3.Ramsar, Special Protected Areas, Special Area Of Conservation And Sites Of Special Scientific Interest.

Sites of Scientific Interest (SSSI) notified under Section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. There are over 60 SSSI’s within the study area. Each site is unique and protected for a specific reason which is held in Natural England's SSI register. There is overlap with Special Protected areas(SPA’s) and SSSI’s and Ramsar sites. SPA’s are a designation under the European Union Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds and similar to Ramsar sites. Ramsar sites are primarily wetland sites and the area in the intertidal zone of the Severn estuary indicated in yellow and red on respective maps is both SSSI and Ramsar designation.

NThe Ramsar site of the Severn Estuary is of international significance for the protection of migrating birds. The site is also a Special Protection Area along with Walmore Common to the North. It is designated as a SPA primarily because it supports an internationally significant number of Berwick Swans in the winter. The designated sites across the study area are considered from the outset in the choosing of a suitable site. All the sites are vulnerable and any development needs to be mindful of that vulnerability. That being said their uniqueness and beaty also offers great opportunity to appropriate and sympathetic development within a suitable proximity.