Natural England today confirmed Lodge Hill in Kent as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its nightingale population, special grassland and woodland.
The decision marks the final step in the designation process after Lodge Hill was notified as a SSSI in March this year.
The site’s importance for nightingales was first established by a national survey carried out by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) last year.
It found that the scrub and woodland habitat was home to more than one per cent of Great Britain’s nightingale population, making it one of the most important strongholds for the bird in the country.
Further research also discovered that the site contains over 11 hectares of lowland species-rich grassland.
Poul Christensen, Natural England’s chairman, said: "The evidence clearly points to this site being one of the most important strongholds for nightingales in the country.
"Confirming this land as a Site of Special Scientific Interest gives the clearest possible recognition of this."
The site was combined with SSSI land at neighbouring Chattenden Woods to form Chattenden Woods and Lodge Hill SSSI.
It is the first in Britain to have the nightingale – Luscinia megarhynchos – as one of its notified features.
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