Cheshire West and Chester has 28 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), 443 Local Wildlife Sites, 39 Areas of Nature Conservation Value, 6 Local Nature Reserves, approximately 6,159 hectares of woodland and 31 Cheshire Biodiversity Action Plan habitats. In addition, the Environment Act 2021 has introduced a strengthened statutory biodiversity duty and mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain requirements, placing increased emphasis on habitat creation, restoration and ecological network enhancement.
The borough is also covered by the Cheshire and Warrington Local Nature Recovery Strategy, which sets out priorities and opportunities for nature recovery across the sub-region. Through its Statement of Biodiversity Priorities and Local Habitat Map, the LNRS provides a strategic framework for habitat restoration, biodiversity enhancement and the creation of a more connected Nature Recovery Network.
Cheshire West and Chester also contains several internationally important sites within the National Site Network (formerly referred to as Natura 2000 sites), including Special Protection Areas (SPAs), Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Ramsar sites. These include:
- Mersey Estuary Ramsar and SPA (Special Protection Area)
- The Dee Estuary Ramsar SPA and SAC (Special Area of Conservation)
- Midland Meres and Mosses – Phase 1 Ramsar
- Midland Meres and Mosses – Phase 2 Ramsar
- River Dee and Bala Lake SAC
- Oak Mere SAC
- West Midlands Mosses SAC
The following sites fall within a 15km buffer of the borough boundary:
- Rostherne Mere (Ramsar)
- Mersey Narrow and North Wirral Foreshore (Ramsar, SPA)
- Brown Moss (SAC)
- Fenn’s, Whixhall, Bettisfield, Wem and Cadney Mosses (SAC)
- Manchester Mosses (SAC)
- Rixton Clay Pits (SAC)
- Liverpool Bay (SPA)
Areas of Nature Conservation Value (ANCV)
- 39 Areas of Nature Conservation Value
- 4 Strategic Wildlife Areas
Local Nature Reserves
- 36 sites managed across the borough
Trees and woodland
- Woodland cover across Cheshire and Warrington remains relatively low, at less than 10% of land area, with broadleaved woodland covering approximately 4.7% (Source: Cheshire and Warrington Local Nature Recovery Strategy | Cheshire West and Chester Council)
- Mersey Forest have delivered 220 hectares of new woodland across Cheshire and Merseyside through the national Trees for Climate Programme since 2020.
Habitats and species
- 31 Cheshire Biodiversity Action Plan habitats
- 63 Cheshire Biodiversity Action Plan species