A DECISION to designate some of East Lancashire’s most rugged landscapes, from Darwen down to Ramsbottom, as a site of ‘special scientific interest’ is expected next month.

Plans to protect the sprawling West Pennine Moors have been talked about, on and off, for the past five years by county and national conservationists.

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But in late November the executive board of Natural England will consider making the status official after conducting a series of studies on the windswept fells, which also stretch from Haslingden in the west to the edge of Chorley and incorporate Darwen Moor, Winter Hill and Anglezarke Reservoir.

No fewer than five studies have been undertaken to assess the potential for the ‘SSSI’ designation, with one fungi survey having to be undertaken twice because of poor weather in 2012.

A Natural England spokesman said: “These surveys will help us to decide if the important habitats such as upland blanket bog, hay meadows and wet flushes meet the necessary criteria.

“Natural England also realised the we should look at other animals such as amphibians and reptiles and waxcap fungi to see if these would meet the criteria too.”

And the survey findings to date have revealed mixed results for a possible SSSI scheme, with particularly low numbers of amphibians and newts recorded by wildllife consultants, for instance, which would not meet the designation criteria.

And similar results were found for waxcap fungi, across the moors, with a presence detailed, but not enough to meet existing guidelines.

While the quality of upland blanket bogs and short-sedge acid fens may be worthy of consideration, experts have less confidence in various areas of sub-alpine dry dwarf shrub heath, upland acid grasslands and upland oak woods.

Liaision officers from Natural England have been visting a number of landowners to explain the ‘SSSI’ implications, which the agency insists should not affect farming of specified lands, or dog walkers, although canines may have to be put on leads in certain areas.

The decision over designation will be made at a London board meeting, chaired by Natural England chief executive James Cross, on November 26.