River Wensum

General site character

• Inland water bodies (Standing water, Running water) (42%)
  
• Bogs, Marshes, Water fringed vegetation, Fens (12%)
  
• Humid grassland, Mesophile grassland (40%)
  
• Broad-leaved deciduous woodland (6%)
  

Annex I habitats that are a primary reason for selection of this site

• 3260 Water courses of plain to montane levels with the Ranunculion fluitantis and Callitricho-Batrachion vegetation

  The Wensum represents sub-type 1 in lowland eastern England. Although the river is extensively regulated by weirs, Ranunculus vegetation occurs sporadically throughout much of the river’s length. Stream water-crowfoot R. penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans is the dominant Ranunculus species but thread-leaved water-crowfoot R. trichophyllus and fan-leaved water-crowfoot R. circinatus also occur.

Annex I habitats present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for selection of this site

• Not Applicable

Annex II species that are a primary reason for selection of this site

• 1092 White-clawed (or Atlantic stream) crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes

  The Wensum is a chalk-fed river in eastern England, and is an eastern example of riverine white-clawed crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes populations. As with most of the remaining crayfish populations in the south and east of England, the threats from non-native crayfish species and crayfish plague are severe. Designation of the river as a SAC provides as much protection as can be afforded to such vulnerable populations.

Annex II species present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for site selection

• 1016 Desmoulin's whorl snail Vertigo moulinsiana
• 1096 Brook lamprey Lampetra planeri
• 1163 Bullhead Cottus gobio