AbstractThe River Blythe lies between the cities of Birmingham and Coventry. It has been notified recently as a statutory Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is one of the few whole‐river SSSIs in Britain.It possesses a combination of natural course and structure which is a rare feature of lowland rivers in England. There is a clear succession of plant communities from its source to its confluence with the River Tame. Botanically it is one of the richest rivers in England.A study in 1982 recorded 159 macroinvertebrate taxa from the river. A notable feature is the species richness of the molluscs, oligochaetes and caddis‐flies.The Blythe is subject to a range of pressures including land drainage, recreation and development (buildings and infrastrucure). The appropriate option for its conservation management is limitation of catchment development.In order that this nationally important resource is conserved for future generations, a strategic approach to catchment management is needed combined with urban and infrastructure developments which are environmentally sustainable.The preparation of a catchment management strategy needs to be given a priority. The success of such a strategy will be dependent on cooperation between English Nature, the National Rivers Authority, the local planning authorities and the many riparian owners and occupiers.English Nature is cooperating with the National Rivers Authority to produce a ‘special ecosystem’ classification so that statutory Water Quality Objectives can be set to protect river SSSIs like the Blythe.8. The goodwill of the riparian owners and occupiers is needed for the protection and enhancement of wildlife habitats along th