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Special Areas of Conservation

Wye Valley and Forest of Dean Bat Sites/ Safleoedd Ystlumod Dyffryn Gwy a Fforest y Ddena

Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Country England/Wales
Unitary Authority Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol/Bath area, West Wales and The Valleys
Centroid* SO605044
Latitude 51.7375
Longitude -2.5725
SAC EU Code UK0014794
Status Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Area (ha) 144.82
* 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 Wye Valley and Forest of Dean Bat Sites/ Safleoedd Ystlumod Dyffryn Gwy a Fforest y Ddena SAC

General site character

  • Broad-leaved deciduous woodland (26.2%)
  • Other land (including Towns, Villages, Roads, Waste places, Mines, Industrial sites) (73.8%)

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

  • Not Applicable

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

  • 1303 Lesser horseshoe bat Rhinolophus hipposideros

    This complex of sites on the border between England and Wales contains by far the greatest concentration of lesser horseshoe bat Rhinolophus hipposideros in the UK, totalling about 26% of the national population. It has been selected on the grounds of the exceptional breeding population, and the majority of sites within the complex are maternity roosts. The bats are believed to hibernate in the many disused mines in the area.

  • 1304 Greater horseshoe bat Rhinolophus ferrumequinum

    This complex of sites on the border between England and Wales represents greater horseshoe bat Rhinolophus ferrumequinum in the northern part of its range, with about 6% of the UK population. The site contains the main maternity roost for bats in this area, which are believed to hibernate in the many disused mines in the Forest.

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.