Natural England - Geological Conservation

Introduction
Protected Sites
Beyond SSSIs
Strategy
People and Policies
References

Beyond SSSIs
- Introduction
- LNRs
- RIGS
- Organisations

Local Nature Reserves

All district and county councils have discretionary powers to acquire, declare and manage Local Nature Reserves (LNRs). In order to qualify for LNR status, a site must be of at least local importance for wildlife, geology, education or the informal enjoyment of the environment by the public. LNRs must be controlled by the local authority through ownership, lease or agreement with the owner. The priority objective must be to care for the natural features which make the site special.

Geological LNRs can be declared on exisiting SSSIs, RIGS or sites of known local geological interest. Sites might include disused quarries or railway cuttings, road or canal cuttings, natural outcrops and landscape features. Geological LNRs have many benefits by:

	providing protection for locally important geological sites;

	increasing public awareness, understanding and enjoyment of rocks, fossils, minerals and landscape;

	providing an environment for people to learn about their local geology;

	forming a focus for partnerships between local authorites, conservation organisations and local people;

	permitting positive management of the geological resource.

The following is an example of an LNR that is also an SSSI:

Kirtlington Quarry SSSI, Oxfordshire