England's National Nature Reserves

I was recently shown around Dudley’s two fascinating National Nature Reserves by the Council’s countryside staff. These two sites, Saltwells and Wren’s Nest, are NNRs primarily known for their geology. Saltwells NNR was a particular surprise, as it has a great range of habitats, many of which have developed on a past industrial landscape of clay ponds, coal mines and steel works. Indeed many of the geological exposures are only evident because of past industrial excavations.

Saltwells is one of the largest urban nature reserves in the country and supports a range of habitats from wetlands and woodlands through to meadows and heathland. The natural succession that has occurred on this and many other brownfield sites (land that has previously been used for industrial activity), could today be argued to be as valuable as some of our more ancient habitats.

Some species are thriving in the habitats that have developed on these sites, more than they are in the rest of the country. One example is the willow tit, which has the unfortunate accolade of being the UK’s fastest declining resident bird with numbers having declined by 94% since the 1970s. These birds favour the large areas of scrubby woodland that often develops on post industrial land and seem to be prospering in former mining areas around Manchester and the North East.

After the extraction of minerals, brownfield sites usually have low soil fertility and this benefits natural flora such as orchids. The mosaic of habitats and areas of bare ground are good for various reptiles and butterflies like dingy skipper and grayling.

It does make you pause to consider whether in some cases, brownfield sites should be given the same or even more protection than some greenfield sites that may only contain species poor agricultural land.

Both Saltwells and Wrens Nest are NNRs for their important geology, however both sites have both become important example of the biodiversity that can develop on post industrial sites.