STOP & RETHINK National Nature Reserves as Open Access areas.

National Nature Reserves (NNRs), our finest wildlife sites, enjoy special protection so that their plants and animals cannot be put at risk. Those covered by European law, are known as Natural 2000 sites.

Now Natural England, the Government's Agency responsible for NNRs, proposes to turn a large number of their NNRs into open access areas, including allowing dogs and the potential for horses and bikes and even motorised vehicles.

Yet, almost all National Nature Reserves already have suitable public access in relation to their primary purpose of protecting their exceptional and often vulnerable wildlife. The way in which this proposal is being carried out poses real threats and raises many questions. There has been almost no public consultation, with very limited opportunities for anyone to get themselves heard.

We therefore call upon Natural England Board and Directors, as the Government Agency charged to safeguard the natural environment, to conduct a full, public and open enquiry to ensure that England’s wildlife retains the protection it deserves and is not unnecessarily put at risk.

The image above illustrates the sensitive habitat at Thorne Moors SSSI which is now placed at unnecessary risk.

This latest proposal is one in a series of events over the last four decades or so which have threatened the existence of these special places. A campaign chronology which charts the "Battle for the Bogs" can be viewed via http://thmcf.wordpress.com/the-battle-for-the-bogs-campaign-chronology/