Kinder Scout declared a National Nature Reserve

12 Oct 2009 11:48 AM

Owned and managed by the National Trust, Kinder comprises around 700 hectares of various upland habitats, including blanket bog and sub-alpine dwarf shrub heath, and also supports several upland breeding birds, notably species of birds of prey and waders, curlew and ring ouzel. Going forward, assessments will be made of the potential to restore damaged habitat areas, including the regeneration of bog mosses, which are fundamental to the long-term process of peat creation and carbon storage.

Kinder is among the most popular upland areas in England for walkers and holds a special affection as the site of the famous 1932 Mass Trespass - the catalyst for the creation of our National Parks. It now becomes the 223rd NNR in England and the 16th owned by the National Trust.

Poul Christensen, Acting Chair of Natural England, said: “National Nature Reserves are selected to build up a balanced network of the best examples of England’s natural heritage, of which Kinder Scout is definitely one. As one of the most famous upland sites in England it offers an excellent platform to promote engagement amongst the general public about the need to conserve and improve our upland habitats”.

The NNR declaration came on the same day that the life of Sir Martin Doughty - the father of modern nature conservation and founding Chair of Natural England - was celebrated with a series of events on and around Kinder Scout. Martin died of cancer earlier this year and would have celebrated his 60th birthday on 11 October. An informal family day out was arranged by Natural England, the National Trust, Derbyshire County Council and the Peak District National Park Authority.

Speaking at the celebration, Poul Christensen said “Martin would have been delighted his beloved Kinder Scout has achieved NNR status. He worked tirelessly to improve access to our natural environment so everyone could enjoy it like he did”.

Mike Innerdale, the National Trust’s Peak District General Manager said: "Kinder Scout is an iconic part of the Peak District that is enjoyed by millions of visitors each year and The National Trust strongly supports the declaration of the site as a National Nature Reserve. Kinder is an area that provides a great opportunity for people to enjoy the countryside and experience nature, NNR status will help us to provide even more opportunities for visitors to discover this dramatic landscape."

Notes to Editors:

About Kinder Scout

• Kinder is the most symbolic place in the history of the access movement and has had a great influence on the UK’s national parks. As the location of the mass trespass of 1932, the area is important as the place where the demand of urban populations for access to the countryside and to nature became a political movement, and thus helped to shape the 1949 National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act. To this day, it remains a place of pilgrimage and inspiration for those campaigning for greater access.

• It is on the doorstep of a large conurbation and visited by thousands of people every year. With its extensive tracts of open moorland and spectacular views, Kinder provides an opportunity to reconnect urban populations with the land and nature, both physically and as a vital mental and spiritual experience. Because of its height and proximity to the Greater Manchester area, it forms a splendid backcloth to many city views and is a reminder of the presence of wilder places nearby.

• The site is an important resource for research and demonstration into the processes of restoration. Kinder has long been used to adopt and demonstrate pioneering techniques for restoration and management of the fragile upland peat environment, including ways to slow - and if possible reverse - the loss of carbon and to improve water catchment. The restoration of the “sideland” vegetation is one of the best and most successful examples of its kind in the country. The site is currently the subject of several major research projects on habitat restoration and will continue to provide opportunities for such research in the future.

• The site is an important example of the impact of human activities, notably air pollution and over-grazing, on natural ecosystems. Though the ecosystem is now recovering, these destructive processes have been well documented over an unusually long period of time. Observations and related research undertaken at Kinder throws much light on man-induced erosion processes generally and have helped in recognising similar erosion trends elsewhere in upland Britain.

About NNRs

National Nature Reserves were initially established to protect sensitive features and to provide ‘outdoor laboratories’ for research. Their purpose has widened since those early days. As well as managing some of our most pristine habitats, our rarest species and our most significant geology, most NNRs now offer great opportunities to the public as well as schools and specialist audiences to experience England’s natural heritage.

Natural England is the body empowered to declare NNRs in England, the Reserves being a selection of the very best parts of England’s Sites of Special Scientific Interest. It is this underlying designation which gives NNRs their strong legal protection. The majority also have European nature conservation designations.

There are currently 223 NNRs in England (and one Marine Nature Reserve, Lundy) with a total area of over 92,000 hectares, which is approximately 0.6% of the country’s land surface. The largest is The Wash NNR, covering almost 8,800 hectares, whilst Horn Park Quarry in Dorset, at 0.32 hectares, is the smallest.

Natural England manages about two thirds of England’s NNRs, whilst the remaining third are managed by organisations approved by Natural England; for example, National Trust, the Forestry Commission, RSPB, many Wildlife Trusts and Local Authorities. Of Natural England’s NNRs, about 30% are owned and almost 50% leased. The rest are held under Nature Reserve Agreements.

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.

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.

From The Lizard in Cornwall to Lindisfarne in Northumberland, England’s National Nature Reserves (NNRs) represent many of the finest wildlife and geological sites in the country. The first NNRs emerged in the postwar years alongside the early National Parks, and have continued to grow since then.

About Natural England

Natural England works for people, places and nature to conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas. We conserve and enhance the natural environment for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of people, and the economic prosperity it brings.

For further information contact: The National Press Office on 0845 603 9953, press@naturalengland.org.uk out of hours 07970 098005. For further information about Natural England please visit: www.naturalengland.org.uk

About The National Trust

The National Trust is one of the most important nature conservation organisations in Europe with over 1,000 properties covering 250,000 hectares, including coastal sites, woodland and upland areas; many of which are rich in wildlife. All 17 species of UK bat have been recorded as roosting or breeding on National Trust land and 96 per cent of all resident UK butterflies can be found on our land. Wicken Fen in Cambridgeshire is our most species rich site and 93 per cent of our land has been surveyed for its nature conservation importance. Find out more on the National Trust website.