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Special Areas of Conservation

River Camel

Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Country England
Unitary Authority Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
Centroid* SX061708
Latitude 50.50416667
Longitude -4.735277778
SAC EU Code UK0030056
Status Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Area (ha) 604.7
* 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 River Camel SAC

General site character

  • Tidal rivers, Estuaries, Mud flats, Sand flats, Lagoons (including saltwork basins) (1%)
  • Salt marshes, Salt pastures, Salt steppes (0.5%)
  • Inland water bodies (Standing water, Running water) (5%)
  • Bogs, Marshes, Water fringed vegetation, Fens (10%)
  • Heath, Scrub, Maquis and Garrigue, Phygrana (25%)
  • Humid grassland, Mesophile grassland (10%)
  • Broad-leaved deciduous woodland (45%)
  • Mixed woodland (3%)
  • Inland rocks, Screes, Sands, Permanent Snow and ice (0.5%)

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

  • 1163 Bullhead Cottus gobio

    The Camel represents bullhead Cottus gobio in the extreme south-west of its range in England. The river encompasses a range of ecological conditions with both upland and lowland characteristics. The clean, fast-flowing, relatively oligotrophic waters with their stony bottoms are particularly suitable for bullhead, which forms an important part of the total fish biomass.

  • 1355 Otter Lutra lutra

    The Camel represents otter Lutra lutra in its main stronghold in England in the south-west of the country. Surveys have indicated a dense population along this river. Records show that these populations persisted even during the period when the otter was in serious decline over much of the rest of its range in England, and this area has acted as a nucleus for recolonisation of other parts of England. The river and its tributaries represent the more upland as well as lowland habitat types utilised by otters, satisfying requirements for adequate food supply throughout the year. The wooded lower reaches of the river provide excellent habitat for resting and breeding.

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

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