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UK048
North Pennine Moors
Location United Kingdom, North
Central coordinates 2o 17.31' West  54o 38.80' North
IBA criteria A4i, B1i, B2, B3, C2, C3, C6
Area 394,200 ha
Altitude 170 - 893m
Year of IBA assessment 2007

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds



Site description A series of upland moorland sites, straddling the Cumbrian, Durham, North Yorkshire and Northumberland borders. The site is rich in habitat-types, including extensive areas of moorland, associated grassland and blanket bog. Areas of limestone plateau support herb-rich calcareous grassland. The heather Calluna and grass moorlands are predominantly managed for game interests. The IBA is important for breeding raptors, waders and other upland birds.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix breeding  2006  979 males only  good  B2  Least Concern 
Merlin Falco columbarius resident  1996  168 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus breeding  1996  20 breeding pairs  good  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus resident  2005-2007  3 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria breeding  2007  4,171 breeding pairs  good  B3, C2, C6  Least Concern 
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata breeding  2007  5,454 breeding pairs  good  A4i, B1i, C3  Near Threatened 
Common Redshank Tringa totanus breeding  2007  522 breeding pairs  good  B2, C3  Least Concern 
Dunlin Calidris alpina breeding  2007  186 breeding pairs  good  B1i, C3  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Appleby Fells Site of Special Scientific Interest 10,693 protected area contained by site 10,688  
Arkengarthdale, Gunnerside and Reeth Moors Site of Special Scientific Interest 7,635 protected area contained by site 7,634  
Bollihope, Pikestone, Eggleston and Woodland Fells Site of Special Scientific Interest 7,947 protected area contained by site 7,947  
East Nidderdale Moors (flamstone Pin - High Ruckles) Site of Special Scientific Interest 10,771 protected area contained by site 10,772  
Geltsdale & Glendue Fells Site of Special Scientific Interest 8,059 protected area contained by site 8,060  
Hexhamshire Moors Site of Special Scientific Interest 9,437 protected area contained by site 9,434  
Lovely Seat - Stainton Moor Site of Special Scientific Interest 10,133 protected area contained by site 10,131  
Moorhouse and Cross Fell Site of Special Scientific Interest 13,817 protected area contained by site 13,804  
Muggleswick,stanhope & Edmundbyes Commons & Blanchland Moor Site of Special Scientific Interest 9,121 protected area contained by site 9,120  
Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty 60,300 protected area contained by site 60,300  
North Pennine Moors Birds Directive 147,246 protected area contained by site 147,246  
North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty 198,300 protected area contained by site 198,300  
Upper Teesdale Site of Special Scientific Interest 14,365 protected area contained by site 14,365  
West Nidderdale, Barden and Blubberhouses Moors Site of Special Scientific Interest 13,422 protected area contained by site 13,419  
Yorkshire Dales National Park 176,900 protected area contained by site 176,900  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest Broadleaved deciduous woodland; Mixed woodland  -
Shrubland Heathland; Scrub  -
Grassland   -
Wetlands (inland) Blanket bogs; Fens, transition mires and springs; Rivers and streams; Standing freshwater  -

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture -
forestry -
military -
nature conservation and research -

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: North Pennine Moors. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 20/06/2013

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife