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River
Avon
The River
Avon is one of the UK’s most biodiverse, with over
180 species of aquatic plants, 37 species of fish and a wide
range of aquatic invertebrates. The headwaters of the main river
are a network of clay streams fed by chalk springs. These converge to form a
chalk river, which is then joined by the main tributaries
around Salisbury developing into a large calcareous
river. It then flows over more acid sands and clay as it
passes the New Forest and the Dorset Heaths. The SAC also
includes the Dockens Water, a largely unmodified acid
stream draining New Forest heathlands.
In the upper reaches
of the system, the rivers support outstanding chalk stream
fisheries, and the surrounding land is mainly grazed or
arable. In the lower reaches of the Avon, the river is
known for its coarse fishery and the floodplain is of
international importance for wintering wildfowl and waders.
The river is highly valued throughout for its flora and
fauna, and is the subject of a range of conservation,
fishery and agricultural initiatives.
The River Avon system
has been designated as one of the first candidate Special
Area of Conservation (cSAC) rivers in the UK. The importance
of the River Avon and its tributaries has been recognised
for several internationally rare or threatened species,
such as sea and brook lamprey, bullhead, Atlantic salmon
and Desmoulins' whorl snail. The river is largely dominated
by water crowfoot (Ranunculus spp.) vegetation
communities.
The River Avon cSAC
Conservation Strategy defines issues affecting the river,
assesses the effectiveness of mechanisms already in place
to address these issues, and identifies any further action
required. It creates a framework for delivery of ‘favourable
conservation status’ for the designated features.The
strategy has been developed by key organisations and individuals
involved in the management of the river,
and will guide their work over the next 10 years.
For more
information, or for printed copies of the River Avon cSAC
Conservation Strategy, please contact English
Nature at Prince Maurice Court, Hambledon Avenue,
Devizes, Wiltshire SN10 2RT.
Tel: +44 (0) 1380 726 344.
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River Avon cSAC Conservation Strategy can be downloaded
below. |
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