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Wildlife In Flintshire
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 The County contains many areas important for wildlife:-
- 16 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI's), four of which are notified for their geology.
- The Dee Estuary - an internationally recognised RAMSAR site
- 257 non-statutory wildlife sites with habitats and species that are important in terms of biodiversity.
- Several areas of commonland eg. Halkyn Mountain, Buckley Middle and Lower Common.
However, countryside that is not recognised with official designations for its wildlife is just as important, and Flintshire posseses an abundance of places such as these. Rivers, streams, hedgerows and small deciduous woodlands act as corridors and stepping stones, and are vital for migration and the dispersal of species throughout the County.
What kind of habitats are there in Flintshire?
Because Flintshire's habitats are closely linked to the shape of the landscape and the types of rocks below it, the county may be divided into two distinct areas. The north and east half tend to be lowland-related habitats. The south and west have more upland environments. Meanwhile, back from the coastal zone, the small valleys on the coastal slopes are havens of broadleaved woodland, and are potential foraging routes for larger mammals, such as otters and water vole.
Flintshire's mining heritage has created ideal breeding habitats for Great crested newts throughout the county. The populations of this nationally rare amphibian are already strong in most areas across Flintshire where they are present.
Limestone areas
The lower parts of the upland zone lie on a belt of limestone running approximately north and west; south and east. Species-rich calcareous grasslands occur within this area, along with small areas of limestone pavement (a key biodiversity habitat) and oak-ash woodlands on steeper valley slopes, with dormouse present in places.
Heathland and moorland
Halkyn Mountain comprises a unique mosaic of acid and basic heath that has resulted from glacial deposits overlying the limestone and includes important areas of wetland. The western part of Flintshire is marked by the Clwydian range comprising acid upland heathland/moorland.
Find out more about the Clwydian Range AONB. |
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