County Wildlife Sites (CWS)
County Wildlife Sites (CWS) are areas of land rich in wildlife; they might be a tract of heath, a meadow, a copse or a village pond. The County Wildlife Sites notification is not statutory, but creates a partnership between landowners and conservation agencies by recognising the wildlife value of a site.
County Wildlife Sites are an essential part of creating a better connected landscape of wildlife habitats, one that includes buffers, corridors and stepping stones, so that the countryside becomes more resilient to the pressures of modern living and climate change.
Although not a statutory designation like SSSIs, County Wildlife Sites complement the SSSI network and are increasingly recognised by the government and local authorities as a vital tool for maintaining biodiversity and monitoring the health of the natural environment. Their value is also recognised through the protection they receive from inclusion in Local Plans.
Most sites are in private ownership and their long-term survival depends upon the interest and goodwill of their land managers and owners.
The Wildlife Trust offers landowners:
- Site visits
- Management advice
- Advice about sources of grant aid such as the Environmental Stewardship Scheme, and English Woodland Grant Scheme
- Free wildlife surveys carried out by the Wildlife Trust. Surveys enable us to collect up-to-date data on your site and provide you with information to inform your management. This information can also be useful should you wish to make an application for a grant scheme.
- Grazing Scheme: Match owners and managers of land in need of grazing with graziers in the local area.
For more information about County Wildlife Sites:
In Cambridgeshire, please contact Christa Perry, Wildlife Sites officer, on 01954 713532 or Christa.perry (at) wildlifebcnp.org
In Bedfordshire, please contact Laura Downton, Wildlife Sites officer, on 01234 364213 or laura.downton (at) wildlifebcnp.org
The County Wildlife Sites System is a partnership between Bedfordshire County Council, Cambridgeshire County Council, Peterborough City Council, local authorities, district councils, Natural England, Environmental Agency, FWAG and charities.
This project is supported under the England Rural Development Programme by the Department for environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund.
