In the last year three nature reserves in Warrington have gone forward as candidate European 'Special Areas of Conservation' (cSAC). Two of the sites namely Risley Moss and Rixton Clay Pits are owned and managed by the Council; the third Holcroft Moss is managed by Cheshire Wildlife Trust. The now international status of these sites is a credit to the commitment to correct managed over many years.

Rixton Clay Pits supports an exceptionally large breeding population of great crested newts, and the Council continues to work closely with English Nature to enhance the site for this international priority biodiversity species. Plans are well advanced for a new Education Centre which will be built at the reserve next year, a new car park, a pre-requisite for the centre has just been completed. The Council are partners in a LIFE Project bid into great crested newts, and it successful, a so called 'workstation' would be based at the new centre, turning the site into a centre of excellence for the study of the species.

Warrington Borough Council has just completed its public consultation on its new deposit draft Unitary Development Plan. A great deal of time has gone into the development of new nature conservation polices within the document. The Plan is built around the Sustainable Development Strategy for Warrington with biodiversity principles and objectives very must to the fore.

Over the last year nearly forty local sites have been designated by the Council as 'Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation' (SINCs). The new SINC system replaces the old SBI/RIGS system for Warrington. SINCs represent the best local wildlife sites in the borough and are vital to the maintenance of biodiversity of the Borough.

The council has just started in partnership with Warrington Nature Conservation Forum on the completion of a Biodiversity Strategy for Warrington, it is expected that this will be completed next year

Contact:
Warrington Borough Council
Tel: 01925 442837
Fax: 01925 413449