Understand Overview

What is so special about one of the smallest protected landscapes in the country?

It is amazingly rich in wildlife - both fauna and flora - birds, butterflies, bats, orchids, ferns, wildflowers and a huge diversity of special habitats ranging from reedbeds to ancient woodlands to the expanses of Morecambe Bay.
Orchids
British native orchids are fascinating plants. Of the 50 orchids that grow wild in Britain, 15 can be found in this AONB.
Birds
Arnside and Silverdale AONB is a fantastic area for birds and birdwatchers all year round, with the AONB having more bird species than any other comparable area in the UK.
Butterflies
Arnside and Silverdale AONB is a very important and special area for butterflies, with 32 of the 50-or-so UK species present here. The AONB is now a particularly important breeding stronghold several nationally scarce species.
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