• The Somerset Wetlands National Nature Reserve (NNR) is England’s third largest NNR at 6,140ha 
• The declaration launches the Festival of National Nature Reserves summer programme to celebrate 70 years of NNRs 
• Landmarks like Burrow Mump and Steart Marshes join the ‘jewels in nature’s crown’ 

England’s second ‘super’ National Nature Reserve (NNR) has been declared in Somerset by Natural England on the 70th anniversary of the creation of national nature reserves. 

The Somerset Wetlands NNR has absorbed the six reserves on the Somerset Levels and Moors and added 56% more land to the area occupied by the original NNRs. It will be managed by Natural England, Environment Agency, National Trust, RSPB, Somerset Wildlife Trust and new partners The Hawk and Owl Trust and Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust. 

Becoming England’s third largest NNR, the Somerset Wetlands is 6,140ha and adds landmarks like Burrow Mump, Catcott Lows and Steart Marshes to the list of locations that already enjoyed NNR status like Shapwick Heath, Ham Wall and Bridgwater Bay.  

A rich variety of habitats lie within the NNR – wet grassland, saltmarsh and intertidal mudflats which are home to many diverse species. Highlights include:   

• A third of the UK’s bittern population, a large marsh bird of the heron family; avocets, black-and-white waders which bred in Somerset in 2012 for the first time in more than 150 years and new colonisers like the great white egret, which bred for the first time in Somerset and the UK ten years ago. 
• 19 species of dragonflies including a ‘Merited Site of National Importance’ by the British Dragonfly Society. 
• Round-leaved sundew – a carnivorous plant whose original habitat was the peatlands before drainage and farming. 

NNRs are the most important places for nature in England. For the past 70 years they have been a haven for species, habitat and geology. Now they are at the heart of the growing Nature Recovery Network, too.  

The declaration of the Somerset Wetlands NNR coincides with the date NNRs were established on 19 May 1952. To mark the anniversary, the Festival of National Nature Reserves is launching today celebrating NNRs past, present, and future.  

Tony Juniper, chair of Natural England, said: “The creation of this very large National Nature Reserve is an important moment for nature recovery in England. This is not least because it presents a practical demonstration of what can be done by working in partnership across the landscape at scale to reverse nature’s decline. Natural England intends to encourage other projects with similar ambition. 

“Seventy years from the creation of our first National Nature Reserves in England, these wonderful places are needed now more than ever, as we face the challenges of global warming, wildlife decline and reconnecting people with the natural world.” 

The announcement today demonstrates how the Government is taking action to deliver on its environmental ambitions, including the legally binding target set out in the 2021 Environment Act to halt wildlife decline by 2030. 

All the 219 NNRs in England have a common goal of nature conservation and recovery. ‘Super’ NNRs like Somerset Wetlands and its predecessor, Purbeck Heaths in Dorset, are the next generation of NNRs, achieving the same goals but on a much bigger scale. The ambition is to effect landscape-level changes to tackle the climate, nature and wellbeing crises through partnership working as well as helping create a wonderful wildlife destination for visitors and residents, which benefits the local economy. 

Georgia Stokes, CEO of Somerset Wildlife Trust (SWT), said: “The Somerset Wetlands NNR represents a shift in approach and a scaling up of ambition and action in a low-lying county that’s hugely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. 

“By joining up land in this way, we can put a significant proportion of the county into recovery for nature and climate - from inland wetland reserves all the way to Somerset’s coast – rebuilding ecosystems and restoring the land's ability to capture and store carbon and achieve real gains for climate and biodiversity for future generations.” 

Dr James Robinson, Director of Conservation at the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT), said: “The beautiful, shore-side wetlands at WWT Steart Marshes not only support an incredibly rich array of wildlife, but are also a highly effective carbon sink which research shows store 10,000 tonnes of carbon each year.  

“Including WWT Steart Marshes in the new NNR recognises the site’s importance in helping to combat the nature and climate crises and its role as an ‘outdoor laboratory’ in helping to find solutions to these pressing issues.” 

To find a Festival of National Nature Reserves event at your local reserve visit www.NNRfestival.com. 

EDITORS NOTES 

For interviews 

Media are invited to interview Minister Pow, Natural England chair Tony Juniper and chief executive Marian Spain and partner representatives at the Somerset Wetlands NNR launch event. Contact ian.matuszczyk@environment-agency.gov.uk or 07342 065606 for details. 

Additional quotes 

Environment Agency 

Jim Flory of the Environment Agency said: “Somerset Wetlands NNR Is a frontline and vulnerable landscape where new approaches need to be trialled urgently to provide viable outcomes. 

“There is real ambition for change. This partnership can demonstrate the benefits of working together to achieve this. We are more than the sum of our parts.” 
 

Hawk and Owl Trust 

Phil Holms, a Trustee of the Hawk and Owl Trust, said: ‘‘The Hawk and Owl Trust is a national UK wildlife charity, dedicated to conserving owls and birds of prey in the wild, and managing our land in the Avalon Marshes.  

“We fully embrace the new ‘super’ NNR partnership, to work together with a shared vision for this precious landscape and its wildlife. This will make larger scale restoration and resourcing possible and bring both economic benefits and a lasting asset for the community.” 
 

National Trust 

Alex Raeder, Project Manager at the National Trust, said: “The National Trust is delighted to be a part of this second ‘super’ NNR declaration in the Somerset Levels. The NNR designation gives this unique wetland landscape the national recognition it deserves, not just as special place for nature but a vital resource for people too.  

“The Somerset Levels are uniquely placed to lead the way in the nations response to climate change and nature’s recovery.”  

RSPB 

Nick Bruce-White, RSPB Operations Director for Southern England, said: “The declaration of the Somerset Wetlands ‘super’ NNR is a significant moment for the Somerset Levels and Moors.  By working together with a shared vision, it will be possible to tackle and adapt to the impacts of climate change and start to address the nature crisis.  

“The super NNR will be at the heart of a much bigger, more connected and dynamic wetland landscape, helping people and communities through nature-based solutions.”   

About National Nature Reserves (NNRs) 

NNRs are the most important places for nature in England.  

• NNRs are legally declared as places where:   
• Nature is protected  
• People can enjoy nature   
• Environmental science can be carried out    
• For the past 70 years they have been a safe haven for nature. Today they are also places for nature recovery and nature-based solutions to climate change 

There are now 219 NNRs in England as the Somerset Wetlands NNR combines the six existing NNRs of Bridgwater Bay, Ham Wall, Huntspill River, Shapwick Heath, Somerset Levels and Westhay Moor.  

The declaration of the Somerset Wetlands NNR has increased the footprint of NNRs in England to 101,531.65ha.  

The largest NNR in England is The Wash (8,777.50ha). The second largest is Moor House-Upper Teesdale (8,669.74ha). 

Only Approved Bodies can join the management of NNRs. To become an Approved Body, the applicant must demonstrate a record of conservation management to prove they can manage a national nature reserve in the long term before their application is approved by Natural England. Individuals cannot become an Approved Body. The number of Approved Bodies is now 62 with the addition the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust and the Hawk and Owl Trust. 

About the Festival of National Nature Reserves 

The Festival of National Nature Reserves is a celebration of people and nature, of National Nature Reserves past, present and future. The first National Nature Reserves in England were declared in 1952 and this year Natural England and partners are celebrating 70 years of NNRs, England’s most important places for nature.  

Through a series of over 100 local events held from May to October we will be inviting people to discover nature in exciting ways they might not have considered before. National Nature Reserves are essential for nature’s recovery and are at the heart of the developing nature recovery network in England.  

 Visit www.NNRfestival.com for more information.