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Special Areas of Conservation

Newham Fen

Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Country England
Unitary Authority Northumberland and Tyne and Wear
Centroid* NU169295
Latitude 55.55888889
Longitude -1.732777778
SAC EU Code UK0012890
Status Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Area (ha) 13.46
* 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 Newham Fen SAC

General site character

  • Inland water bodies (Standing water, Running water) (5%)
  • Bogs, Marshes, Water fringed vegetation, Fens (35%)
  • Improved grassland (10%)
  • Broad-leaved deciduous woodland (50%)

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

  • 7230 Alkaline fens

    Newham is important as a lowland short sedge fen in north-east England, a part of the UK in which Alkaline fens are rare. The site is an example of basin fen, developed from the hydroseral succession of a small lake. The main fen community is M13 Schoenus nigricans – Juncus subnodulosus mire and M9 Carex rostrata – Calliergon cuspidatum/giganteum mire, and there are transitions to S25 Phragmites australis – Eupatorium cannabinum tall-herb fen, MG1 Arrhenatherum elatius grassland and W2 Salix cinerea – Betula pubescens – Phragmites australis woodland. A number of rare species occur at this site, including narrow-leaved marsh-orchid Dactylorhiza traunsteineri, coralroot orchid Corallorhiza trifida, dark-leaved willow Salix myrsinifolia and round-leaved wintergreen Pyrola rotundifolia.

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

  • Not Applicable

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.