Read information on heritage preservation: including listed buildings, conservation areas and tree preservation orders.
Nature conservation is concerned with acting for the benefit of wildlife and, in doing so, acting for the benefit of people and the environment as a whole. It has been identified as a priority for Rushcliffe residents.
Current projects
Examples of ongoing projects in Rushcliffe:
- Nature Conservation Strategy.
- Rushcliffe Barn Owl Project.
- Rushcliffe Biodiversity Services
- Nottinghamshire Local Biodiversity Action Plan.
Nature in Rushcliffe
Rushcliffe is largely rural, with a diverse landscape. Fragments of wildlife-rich habitats are found within the farmed landscape, supporting plants such as cowslip and orchids. There are significant woodland areas on the hills above Gotham and West Leake, but most of the woods are small copses scattered across the Borough.
Small pockets of species-rich grassland are located around Rushcliffe, often on abandoned industrial sites. Road verges provide a useful wildlife habitat, particularly in the south of Rushcliffe. Wildlife has readily colonised mineral workings and disused railway lines, whilst a wealth of species are also found in urban areas.
There are no natural lakes in Rushcliffe, but excavation and gravel extraction has provided several large water features and the Grantham Canal is, in wildlife terms, currently a series of narrow lakes and ponds.
Rushcliffe is an important area for some species of plants and animals: black poplar, barn owls, water voles and great crested newts are found in Rushcliffe, but are rare in most of Nottinghamshire. Otters are recolonising Rushcliffe's watercourses and badgers are widespread.
Many species have suffered due to modern lifestyles. Special efforts to conserve species, such as barn owls and funds such as agri-environment schemes, are helping to reduce these losses. Wider influences, such as climate change, will add to the pressure on our local wildlife. The principle of good stewardship demands that we must protect our natural heritage, for the sake of ourselves, our children and for the generations to come.
Important wildlife sites
There are 8 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in Rushcliffe, these are sites that English Nature regards as nationally important. There are 260 Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs), covering 1695 hectares, these are sites that Nottinghamshire Biological and Geological Records Office regard as important for Nottinghamshire. To see where these sites are please visit the Nomad website run by Nottingham City Council..
SSSIs in Rushcliffe:
- Barnstone Railway Cutting - important geology and home to the grizzled skipper butterfly.
- Gotham Hill Pastures - grassland.
- Kinoulton Marsh - marsh.
- Normanton Pastures - grassland/water.
- Orston Plaster Pits - grassland/water.
- Rushcliffe Golf Course - grassland.
- Wilwell Cutting - marsh/grassland.
- Wilford Claypits - marsh/grassland.
Various people and organisations own the SSSIs, but the law helps to protect them. Natural England is responsible for ensuring they are well managed.
Rushcliffe Borough Council has also declared some sites as Local Nature Reserves (LNRs), these are places that are managed by the Borough or Parish Councils that are managed for wildlife:
- Keyworth Meadow - owned and managed by Keyworth Parish Council.
- Sutton Bonington Meadow and Spinney - owned and managed by Sutton Bonington Parish Council.
- Wilwell Farm Cutting - owned by Rushcliffe Borough Council and managed by Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust.
- Bingham Linear Park - owned and managed by Bingham Town Council.
Find out more about local nature reserves and other green spaces in Rushcliffe.
Rushcliffe Borough Council is increasing the number of LNRs in Rushcliffe.
Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust and the Woodland Trust also have nature reserves in the Borough. Local people manage most reserves. Local volunteers are also active in a range of other activities from organising wildlife walks, talks and open days, to monitoring planning applications and surveying for wildlife. Find out how you can volunteer for community involvement.
Nature Conservation Strategy
To help protect and enhance the nature of Rushcliffe, a strategy has been produced by the Rushcliffe Nature Conservation Strategy Implementation Group.
The Rushcliffe Nature Conservation Action Plan (available in PDF format) lists actions currently being taken to support the Rushcliffe Community Nature Strategy (also available in PDF format).
Annual Reports on The Nature of Rushcliffe for 2005, 2006 and 2007 are available to download at the foot of this page.
To request a copy of the strategy, please contact the Environmental Sustainability Officer.
As part of the strategy, two grants are available.
Rushcliffe Barn Owl Project
The barn owl is one particular species found in Rushcliffe, on which a great deal of attention is being focussed as numbers continue to decline. Numbers have declined by 50% in the past 50 years in the UK as a whole. The Rushcliffe Barn Owl Project aims to tackle this problem by conserving and increasing the population of barns owls in Rushcliffe:
- By discovering the size and distribution of the existing population.
- By increasing awareness of the needs of the barn owl through advice.
- By encouraging sympathetic management of feeding and breeding habitats.
- By providing artificial breeding sites in suitable locations.
The team who work on the Barn Owl Project run their own web site containing information and news.
Rushcliffe Biodiversity Services
Rushcliffe Borough Council contracts Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust to provide biodiversity services in Rushcliffe. The work provided by the Trust includes providing advice on the management of wildlife sites, developing local volunteer groups for wildlife sites, working with schools and managing nature reserves in Rushcliffe.
Nottinghamshire Local Biodiversity Action Plan
In addition to identifying specific locations of importance for nature conservation, the Local Biodiversity Action Plan for Nottinghamshire (published in 1998 by the Nottinghamshire Biodiversity Action Group) provides vital information on the actual types of habitats and species that require particular action to ensure their sustainability. As in the rest of the UK, Nottinghamshire is losing its wild species and habitats at an alarming rate. The Local Biodiversity Action Plan aims to set priorities and objectives to prevent this continuing.
The Nottinghamshire Biodiversity Action Plan has created action plans for the many species and habitats that need to be protected and conserved. The list below picks out those that are relevant to Rushcliffe:
Habitats
- Species-rich grassland.
- Wetlands.
- Woodlands.
- Farm Habitats.
Species
- Bats.
- Otter.
- Water vole.
- Harvest Mouse.
- Grizzled skipper and dingy skipper.
- Barn owl.
- Black Poplar.
- Bluebell.
- Great Crested Newt.
- Slow Worm.
