Orton Brick Pits, Peterborough
A SSSI brownfield habitat

This 160 hectare brownfield site on the edge of Peterborough was first designated as SSSI in 1995. It consists of an unusual landscape of ponds and furrows resulting from former brick clay extraction. This has encouraged the development of a mosaic of habitats, including aquatic vegetation and open water pools.

It is of special interest for its population of great crested newts, the largest in the United Kingdom, as well as standing water habitats which support nationally rare stoneworts. The newt population was discovered in the early 1990s, by which time half of the land had been granted outline planning permission for the 5,000 home community of Hampton.

A major programme of newt translocation was agreed with the developer, along with habitat enhancement measures. An extensive network of access trails, and a water-level management system has been constructed. The resulting site is managed as a nature reserve by the developer, the O + H Group, with professional support, and provides an educational resource for the community.

Sources:
1. English Nature (2004) Orton SSSI - Notification under section 28C of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, http://www.english-nature.org.uk
2. Hampton, http://www.cygnetpark.co.uk/