Flamborough Head lies between Filey and Bridlington on the northeast coast of Yorkshire. The site (formerly known as Speeton and Flamborough Coast SSSI) comprises the coastal cliffs between Reighton and Sewerby, composed of chalk and softer sedimentary rocks. The cliff line exposes a variety of geological features and the chalk, which reaches 130m at Bempton, has been eroded to form impressive stacks and caves between North Cliff and Castlemere Hole. These rock exposures are also of interest in supporting important breeding bird colonies, whilst the cliff slopes support interesting plant communities.

Flamborough Head was notified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest in 1986 under the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act. It was then identified as a Special Protection Area (SPA) in 1993 and a candidate Special Area of Conservation (cSAC) in 1996. Flamborough Head is also a Heritage Coast. Its submerged chalk reefs, an unusual habitat in the British Isles, extend up to 6 km offshore. Use the links below to find more information on:

Site Designations
Reports and Publications
Council Contacts
Local Groups

Site Designations

Flamborough Head - European Marine Site

Flamborough Head Management Plan 2007

Link to Flamborough Head Management Plan 2007

Managing the Flamborough Coast - A summary of the Flamborough Head Management Plan Management Plan 2007

Link to Executive Summary 2007

Annual report of the Flamborough Head Management Plan

Link to Annual Report 2007/2008

Flamborough Head European Marine Site Management Scheme

This Management Scheme has been developed to fulfill the requirements of the Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.) Regulations 1994 (Regulation 34) for the Flamborough Head European marine site, comprising Flamborough Head candidate Special Area of Conservation (cSAC) and Flamborough Head & Bempton Cliffs Special Protection Area (SPA).
Link to the Flamborough Head European Marine Site Management Scheme. Please read English Nature copyright rules.

Regulation 33 Advice

English Nature’s advice for the Flamborough Head European marine site given under Regulation 33(2) of the Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.)
Regulations 1994.
Link to Reg 33 document. Please read English Nature copyright rules.

Flamborough Head Codes of Conduct

Facilitated workshops, with representatives from each of the activities, worked together with the Flamborough Head Management Group to write the codes. The purpose of the codes is to encourage responsible use of the coast, whilst providing a safer environment for both locals and tourists to enjoy. Although the codes are voluntary, individuals and clubs are encouraged to support and review them.

The final codes of conduct are now ready to download :
 Flamborough Head Code of Conduct Leaflet.pdf

Flamborough Head - Heritage Coast

Link to a Countryside Agency webpage briefly describing Flamborough headland and providing a contact address for the Heritage Coast Officer for the area.

Link to Flamborough Head Heritage Coast Management Strategy, October 2002.

Local Nature Reserves

Danes Dyke LNR

Link to Natural England's webpage which provides at link to a brief summary of the Local Nature Reserve at Danes Dyke.

Flamborough Outer Headland LNR

Link to Natural England's webpage which provides a brief summary of the Local Nature Reserve of Flamborough Outer Headland.

Flamborough South Landing LNR

Link to Natural England's webpage which provides a brief summary of the Local Nature Reserve of Flamborough South Landing.

Reports and Publications

Flamborough Head Sublittoral Monitoring 2002

This survey was commissioned to look at the extent and diversity of the infralittoral and circalittoral biotopes on the submerged chalk reefs around Flamborough Head and to initiate a repeatable monitoring programme, against which the condition of the site can be measured in the future. It forms part of a larger programme to monitor specific features of all the sublittoral marine SACs in England.
Link to report by Christine Howson, Tom Mercer and Francis Bunker (2003). Report to English Nature. Please read English Nature copyright rules.

Maritime cliff vegetation of Flamborough Head

The objectives of the survey were to define and map the area of maritime cliff habitat at Flamborough Head, categorising the cliff habitat into maritime soft cliff and maritime hard cliff units and BAP habitat types. The vegetation within the cliff habitat was also classified and mapped into NVC vegetation units.
Link to report by William Milliken & Colin Pendry. Survey undertaken for English Nature October 2002. Please read English Nature copyright rules.

Department of Trade and Industry

Link to a report to the Department of Trade and Industry on the Strategic Environmental Assessment for parts of the central and southern North Sea. This includes statistics for the nationally and internationally important seabird breeding colonies at Flamborough.

Plymouth Marine Laboratory

Link to a detailed decription of Flamborough Head including details of human impact, fauna and flora, facilities and data sources for the area.

CEFAS

Link to a report by CEFAS entitled 'The impact of disposal of marine dredged material on the Flamborough Head Candidate Special Area of Conservation (cSAC)'.

Council Contacts

Contact for the Flamborough Heritage Coast:

Leanne Stockdale
Flamborough Head Project Officer
Town Hall
Bridlington
YO16 4LP

Tel: 01482 393694
Email: Leanne.Stockdale@eastriding.gov.uk

Contact for the East Riding Coast:

Jeremy Pickles
Senior Sustainable Communities and Coast Officer
County Hall
Beverley
HU17 9BA

Tel: 01482 391727
Email: jeremy.pickles@eastriding.gov.uk

Other contacts for conservation in the Parish of Flamborough:

Planning Officer (Trees and Landscape)
Tel: 01482 393717
email: conservation.and.enforcement@eastriding.gov.uk
Fax: 01482 393639

Assistant Planning Officer (Trees and Landscape)
Tel: 01482 393718
email: conservation.and.enforcement@eastriding.gov.uk
Fax: 01482 393639

Planning Officer (Hedgerows and Nature Conservation)
Tel: 01482 393723
email: conservation.and.enforcement@eastriding.gov.uk
Fax: 01482 393639

Local Groups

Flamborough Village Community website

Flamborough Ornithological Group

More information on nature conservation in the area can be found by searching under the general Nature Conservation section.