct these assessments following a standardised approach that assesses if feature- and site-specific targets have been met. To date, condition assessments have been carried out for marine habitat features of a number of SACs, and will be carried out for other SACs in the future. However, different processes are currently in place to report on the condition of non-marine habitat features and species features of SACs, and on the condition of features in MCZs and SPAs.
  2. A condition assessment for the Lindisfarne SPA is not currently available.


1.27. Ythan Estuary, Sands of Forvie and Meikle Loch SPA, Ythan Estuary and Meikle Loch Ramsar site

1.27.1.              Site Overview

  1. Ythan Estuary, Sands of Forvie and Meikle Loch SPA covers a complex area in the northeast of Scotland that contains the long, narrow estuary of the River Ythan, the Sands of Forvie on the east bank of the estuary; the eutrophic Meikle Loch and a marine component covering the area between Aberdeen and Cruden Bay to the north.
  2. The boundaries of the SPA follow those of Sands of Forvie and Ythan Estuary SSSI and the shore of Meikle Loch and Little Loch within Meikle Loch and Kippet Hills SSSI.
  3. Key literature sources include:
  • Ythan Estuary, Sands of Forvie and Meikle Loch SPA - Citation (NatureScot 2020b);
  • Ythan Estuary, Sands of Forvie and Meikle Loch SPA - Conservation Objectives (NatureScot 2021e);
  • Ythan Estuary, Sands of Forvie and Meikle Loch SPA - Natura 2000 Standard Data Form (JNCC 2020c);
  • Ythan Estuary, Sands of Forvie and Meikle Loch SPA - Features (NatureScot 2012a);
  • Ythan Estuary and Meikle Loch Ramsar - Citation (NatureScot 2005c); and
  • Ythan Estuary and Meikle Loch Ramsar - Information Sheet (NatureScot 1999a).

1.27.2.              Qualifying Features

  1. The site is designated for the following features:
  • Pink-footed goose (non-breeding
  • Non-breeding waterfowl assemblage including the following additional named components:
  • Eider
  • Lapwing
  • Redshank

1.27.3.              The Characteristics of the Site

  1. Ythan Estuary, Sands of Forvie and Meikle Loch SPA has a total area of 7062.03 ha. The site is a combination of inland wetlands and marine and coastal wetlands. The area is a waterfowl wintering ground and supports well over 20,000 waterfowl. The main activities in the area include nature conservation, recreation, fishing, rough or shifting grazing.

1.27.4.              Conservation Advice

  1. Advice on the management and operations for Ythan Estuary, Sands of Forvie and Meikle Loch SPA is unavailable.
  2. The conservation objectives for the site are:
  • To ensure that the qualifying features of Ythan Estuary, Sands of Forvie and Meikle Loch SPA are in favourable condition and make an appropriate contribution to achieving Favourable Conservation Status.
  • To ensure that the integrity of Ythan Estuary, Sands of Forvie and Meikle Loch SPA is restored in the context of environmental changes by meeting the following objectives for each qualifying feature:
  • The populations of the qualifying features are viable components of the site.
  • The distributions of the qualifying features throughout the site are maintained by avoiding significant disturbance of the species.
  • The supporting habitats and processes relevant to the qualifying features and their prey/food resources are maintained, or where appropriate, restored.

1.27.5.              Current Condition Status

  1. Table 1.22   Open ▸ provides a summary of the protected features within the site, their condition within the site (where known) based on the latest NatureScot SCM assessment, and the broader conservation status of the protected features.
  2. Feature condition refers to the condition of the protected feature at a site level. Broader conservation status is the overall conservation status of the feature within the UK based on Stanbury et al., (2021).
Table 1.22:
Ythan Estuary, Sands of Forvie and Meikle Loch SPA Feature Condition Assessment

Table 1.22: Ythan Estuary, Sands of Forvie and Meikle Loch SPA Feature Condition Assessment

 

1.28. Cameron Reservoir SPA and Ramsar site

1.28.1.              Site Overview

  1. Cameron Reservoir SPA is a mesotrophic reservoir with a grassland and willow Salix carr fringe, covering 64.4 ha in Fife, Scotland. The site is of international importance for its wintering pink-footed geese.
  2. The boundary of the Special Protection Area is coincident with that of Cameron Reservoir SSSI.
  3. Key literature sources include:
  • Cameron Reservoir SPA - Citation (NatureScot 2009ae);
  • Cameron Reservoir SPA - Conservation Objectives (NatureScot 2009af);
  • Cameron Reservoir SPA - Natura 2000 Standard Data Form (JNCC 2022k);
  • Cameron Reservoir SPA - Features (NatureScot 2009ag);
  • Cameron Reservoir Ramsar - Citation (NatureScot 2005d); and
  • Cameron Reservoir Ramsar - Information Sheet (NatureScot 2005e).

1.28.2.              Qualifying Features

  1. The site is designated for the following features:
  • Pink-footed goose (non-breeding)

1.28.3.              The Characteristics of the Site

  1. Cameron Reservoir SPA and Ramsar site has a total area of 68.71 ha. It contains an artificial loch with beds of aquatic and marginal vegetation. The open water is used as a roost by an internationally important wintering population of pink-footed geese, that feed on the surrounding farmland. The site serves as a domestic water supply. Human activities include recreation hunting and fishing.

