Site Code
Country: United Kingdom
Central coordinates: 54.16o, -3.25o
Administrative region: North West (Westmorland)
Area: 551 ha
Altitude: 1 - 15
Site Description
The Duddon Estuary and Mosses IPA is centred on the estuary of the River Duddon, and parts of adjacent associated estuaries opening into the Irish Sea at the south-west corner of the Lake District. The mouth of the estuary forms an extensive flat sand plain, whilst eh mid and upper reaches of the estuary are flanked by saltmarsh, with extensive sand dunes and shingle ridges above high water. The IPA includes the Duddon Mosses complex, a series of eight discrete raised mires on floodplains at the head of the estuary.
Botanical Significance
The IPA has been selected for its rich flora associated with sand dunes and coastal shingles, including nationally important populations of Coralroot Orchid (Corallorhiza trifida) and the dune form of Round-leaved Wintergreen (Pyrola rotundifolia ssp. maritima). Saltmarsh habitats add considerably to the site’s interests, as do an exceptional range of raised mires at the head of the estuary that together are considered to represent the most important group of lowland raised mires in Great Britain in terms of their size and diversity of habitats present, second to those situated on the south Solway Firth. These mires support declining species such as Cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccus), Bog Rosemary (Andromeda polifolia) and Royal Fern (Osmunda regalis).
Management guidance notes
The IPA comprises the coastal shingle and sand dune systems at the mouth of the River Duddon, associated salt marsh and a series of raised mire systems at the head of the estuary. The site supports a rich assemblage of vascular plants associated with sand dunes, including nationally important populations of Coralroot Orchid (Corallorhiza trifida) and the dune for m of the Round-leaved Wintergreen (Pyrola rotundifolia ssp. maritima).
Notes
None
Fauna
The dunes of the Fuddon Estuary support 18-25% of the UK population of the nationally rare Natterjack Toad (Bufo calamita).
Protected Areas (text)
The IPA lies wholly within three adjacent Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
Land use
| Land use | % Cover | Level |
|---|---|---|
| fisheries/aquaculture | Major | |
| tourism/recreation | Major | |
| nature conservation and research | Major | |
| wild plant harvesting | Minor | |
| urban/industrial/transport | Unknown | |
| extraction (minerals) | Unknown | |
| extraction (peat) | Unknown | |
| agriculture (animals) | Major | |
| forestry | Minor |
Protection
| Designation | Protected Area Name | Relationship with IPA | Overlap with IPA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | Duddon Estuary | protected area contains IPA | 0 |
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | Duddon Mosses | protected area contains IPA | 0 |
| Ramsar Wetland Site | Duddon Estuary | unknown | 0 |
| Special Protection Area | Duddon Estuary | unknown | 0 |
Management
None
Threats
| Threat | Importance |
|---|---|
| climate change/ sea level rise | high |
| abandonment/reduction of land management | medium |
| construction/impact of dyke/dam/barrage | medium |
| development (industry) | medium |
| development (infrastructure/transport) | medium |
| habitat fragmentation/isolation | medium |
| other | medium |
| water (drainage) | medium |
| forestry (afforestation) | low |
| development (recreation/tourism) | unknown |
| development (urbanisation) | unknown |
Threatened Species
None
Botanical Richness
| EUNIS level 2 code & name | IPA Assess. | Habitat Assess. | % of indicator species | No. Species | National Biotope | Data quality | Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B1 Coastal dune and sand habitats | 2012 | 2012 | 0 | 9 | unknown | B |
Threatened Habitats
None
References
Contact Information
| Contact | Contact Type |
|---|---|
| Andrew Byfield | Site report compiler |