Category: News

Two further NNRs have been added to the directory

New Areas

• GFF-0441  High Leys NNR, Cumbria
• GFF-0442  Thornhill Moss and Meadows NNR, Cumbria

Several changes to the directory have been made:

New Areas

• GFF-0437 East Devon Pebblebed Heaths SAC  -Pebblebed Heaths NNR
• GFF-0438 Waveney and Little Ouse Valley Fens SAC – Blo’ Norton and Thelnetham Fen SSSI
• GFF-0439 Waveney and Little Ouse Valley Fens SAC – Weston Fen SSSI
• GFF-0440 Chartley Moss NNR

Updates

• GFF-0162 Is renamed to Waveney and Little Ouse Valley Fens SAC – Redgrave and Lopham Fen NNR/RAMSAR. A further two new references , GFF 0438/9 have been created for SSSIs which form geographically separate parts of the SAC.

New Areas & Amendments  -Latest update 9/8/21 

We have completed the process of working through the GMFF Directory, to ensure all Scottish National Scenic Areas (NSAs) are allocated a reference, in some cases existing reference names have been amended to make clear when they include the NSA. There are 40 NSAs in all covering 13% of Scotland’s land mass, so completing this work provides more opportunities for getting out and operating in Scotland’s beautiful countryside.

The following new areas have been allocated a reference:

• GMFF-0116  Assynt – Coigach NSA
• GMFF -0117  Fleet Valley NSA
• GMFF-0118 Eildon and Leaderfoot NSA
• GMFF-0119 Kintail NSA
• GMFF-0120 Knapdale NSA
• GMFF-0121 Shetland NSA
• GMFF-0122 Knoydart NSA
• GMFF-0123 Kyle of Tongue NSA
• GMFF-0124 Kyles of Bute NSA
• GMFF-0125 Loch na Keal, Isle of Mull NSA
• GMFF-0126 Loch Rannoch and Glen Lyon NSA
• GMFF-0127 Loch Sheil NSA
• GMFF-0128 Loch Tummel NSA
• GMFF-0129 Lynn of Lorn NSA
• GMFF-0130 Morar, Moidart and Ardnamurchan NSA
• GMFF-0131  North-West Sutherland NSA
• GMFF-0132 River Earn  (Comrie to St Fillans) NSA
• GMFF-0133 River Tay (Dunkeld) NSA
• GMFF-0134 Scarba, Lunga and the Garvellachs NSA
• GMFF-0135 Trotternish NSA
• GMFF-0136 Upper Tweedale NSA
• GMFF-0137 The Small Isles NSA
• GMFF-0138 Glen Affric NSA
• GMFF-0139 Glen Strathfarrar NSA
• GMFF-0140 Nith Estuary NSA
• GMFF-0141 East Stewartry Coast NSA
• GMFF-0142 Dornoch Firth NSA

Changes also made to:

• GMFF-0001 Cairngorms National Park – name changed to Cairngorms NP and NSA to reflect inclusion of the Cairngorms Mountains NSA
• GMFF-0002 Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park and NSAs name changed to reflect inclusion of the 2 NSAs within the Park Boundary
• GMFF -0061  St Kilda NSA, NNR and WHS  name changed reflect inclusion of the NS
• GMFF-0107 Cuillins SPA becomes Cuillans SPA- Cuillin Hills NSA (Isle of Skye) to reflect inclusion of NSA

New Areas

The following NNRs have now been given a reference:

• GFF-0433 – Valley of the Stones NNR
• GFF-0434 – Sandybeck Meadows NNR
• GFF-0435 – Bardney Limewoods NNR
• GFF- 0436- South London Downs NNR

The process of assigning references to all of Northern Ireland’s Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) has now been completed. The following new references have been added to the directory

• GIFF- 0074 -Antrim Coast and Glens AONB
• GIFF- 0075 -Binevenagh  AONB
• GIFF- 0076 – Causeway Coast AONB
• GIFF- 0077 -Lagan Valley AONB
• GIFF- 0078 -Ring Of Gullion AONB
• GIFF- 0079 – Sperrins AONB
• GIFF- 0080 – Strangford and Lecale AONB

Several changes to the directory have been made:

New Areas

In line with the decision made by Team GxFF in April, we have completed the addition of all Wildfowl and Wetland Trust sites, the final three sites added being:

• GFF-0431 – Washington WWT
• GFF-0432 – London WWT
• GIFF- 0073 – Castle Espie WWT

Updates

In addition GWFF – 0059 Maes y Facrell NNR (Great Orme) has become designated as  Pen y Gogarth SAC (including Maes y Facrell NNR) (Great Orme), the new boundaries now taking in the SAC.

Staying in Wales, GFF- 0015 Pembrokeshire Coast National Park will be redesignated with a GWFF prefix. This change will take effect from August 1st 2021.

Allocation of references within GxFF is determined by the Reference Allocation Policy.

We have been approached about adding Llanelli Wetland Centre (owned and managed by the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust). At first glance this was declined, as the site is not designated, according to our policy.

However, on further consideration, it was noted that several of the other WWT sites are already listed (eg Arundel, Martin Mere, Slimbridge), and that WWT is a globally renowned group in conservation circles.
Continue reading “Update to the Reference Allocation Policy”

A number of changes to the GxFF Directory have been made:

New Areas

• GFF-0422: The newly designated Saltwells NNR has been added, in accordance with Natural England’s announcement.
• GFF-0423: Thames Basin Heaths SPA – Whitmoor Common SSSI has been added.
• GFF-0424: Ashtead Heath NNR has been added.
• GFF-0425: Bolton Fell and Walton Mosses NNR – Bolton Fell Moss SAC has been added.
• GFF-0426: River Wensum SAC has been added.
• GFF-0427: Hamford Water SPA/RAMSAR/NNR has been added.
• GFF-0428: Pevensey Levels SPA/RAMSAR/NNR has been added.
• GFF-0429: South Solway Mosses SAC – South Solway Mosses NNR – Glassom Moss SSSI has been added – this is a distinct area near to GFF-0083.
• GFF-0430: Charnwood Lodge NNR has been added.

In addition, Team GxFF are discussing how to proceed with the new Purbeck Heaths NNR and its impact on the existing designated areas, in accordance with Natural England’s announcement.

Updates

• GFF-0059: The King’s Wood and Rushmere NNR boundaries have been adjusted, in accordance with Natural England’s announcement.
• GFF-0110: The Lower Derwent Valley NNR boundaries have been adjusted, in accordance with Natural England’s announcement. Note: the reference boundaries are unchanged, as it is all within the SPA/SAC/RAMSAR designated area.
• GFF-0145: The Ribble and Alt Estuaries NNR boundaries have been adjusted, in accordance with Natural England’s announcement. As part of this, the contiguous Hesketh Out Marsh RSPB has been extended and designated as part of the NNR.
• GFF-0150: The Marshside RSPB has become designated as part of the Ribble and Alt Estuaries NNR (see GFF-0145) – it will retain its separate reference.
• GFF-0343: has been renamed as Cassop NNR, in accordance with Natural England’s announcement to rename and reduce it in size.
• GFF-0372: has been renamed as Bolton Fell and Walton Mosses NNR – Walton Moss SAC, in accordance with Natural England’s announcement. The reference covers the whole of Walton Moss SAC, so the extension of the NNR within the SAC have no direct affect. The designation of Bolton Fell Moss SAC as an NNR is reflected in GFF-0425.

Where boundaries have changed, activators must ensure that their activation position is still within the designated areas!