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Special Areas of Conservation

Mells Valley

Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Country England
Unitary Authority Dorset and Somerset
Centroid* ST657476
Latitude 51.22583333
Longitude -2.491666667
SAC EU Code UK0012658
Status Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Area (ha) 28.77
* This is the approximate central point of the SAC. In the case of large, linear or composite sites, this may not represent the location where a feature occurs within the SAC.
Location of Mells Valley SAC

General site character

  • Humid grassland, Mesophile grassland (5%)
  • Improved grassland (60%)
  • Broad-leaved deciduous woodland (10%)
  • Other land (including Towns, Villages, Roads, Waste places, Mines, Industrial sites) (25%)

Download the Standard Data Form for this site (PDF <100kb)

Note When undertaking an appropriate assessment of impacts at a site, all features of European importance (both primary and non-primary) need to be considered.

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

  • Not Applicable

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

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

  • 1304 Greater horseshoe bat Rhinolophus ferrumequinum

    Mells Valley in southern England is selected on the basis of the size of its exceptional breeding population. It contains the maternity site associated with a population comprising about 12% of the UK greater horseshoe bat Rhinolophus ferrumequinum population. A proportion of the population also hibernates at the site, though other hibernation sites remain unknown.

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

  • Not Applicable

Many designated sites are on private land: the listing of a site in these pages does not imply any right of public access.