Site Code
Country: United Kingdom
Central coordinates: 51.73o, -5.27o
Administrative region: Wales (Pembrokeshire)
Area: 2204 ha
Altitude: 0 - 79
Site Description
The Dale Peninsula and the nearby islands of Skomer and Skokholm are bounded by dramatic cliffs, whose ledges and shores are home to a variety of maritime species. There are some important lichen communities, both on the rocky shores and inland. The plateau vegetation is much affected by salt spray, rabbit grazing and nutrient enrichment from seabirds. The islands have mixed grassland and maritime heath vegetation in varying proportions and the seas around Skomer are a marine nature reserve, notable for marine algae.
Botanical Significance
Noted for lichens, bryophytes, marine algae and habitat interest. The area has a very high diversity of algae, with over 240 seaweed species recorded, which represents c. 38% of the marine seaweed species for Britain. Several notable algae are recorded from this area, including the red alga Schmitzia hiscockiana, 98% of whose known European populations occur in Britain. Other species are confined to the south west or considered to be rare.
Management guidance notes
None
Notes
Noted for lichens, bryophytes, marine algae and habitat interest
Habitat/Land use
Rock cliffs, ledges and shore, including the supralittoral: coastal rocks, Pembrokeshire Marine/ Sir Benfro Forol SAC.
Fauna
Skokholm and Skomer Important Bird Area
Protected Areas (text)
Pembrokeshire Marine/ Sir Benfro Forol SAC
Conservation Issues
Internal natural factors that might potentially alter the algal communities and species dynamics are changes in natural currents. Of internal natural anthropogenic factors, the input of contaminants and silt are considered most like to impact on the algae. Of external factors, marine pollution, especially the introduction of suspended solids is the most like to have an impact.
Land use
| Land use | % Cover | Level |
|---|---|---|
| agriculture (arable) | Major | |
| agriculture (animals) | Major | |
| nature conservation and research | Major | |
| tourism/recreation | Major |
Protection
| Designation | Protected Area Name | Relationship with IPA | Overlap with IPA |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Park | Pembrokeshire | protected area contains IPA | 701 |
| Special Area of Conservation | Pembrokeshire Marine / Sir Benfro Forol | protected area is adjacent to IPA | 1826 |
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | Milford Haven Waterway | protected area is adjacent to IPA | 5 |
| Special Protection Area | Skokholm and Skomer | protected area contained by IPA | 422 |
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | Dale and South Marloes Coast | protected area contained by IPA | 288 |
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | Skokholm | protected area contained by IPA | 108 |
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | Skomer Island and Middleholm | protected area contained by IPA | 332 |
| National Nature Reserve | Skomer Island | protected area contained by IPA | 315 |
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | Skokholm | protected area overlaps with IPA | 107 |
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | Skomer Island and Middleholm | protected area overlaps with IPA | 330 |
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | Dale and South Marloes Coast | protected area overlaps with IPA | 287 |
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | De Porth Sain Ffraid/St Bride`s Bay South | protected area overlaps with IPA | 10 |
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | Milford Haven Waterway | protected area overlaps with IPA | 5 |
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | De Porth Sain Ffraid / St Bride’s Bay South | protected area overlaps with IPA | 10 |
| Marine Nature Reserve | Skomer | protected area overlaps with IPA | 1302 |
Management
| Type | Description | Year started | Year finishes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protected Area Management Plan | Skokholm and Skomer SPA | 2008 | |
| Habitat Management Plan | Lowland heathland HAP | 2002 | |
| Habitat Management Plan | Maritime Cliffs and Slopes HAP | 2002 | |
| Species Management Plan | Rumex rupestris (Shore Dock) SAP | 2002 | |
| Species Management Plan | Ranunculus tripartitus sap | ||
| Species Management Plan | Pilularia globulifera (Pillwort) SAP | 2002 | |
| Species Management Plan | Silene gallica (Small-flowered Catchfly) | 2002 |
Threats
| Threat | Importance |
|---|---|
| abandonment/reduction of land management | high |
| agricultural intensification/expansion (grazing) | medium |
| climate change/ sea level rise | medium |
| eutrophication | medium |
| habitat fragmentation/isolation | medium |
| intrinsic species factors (slow growth, density) | medium |
Threatened Species
None
Botanical Richness
| EUNIS level 2 code & name | IPA Assess. | Habitat Assess. | % of indicator species | No. Species | National Biotope | Data quality | Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B3 Rock cliffs, ledges & shores, including the supralittoral | 2007 | 2007 | 0 | 0 | unknown | B | |
| A1 Littoral rock & other hard substrates | 2012 | 2012 | 0 | 0 | unknown | B | |
| A3 Sublittoral rock & other hard substrata | 2016 | 2016 | 0 | 0 | unknown | B |
Threatened Habitats
| IPA Habitat code & name | IPA Assess. | Habitat Assess. | Area | Data quality | Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1130 Estuaries | 2016 | 2016 | 0 | unknown | Cii |
| 1160 Large shallow inlets & bays | 2016 | 2016 | 0 | unknown | Cii |
| 1170 Reefs | 2016 | 2016 | 0 | unknown | Cii |
| 1110 Sandbanks which are slightly covered by sea water all the time | 2016 | 2016 | 0 | unknown | Cii |
| 1140 Mudflats & sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide | 2016 | 2016 | 0 | unknown | Cii |
| 1150* Coastal Lagoons* | 2016 | 2016 | 0 | unknown | Ci |
| 1330 Atlantic salt meadows (Glauco-Puccinellietalia maritimae) | 2016 | 2016 | 0 | unknown | Cii |
| 8330 Submerged of partially submerged sea caves | 2016 | 2016 | 0 | unknown | Cii |
References
Contact Information
| Contact | Contact Type |
|---|---|
| Cath Shellswell | Site report compiler |