This is a spatial dataset which shows National Nature Reserves (NNRs) with their different declarations. NNRs represent the very best examples of our wildlife habitats and geological features and can range in size between five hectares to well over 2,000.
NNRs are declared by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act of 1949, or under the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981. They are owned or leased by NRW, or the land is held by an approved body, such as a County Wildlife Trust. Each reserve has a programme of work to manage the site's special features. All of them are also Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and may provide places for educational projects, research and management trials. Some reserves require permits to gain access to them.
Please refer to National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 and Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981, for reasons of creation of the original designation. With the coming of GIS and its use in government departments and commercial companies mobilising the data in this way, advances the protection of these sites and the efficiency of decision making.
This data has been checked by NRW staff. The original, individual, declaration paper maps are the legal documents. It should be pointed out that some of the oldest declaration maps.
