Areas which represent the best examples of different kinds of countryside or contain unusual communities of plants or animals or important natural features such as rock exposures or gorges. Designated by Scottish Natural Heritage.
Declared by statutory nature conservation agencies such as English Nature under section 19 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, or section 35 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Sites declared by English Nature or its predecessors under National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 or the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. They are owned or controlled by English Nature or held by approved bodies such as Wildlife Trusts.
Reserves declared and managed by English Nature under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949.
Designated for the national or international importance of their flora and fauna, geological or physiological features. NNRs are primarily used for nature conservation.
Area of national or international importance and managed for nature conversation use.
area designated by English Nature to protect and conserve nationally important areas of wildlife habitat and geological formations and to promote scientific research; in Wales it is an SSSI that the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) has designated of national or international importance for nature conservation. (Note: on the CCW website I noticed that they also refer to National Nature Reserves, as well as SSSIs)
a reserve declared under law and managed either by one of the statutory nature conservation agencies or by an approved body. Loch Leven, Kinross-shire, is an NNR.
A nationally important area of special nature conservation interest, designated by English NatureĀ under Section 16 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949.
These are areas of national or international importance for nature conservation and include some of the most important natural and semi-natural habitats in Great Britain. See Policy Env\2.
A nationally important area of land owned and/or managed by English Nature to safeguard its geological or wildlife interest.
National Nature Reserve is a United Kingdom government conservation designation for a nature reserve of national significance.