Special nature sites 'miss' target

The report says the New Cut at Meadfoot could be improved

Nearly 150 protected wildlife sites in the South West are not in "good condition", according to a new survey.

Government conservation advisers English Nature examined all the South West's Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) as part of a nationwide survey.

In Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, 70% of nature reserves were in good condition.

But in Devon, it was only 53%, below the national average of 58%.

The government wants to improve those sites which fall below the "good condition" target.

Dartmoor is suffering from "overgrazing"

SSSIs are areas of land protected by law because they are home to rare plants, insects or animals.

There are 200 SSSIs in Devon, covering 42,000 hectares, and that includes Dartmoor.

Only half of the moor is considered by the report to be in a good condition, due to overgrazing and inappropriate moor burning.

Axmouth to Lyme Regis Undercliffs, which has more than 400 different flowering plants, is another important site in Devon classed as being in good condition.

But the report says the New Cut at Meadfoot in Torquay could be improved if scrub is cleared and cut back.

Scrub removal

English Nature says work is already being done to improve some special sites, such as scrub removal and grazing at Dawlish Warren to restore parts of the area to dune grassland.

There are 165 SSSIs in Cornwall and the Scilly Isles, ranging from old mine workings to open moorland.

English Nature says grazing is the main reason why SSSIs are in good condition in Cornwall.

The wildlife watchdog is running several projects on The Lizard, the Isles of Scilly, west Penwith, Goss Moor and Bodmin Moor to introduce more livestock to ensure the areas are grazed.

English Nature says having livestock on the land helps to manage it, and allows species like the rare marsh fritillary butterfly, which is found on Goss Moor, to thrive.