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Special Areas of Conservation

River Mease

Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Country England
Unitary Authority Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire, Shropshire and Staffordshire
Centroid* SK260114
Latitude 52.69972222
Longitude -1.615555556
SAC EU Code UK0030258
Status Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Area (ha) 23.03
* 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 Mease SAC

General site character

  • Inland water bodies (Standing water, Running water) (100%)

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

  • 1149 Spined loach Cobitis taenia

    The River Mease is a good example of a riverine population of spined loach Cobitis taenia. It is a small tributary of the River Trent and has retained a reasonable degree of channel diversity compared to other similar rivers containing spined loach populations. It has extensive beds of submerged plants along much of its length which, together with its relatively sandy sediments (as opposed to cohesive mud) provides good habitat opportunities for the species.

  • 1163 Bullhead Cottus gobio

    The Mease is an example of bullhead Cottus gobio populations in the rivers of central England. Bed sediments are generally not as coarse as other sites selected for the species, reflecting the nature of many rivers in this geographical area, but are suitable in patches due to the river’s retained sinuosity. The patchy cover from submerged macrophytes is also important for the species.

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.