SPA description
(information as published 2001)
South Pennine Moors
The South Pennine Moors SPA (including the proposed extension to
encompass Eastern Peak District Moors SSSI) includes the major
moorland blocks of the South Pennines from Ilkley in the north to
Leek and Matlock in the south. It covers extensive tracts of
semi-natural moorland habitats including upland heath and blanket
mire. The site is of European importance for several upland
breeding species, including birds of prey and waders. Both Merlin
Falco columbarius and Golden Plover Pluvialis
apricaria spend some of their time feeding outside the SPA on
adjacent areas of in-bye land. The northern end of the South
Pennine Moors SPA is within 10 km of the North Pennine Moors SPA
which supports a similar assemblage of upland breeding species.
Qualifying species
For individual species accounts visit the Species
Accounts section
This site qualifies
under Article 4.1 of the Directive (79/409/EEC) by
supporting populations of European importance of the following
species listed on Annex I of the Directive:
During the breeding season;
Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria, 752 pairs
representing at least 3.3% of the breeding population in Great
Britain (Count as at 1990)
Merlin Falco columbarius, 77 pairs representing at
least 5.9% of the breeding population in Great Britain
Peregrine Falco peregrinus, 16 pairs representing at
least 1.4% of the breeding population in Great Britain
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus, 25 pairs representing
at least 2.5% of the breeding population in Great Britain
This site also qualifies under Article 4.2 of
the Directive (79/409/EEC) by supporting populations of European
importance of the following migratory species:
During the breeding season;
Dunlin Calidris alpina schinzii, 140 pairs
representing at least 1.3% of the breeding Baltic/UK/Ireland
population
Note:
Many designated sites are on private land: the listing of
a site in these pages does not imply any right of public
access.