Arnside and Silverdale

Geobox Protected Area
name = Arnside and Silverdale
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category_local = Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
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image_caption = The village of Arnside on the Kent estuary, with Arnside Knott behind
country = England
region = Cumbria, Lancashire
region_type = County
location = Northern England
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plant = ash, hazel, oak
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animal = bittern
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area = 75
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established = 1972
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Arnside and Silverdale is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in England, on the border between Lancashire and Cumbria, adjoining Morecambe Bay. One of the smallest AONBs, It covers 29 square miles (75 km²) between the Kent Estuary, the River Keer and the A6 road. It was designated in 1972.

The area is characterised by low hills of carboniferous limestone, including Arnside Knott (159 m) and Warton Crag (163 m), interspersed with grassland. Much of the area is covered by deciduous woodland, in which ash, oak and hazel predominate. The coastal areas contain large areas of saltmarsh, although these are under threat from the shifting channel of the Kent Estuary. [http://www.english-nature.org.uk//science/natural/NA_HAbDetails.asp?Name=Morecambe+Bay&N=118&H=15&S=&R=2]

The Leighton Moss nature reserve, owned by the RSPB, is the largest area of reedbeds in North West England, and is an important habitat for birds. The bittern, one of the resident species, has been adopted as the logo of the AONB. In addition there are 15 SSSIs in the area; one of these, Gait Barrows National Nature Reserve, is home to some rare species of butterfly including the High Brown Fritillary.

Arnside and Silverdale are the main villages in the area. Other settlements include Warton, Yealand Redmayne, Beetham and Storth.

References

* [http://www.arnsidesilverdaleaonb.org.uk/ Official website]
* [http://www.arnside-online.co.uk/aonb.htm Arnside Online]