River Camel

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%)
  

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

• 4030 European dry heaths
• 91A0 Old sessile oak woods with Ilex and Blechnum in the British Isles
• 91E0 Alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior (Alno-Padion, Alnion incanae, Salicion albae)  * Priority feature

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

• 1106 Atlantic salmon Salmo salar