Two nationally rare flower-rich grasslands have gained national protection in recognition of their national importance for wildlife, Natural England has announced yesterday (Wednesday, October 14).
Dallow Downs & Winsdon Hill (DD&WH), a chalk grassland on the western outskirts of Luton, and Cowslip Meadow, a flower-rich meadow located in a residential area to the north of Luton, have gained national status as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Over 97% of wildflower meadows have been lost since the 1930s with flower-rich grassland now only covering a mere 1% of the UK’s land area.
Today’s move will see around 48ha of land receive strong legal protection on account of the rich array of wildflower-rich grassland and rare plant interest, including the nationally rare great pignut plant which has a stronghold on these sites.
Aidan Lonergan, Natural England’s area manager for West Anglia, said:
These designations are a huge step forward to secure the protection of these nationally important wildflower meadows which host an array of rare and wonderful wildlife.
“These grasslands are right on Luton’s doorstep and we know the value of having nature close to home has being vital for so many of us during this challenging year.
“Today’s move will offer long-term protection for these important sites, so local communities can continue to connect with this special habitat and its amazing wildlife as we build back greener from the pandemic.”
‘The first to achieve this status’
Councillor Paul Castleman, portfolio holder responsible for heritage and conservation, said:
“We are really delighted that DD&WH and Cowslip Meadow is proposed to have national status as SSSI – the first to achieve this status locally for many years.
This step is a real tribute to the work of our teams in managing the sites and the job done by volunteers and following our work carried out with Natural England and Wildlife Trust, these areas can now be protected and managed for all to enjoy.
“We also welcome the approach of Natural England in seeking the views of local residents as part of the process.”
Last month, a Natural England survey revealed that almost nine in 10 adults in England during lockdown reported that protection of the environment is important to them, and today’s move will help ensure that local communities in Luton continue to benefit from these wildlife-rich greenspaces long term.
The government has laid out its ambition in the 25 Year Environment Plan for a growing and resilient network of land, water and sea that is richer in plants and wildlife, and has also recently committed to protecting 30% of the UK’s land by 2030 which will result in over 4,000km² of new land in England being designated.
There are over 4,100 SSSIs in England, covering around 8% of the country’s land area. More than 70% of these sites (by area) are internationally important for their wildlife and also designated as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Special Protection Areas (SPAs) or Ramsar sites. National Nature Reserves (NNRs) are also SSSIs as are many Local Nature Reserves (LNRs).
