Natural England designates Cornish moorland a nature conservation area

Natural England says Penwith Moors have a rich diversity of flora and fauna and a higher density of archaeological sites than any comparable area in western Europe. Photograph: Peter Wakely/Natural England

A plan to turn moorland in the far south-west of England into a heavily protected nature conservation area has been approved despite warnings that it will wreck farming in the region.

There were calls of “Shame on you!” and “Resign!” as members of the Natural England board voted to designate 59 blocks of land in Penwith Moors in Cornwall as a site of special scientific interest (SSSI), arguing that this will preserve precious flora and fauna.