1.28.4.              Conservation Advice

  1. Advice on the management and operations of Cameron Reservoir SPA and Ramsar site is unavailable.
  • The conservation objectives for the site are:
  • To avoid deterioration of the habitats of the qualifying species (listed below) or significant disturbance to the qualifying species, thus ensuring that the integrity of the site is maintained; and
  • To ensure for the qualifying species that the following are maintained in the long term:
  • Population of the species as a viable component of the site
  • Distribution of the species within site
  • Distribution and extent of habitats supporting the species
  • Structure, function and supporting processes of habitats supporting the species
  • No significant disturbance of the species

1.28.5.              Current Condition Status

  1. Table 1.23   Open ▸ provides a summary of the protected features within the site, their condition within the site (where known) based on the latest NatureScot SCM assessment, and the broader conservation status of the protected features.
  2. Feature condition refers to the condition of the protected feature at a site level. Broader conservation status is the overall conservation status of the feature within the UK based on Stanbury et al., (2021).
Table 1.23:
Cameron Reservoir SPA Feature Condition Assessment

Table 1.23: Cameron Reservoir SPA Feature Condition Assessment


1.29. Holburn Lake and Moss SPA and Ramsar site

1.29.1.              Site Overview

  1. Holburn Lake and Moss is located about 5 km inland from the coast of Northumberland in north-east England. The site comprises part of a lowland raised mire and parts of the adjacent slopes that form its catchment area. The south-western outflow to the mire was dammed in 1934 to create Holburn Lake. Raised mires are rare in Britain and few now remain intact. Holborn Moss is at the dry end of the range of variation in mires. The vegetation reflects this, being dominated by heather, with cotton-grasses and associated mosses. The core of the site comprises some 10 ha of largely heather-dominated vegetation, punctuated by wetter hollows that retain a Sphagnum-rich flora. There is a small area of poor fen at the eastern end of the lake. Pool margins support species such as cranberry, sundew and bog asphodel. The large heath butterfly, which is nationally uncommon, has also been recorded.
  2. The site is of ornithological importance as a roost for the Icelandic population of greylag goose. These birds feed in surrounding agricultural areas outside the SPA, sometimes beyond the immediate surroundings.
  3. Key literature source include:
  • Holburn Lake and Moss SPA - Citation (Natural England 2014d);
  • Holburn Lake and Moss - Conservation Objectives (Natural England 2019j);
  • Holburn Lake and Moss - Natura 2000 Standard Data Form (JNCC 2015e); and
  • Holburn Lake and Moss Ramsar - Site Details (Natural England 2014e).

1.29.2.              Qualifying Features

  1. The site is designated for the following features:
  • Greylag goose (non-breeding)

1.29.3.              The Characteristics of the Site

  1. Holburn Lake and Moss SPA and Ramsar site has a total area of 27.96 ha. It contains an artificial lake and island supporting reedbeds and adjacent mire areas supporting various species of typical mire vegetation. The lake is a roosting site for internationally important numbers of geese. Access to the site is strictly limited.

1.29.4.              Conservation Objectives

  1. Advice on management and operations of Holburn Lake and Moss SPA and Ramsar site is unavailable.
  2. The conservation objectives for the site are to ensure that the integrity of the site is maintained or restored as appropriate, and ensure that the site contributes to achieving the aims of the Wild Birds Directive, by maintaining or restoring;
  • The extent and distribution of the habitats of the qualifying features
  • The structure and function of the habitats of the qualifying features
  • The supporting processes on which the habitats of the qualifying features rely
  • The population of each of the qualifying features, and,
  • The distribution of the qualifying features within the site.
    1. Natural England’s SACOs present attributes which are ecological characteristics or requirements of the classified species within a site. The listed attributes are those which best describe the site’s ecological integrity and which, if safeguarded, will enable achievement of the conservation objectives. These attributes have a target which is either quantified or qualified depending on the available evidence. The target identifies as far as possible the desired state to be achieved for the attribute.
    2. In many cases, the attribute targets show if the current objective is to either ‘maintain’ or ‘restore’ the attribute. The targets given for each attribute do not represent thresholds to assess the significance of any given effect. Instead, these targets are used along with the conservation objectives, and any case-specific advice issued by Natural England when assessing a project that may affect site integrity. Any proposals or operations which may affect the site, or its features should be designed so they do not adversely affect any of the attributes in the SACO or achievement of the conservation objectives.
    3. The SACO for the Holburn Lake SPA (Natural England, 2019) has been taken into account when considering potential adverse effects on site integrity.

1.29.5.              Current Condition Status

  1. In 2016, Natural England trialled and rolled out a new condition assessment methodology that provides information on the condition of marine features within MPAs. Area Teams conduct these assessments following a standardised approach that assesses if feature- and site-specific targets have been met. To date, condition assessments have been carried out for marine habitat features of a number of SACs, and will be carried out for other SACs in the future. However, different processes are currently in place to report on the condition of non-marine habitat features and species features of SACs, and on the condition of features in MCZs and SPAs.
  2. A condition assessment for the Holburn Lake SPA is not currently available.


1.30. Greenlaw Moor SPA and Ramsar site

1.30.1.              Site Overview

  1. The Greenlaw Moor SPA is located in the southern Lammermuir Hills. The site includes two pools surrounded by an area of moorland. It is an important roosting area for geese in winter.
  2. The Special Protection Area lies within the Greenlaw Moor SSSI.
  3. Key literature sources include:
  • Greenlaw Moor SPA - Citation (NatureScot 1994a);
  • Greenlaw Moor SPA - Conservation Objectives (NatureScot 1994b);
  • Greenlaw Moor SPA - Natura 2000 Standard Data Form (JNCC 2022l);
  • Greenlaw Moor SPA - Features (NatureScot 2007a); and
  • Greenlaw Moor Ramsar - Citation (NatureScot 2021f).

1.30.2.              Qualifying Features

  1. The site is designated for the following features:
  • Pink-footed goose (non-breeding)