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.
Populations of IBA trigger species
Protected areas
| Protected area |
Designation |
Area (ha) |
Relationship with IBA |
Overlap with IBA (ha) |
|
| Avon Valley |
Birds Directive |
1,346 |
is identical to site |
1,346 |
|
| Avon Valley |
Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) |
1,385 |
is identical to site |
1,348 |
|
| Avon Valley (Bickton to Christchurch) |
Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) |
605 |
protected area contained by site |
605 |
|
| New Forest |
National Park |
57,100 |
protected area contains site |
1,348 |
|
Habitats
| IUCN habitat |
Habitat detail |
Extent (% of site) |
| Forest |
Broadleaved deciduous woodland; Mixed woodland |
- |
| Grassland |
Humid grasslands |
- |
| Wetlands (inland) |
Fens, transition mires and springs; Rivers and streams; Standing freshwater; Water fringe vegetation |
- |
| Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) |
Arable land; Highly improved re-seeded landscapes |
- |
Land use
| Land-use |
Extent (% of site) |
| agriculture |
- |
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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Avon Valley. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 23/05/2013
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
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