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Special Areas of Conservation

South Solway Mosses

Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Country England
Unitary Authority Cumbria
Centroid* NY203597
Latitude 54.92583333
Longitude -3.243333333
SAC EU Code UK0030310
Status Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Area (ha) 1956.23
* 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 South Solway Mosses SAC

General site character

  • Bogs, Marshes, Water fringed vegetation, Fens (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

  • 7110 Active raised bogs  * Priority feature

    This is a complex of estuarine raised bogs to the south of the Solway, and is comprised of Wedholme Flow, Bowness Common, Drumburgh Moss and Glasson Moss. At 759 ha, Bowness Common is one of the largest Active raised bogs remaining in the UK. Although affected by past drainage and peat-cutting, much of these sites support typical bog vegetation, including bog rosemary Andromeda polifolia, cranberry Vaccinium oxycoccos and great sundew Drosera anglica. Wedholme Flow contains the largest area of almost-intact active raised bog in England, but also some 7120 degraded raised bog in which peat-cutting has recently ceased. The central part of Glasson Moss displays some of the most diverse raised bog vegetation in the UK today, with bog-moss species including abundant Sphagnum pulchrum as well as S. fuscum.

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

  • 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.