Avon Valley (2421)
United Kingdom, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Avon Valley
Central coordinates: Latitude: 50.7868, Longitude: -1.7995
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 3 to 25
Area of KBA (km2): 13.52114
Protected area coverage (%): 99.81
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA comprises about 20 km of the Avon valley, the flood-plain of which contains a variety of habitats. The river itself is probably the most diverse chalk river system in the UK, with an aquatic flora that includes important Ranunculus beds, reflecting its chalk and acid qualities. Adjacent hay-meadows also support a rich flora. Meadows, fen and carr attract a wide range of wintering and breeding wetland birds, with heathland species breeding in adjacent areas.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that was identified using previously established criteria and thresholds for the identification of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) and for which available data indicate that it does not meet global KBA criteria and thresholds set out in the Global Standard.
Delineation rationale: First identified in 1989, with no significant changes since. SPA boundary used from JNCC; digitised at 1:10,000 scale.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 25 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 25 | |
| Forest | 25 | |
| Grassland | 25 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Wood & pulp plantations | Small-holder plantations | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Unspecified species | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Problematic native species/diseases | Unspecified species | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Abstraction of surface water (agricultural use) | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Soil erosion, sedimentation | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Domestic & urban waste water | Sewage | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing | |
| Natural system modifications | Other ecosystem modifications | Ongoing | |
| Energy production & mining | Mining & quarrying | Ongoing |