Nene Washes
Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
Location | Cambridgeshire |
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Grid reference | TL 307 999[1] |
Interest | Biological |
Area | 1,522.1 hectares[1] |
Notification | 1983[1] |
Location map | Magic Map |
Designations | |
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Ramsar Wetland | |
Official name | Nene Washes |
Designated | 5 March 1993 |
Reference no. | 587[2] |
Nene Washes is a 1,522-hectare (3,760-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest on the bank of the River Nene east of Peterborough in Cambridgeshire, England.[1][3] It is also a Ramsar internationally important wetland site,[4] a Special Area of Conservation,[5] a Special Protection Area[6] and a Nature Conservation Review site.[7] An area of 280 hectares (690 acres) is managed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.[8][9] The total area of the Ramsar site is 1,517 hectares (3,750 acres).[2]
This is described by Natural England as one of Britain's few remaining areas of washland which are vital for the survival of wildfowl and waders. It is used as a flood storage reservoir for the River Nene and is flooded for most of the winter and is pasture in the summer. It is important for birds all year. In the wintering wildfowl include wigeons, teals, pintails and Bewick's swans. In the breeding season the nesting species include common crane, black-tailed godwit, garganey and common snipe. The cranes also winter in the area and flock in nearby fields. They reserve is also good for birds of prey including Western marsh harrier, Eurasian hobby and short-eared owl.[8]
The rich flora in ditches include uncommon species such as frogbit, water violet and flowering rush.[7] There is also an important population of spined loach in the drainage channels in and around the washes, and the presence of this species is one of the primary reasons for the site's designation as a Special Area of Conservation.[5]
There is access to the RSPB reserve immediately east of the B1040 road from Nene Way. The western end is private land with no public access.[9]
References
- ^ a b c d "Designated Sites View: Nene Washes". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
- ^ a b "Nene Washes". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
- ^ "Map of Nene Washes". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
- ^ "Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS): Nene Washes" (PDF). Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
- ^ a b "Nene Washes". Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
- ^ "SPA description: Nene Washes". Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
- ^ a b "Nene Washes citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
- ^ a b "Nene Washes". Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
- ^ a b "RSPB and Nene Washes". Peterborough Bird Club. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
52°35′N 0°04′W / 52.58°N 0.07°W / 52.58; -0.07
- v
- t
- e
- Alder Carr
- Aversley Wood
- Balsham Wood
- Barnack Hills & Holes
- Bassenhally Pit
- Bedford Purlieus
- Berry Fen
- Bonemills Hollow
- Brackland Rough
- Brampton Meadow
- Brampton Racecourse
- Brampton Wood
- Buff Wood
- Caldecote Meadows
- Cam Washes
- Carlton Wood
- Castor Flood Meadows
- Castor Hanglands
- Cherry Hinton Pit
- Chettisham Meadow
- Chippenham Fen and Snailwell Poor's Fen
- Delph Bridge Drain
- Dernford Fen
- Devil's Dyke
- Dogsthorpe Star Pit
- Elsworth Wood
- Ely Pits and Meadows
- Eversden and Wimpole Woods
- Fleam Dyke
- Fowlmere Watercress Beds
- Fulbourn Fen
- Furze Hill
- Gamlingay Wood
- Godmanchester Eastside Common
- Gog Magog Golf Course
- Grafham Water
- Great Stukeley Railway Cutting
- Great Wilbraham Common
- Hardwick Wood
- Hayley Wood
- Hemingford Grey Meadow
- Hildersham Wood
- Holland Hall (Melbourn) Railway Cutting
- Holme Fen
- Houghton Meadows
- Kingston Wood and Outliers
- L-Moor, Shepreth
- Langley Wood
- Little Catworth Meadow
- Little Paxton Pits
- Little Paxton Wood
- Madingley Wood
- Monks Wood and The Odd Quarter
- Nene Washes
- Orton Pit
- Orwell Clunch Pit
- Ouse Washes
- Out and Plunder Woods
- Overhall Grove
- Papworth Wood
- Park Wood
- Perry Woods
- Portholme
- Roman Road
- Sawston Hall Meadows
- Snailwell Meadows
- Soham Wet Horse Fen
- Southorpe Meadow
- Southorpe Paddock
- Southorpe Roughs
- St Neots Common
- Stow-Cum-Quy Fen
- Sutton Heath and Bog
- Ten Wood
- Thriplow Meadows
- Thriplow Peat Holes
- Upware North Pit
- Upwood Meadows
- Wansford Pasture
- Warboys and Wistow Woods
- Waresley Wood
- Weaveley and Sand Woods
- West, Abbot's and Lound Woods
- Whitewater Valley
- Whittlesford - Thriplow Hummocky Fields
- Wicken Fen
- Wilbraham Fens
- Woodwalton Fen
- Woodwalton Marsh