§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what sites of special scientific interest within the Epping and Ongar rural district have been notified by the Nature Conservancy in accordance with Section 23 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, 1949; what are the special features of interest in each case; and what restrictions have been imposed.
§ Mr. Denzil FreethThe seven sites of special scientific interest within the Epping and Ongar Rural District are listed below with their special features of interest. The Nature Conservancy has no statutory powers to impose restrictions on these sites, but has to be consulted before any development requiring planning permission takes place on them.
Roding Valley: Old permanent pasture and water meadows flank the river, which is an important migration route for a variety of birds and a breeding ground for others including kingfisher and reed bunting.Naverstock Park: Although not a wild area it contains many native plants; the lake is fringed with a good marsh vegetation; and bird-life is abundant and varied.186WCurtismill Green: A wild area of damp woods and marshes of a type now rare in Essex. A very rare insect is found there.Norton Heath: A very rare species of plant is there.Gaynes Park and Ongar Park Wood: A fine stretch of mixed woodland, now partly opened up, where there is a great variety of wild life from badgers and redstarts to uncommon marsh plants and rare insects.Fyfield Fields: Although this is entirely farmland, a rare plant has its British centre of distribution in this area.Epping Forest: Woodlands considered to be of national importance scientifically, and are much used for biological studies by schools, colleges, and natural history societies.