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).

Fauna

The dunes of the Fuddon Estuary support 18-25% of the UK population of the nationally rare Natterjack Toad (Bufo calamita).

Protected Areas

The IPA lies wholly within three adjacent Sites of Special Scientific Interest.