A Nature Conservation Review: Volume 1: The Selection of Biological Sites of National Importance to Nature Conservation in BritainDerek Ratcliffe This 1977 book analyses and describes the range of variation in the wild flora and fauna of Britain and identifies important sites that exemplify this rich heritage. These key sites were chosen to represent all the main types of natural and semi-natural vegetation with their characteristic communities of plants and animals. The range of habitats, communities and species is classified under major formations, and in Volume 1, these are subdivided and described. The internationally applicable criteria for evaluating and selecting key sites are also fully discussed. Cambridge University Press published the Review on behalf of the Nature Conservancy Council and the Natural Environment Research Council. It will interest those concerned with the planning, management and use of land and water in relation to nature conservation, as well as for ecologists and naturalists. |
Contents
Recording the intrinsic site features | 5 |
Grading of sites | 15 |
Coastlands | 25 |
Criteria for key site assessment | 49 |
East Scotland | 60 |
West Scotland | 68 |
Woodlands | 69 |
Woodlands | 94 |
Lowland grasslands heaths and scrub | 168 |
Lowland grasslands heaths and scrub | 188 |
A Acidic heaths grasslands and scrub | 200 |
South Scotland | 265 |
East Scotland | 275 |
Open waters | 283 |
| 327 | |
Flora | 330 |
North Wales | 128 |
East Scotland | 144 |
West Scotland | 162 |
Site accounts | 349 |
| 389 | |
Common terms and phrases
abundant acidic areas associated base-rich birds blanket mire brackish Breckland breeding Britain British bryophytes calcareous grasslands Calluna Carex chalk chalk streams characteristic climate coast coastal communities deciduous developed distribution diversity dominant dune east East Anglia ecological ecosystems estuary eutrophic examples extensive field layer floristic Forest formations grade grazing ground habitats heathland Highlands hill important interest invertebrate islands Juncus key sites lakes land large number lichens limestone Loch lowland machair mainly maritima mesotrophic mixed deciduous montane moorland Moss nature conservation nesting Norfolk Broads northern England number of species oakwood occur oligotrophic open water peat peatland plants populations raised mires range rare species region represented rich rivers rocks salt marsh sand Scotland scrub selection semi-natural shingle shrubs slopes soils southern Sphagnum tion trees typical upland usually valley mires variation vegetation vulgaris waders Wales western widespread wildfowl woodland woods zone