List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Mid and East Lothian

Last updated

The following is a list of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in the Mid and East Lothian Area of Search, in Scotland. For other areas, see the list of SSSIs by Area of Search.

Site namePhotographAreaDate of designationLocationMapCitationDescription
Aberlady Bay Aberlady Bay from Aberlady Point - geograph.org.uk - 5640708.jpg 582 hectares14 July 1952 [1] 56°01′05″N2°52′23″W / 56.018°N 2.873°W / 56.018; -2.873 [lower-alpha 1] [lower-alpha 1] [lower-alpha 1]
Bangley Quarry [lower-alpha 1] 3.92 hectares4 February 1991 [2] [lower-alpha 1] [3] [4] The site has a trachybasalt dyke that cuts vertically through the lava sequence and has large (up to 5cm) clear crystals of sanidine feldspar that shows Carlsbad twinning. The presence of the sanidine indicates metastable preservation, which is very rare and is attributed to rapid cooling of the rock. These specimens are the highest quality in Britain.
Barns Ness Coast Barns Ness Lighthouse - geograph.org.uk - 5764542.jpg 258.68 hectares30 April 1984 [5] [lower-alpha 1] [6] [7] The site contains Lower Carboniferous limestone that is rich in fossils so it can show a correlation between the Scottish Lower Carboniferous and the Northumbria Lower Carboniferous. It also contains a dissected raised beach platform that is of geomorphological interest along with uncommon habitats for the Lothian area like beach-head salt marshes and enriched dune grassland. It also has a diversity of wild flowers and locally rare plant species.
Auchencorth Moss Auchencorth Moss. - geograph.org.uk - 72502.jpg 105.59 hectares19 April 1991 [8] [lower-alpha 1] [9] [10] The site contains Sphagnum moss carpets which remain wet, which is a rare feature in the Lothian area because most has been degraded. Several species of Sphagna have been identified, and the rest of the site contains Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix, Deschampsia flexuosa, and cotton-grass.
Bass Rock Bass Rock from south east.jpg 7.61 hectares15 August 1983 [11] 56°05′N2°38′W / 56.08°N 2.64°W / 56.08; -2.64 [12] [13] The site rises 107 metres above sea level and supports the largest single-rock northern gannet colony in the world. It numbers about 48,000 pairs and contains 22% of the UK's breeding population.
Bilston Burn The Bilston Burn just before it flows into the River North Esk - geograph.org.uk - 2064868.jpg 16.59 hectares11 March 1986 [14] [lower-alpha 1] [15] [16] The site shows major Dinantian sections that is Lower Carboniferous, proving much of the local Carboniferous succession. Named succession for coals and limestone have been proved along with fish bone-bed underneath the limestone, and is of great importance for comparison of sites in the Midland Valley. The ground flora has the characteristics of ancient woodland, which is one of few examples at Midlothian.
Black Burn Black Burn - geograph.org.uk - 72393.jpg 31.53 hectares16 January 1990 [17] [lower-alpha 1] [18] [19] The site contains dry valley slopes with grasslands of Juncus acutiflorus and traditional grazing has allowed sward with herb species and also allows numerous plants such as the Lotus pedunculatus. The unimproved grassland, marshy grassland and enriched undisturbed flushes are all declining in the area.

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Couldn't be found on NatureScot.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Site of Special Scientific Interest</span> Protected area in the United Kingdom

A site of special scientific interest (SSSI) in Great Britain, or an area of special scientific interest (ASSI) in the Isle of Man and Northern Ireland, is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom and Isle of Man. SSSI/ASSIs are the basic building block of site-based nature conservation legislation and most other legal nature/geological conservation designations in the United Kingdom are based upon them, including national nature reserves, Ramsar sites, Special Protection Areas, and Special Areas of Conservation. The acronym "SSSI" is often pronounced "triple-S I".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NatureScot</span> Scottish government agency for natural heritage conservation

NatureScot is the operating name for the body formally called Scottish Natural Heritage. It is an executive non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government responsible for the country's natural heritage, especially its natural, genetic and scenic diversity. It advises the Scottish Government on nature conservation, and acts as a government agent in the delivery of conservation designations, i.e. national nature reserves, local nature reserves, national parks, Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas and the national scenic areas. It receives annual funding from the Government in the form of Grant in Aid to deliver Government priorities for the natural heritage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National nature reserve (Scotland)</span>

The national nature reserves (NNRs) of Scotland are areas of land or water designated under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 as containing habitats and species of national importance. National nature reserves can be owned by public, private, community or voluntary organisations but must be managed to conserve their important habitats and species, as well as providing opportunities for the public to enjoy and engage with nature. There are currently 43 NNRs in Scotland, which cover 154,250 hectares (1,542.5 km2), or less than 1.5% of the land area of Scotland. They range in size from Corrieshalloch Gorge at 7 ha to Mar Lodge Estate, which covers 29,324 ha.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bilston, Midlothian</span> Human settlement in Scotland

Bilston is a small village in Midlothian, Scotland. It is located on the edge of Edinburgh, just south of Loanhead on the A701. The Bilston Burn Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) was occupied from 2002 until the mid-2010s by protestors who successfully opposed plans for a bypass.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glen Strathfarrar</span> Valley in Scotland

Glen Strathfarrar is a glen in the Highland region of Scotland, near Loch Ness.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Borgie</span> Human settlement in Scotland

Borgie is a hamlet in Sutherland, Highland, Scotland. Historically it was part of the 12,600-acre (5,100-hectare) Tongue estate with shooting rights, and it contains the Borgie Lodge, now a bed and breakfast. Borgie is noted for its salmon, which are caught in the nearby River Borgie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corrie Fee</span> Corrie and nature reserve in Angus, Scotland

Corrie Fee is a glacier-carved corrie situated at the head of Glen Clova in the Angus Glens of Scotland. It forms part of Corrie Fee National Nature Reserve (NNR), which is managed by NatureScot and lies within the Cairngorms National Park. The adjoining Corrie Sharroch and the slopes of Craig Rennet are also included in the NNR.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flisk</span> Former parish in Fife, Scotland

Flisk was a parish in Fife, Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Nevis and Glen Coe National Scenic Area</span>

Ben Nevis and Glen Coe is a national scenic area (NSA) covering part of the Highlands of Scotland surrounding Ben Nevis and Glen Coe, in which certain forms of development are restricted. It is one of 40 such areas in Scotland, which are defined so as to identify areas of exceptional scenery and to ensure its protection from inappropriate development. The Ben Nevis and Glen Coe NSA covers 903 km2 (349 sq mi) of land, lying within the Highland, Argyll and Bute and Perth and Kinross council areas. A further 19 km2 (7.3 sq mi) of the NSA are marine, covering the sea loch of Loch Leven.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loch Rannoch and Glen Lyon National Scenic Area</span>

The Loch Rannoch and Glen Lyon National Scenic Area is a national scenic area (NSA) covering the area surrounding Loch Rannoch, Glen Lyon, and the Ben Lawers ranges of mountains in Scotland. It is one of 40 such areas in Scotland, which are defined so as to identify areas of exceptional scenery and to ensure its protection from inappropriate development by restricting certain forms of development. The Loch Rannoch and Glen Lyon NSA covers 48,625 ha, most of which lies in the council area of Perth and Kinross, with a small portion lying in Stirling.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morar, Moidart and Ardnamurchan National Scenic Area</span> National scenic area in Scotland

Morar, Moidart and Ardnamurchan is a national scenic area (NSA) covering the coastal scenery of three peninsulas in the western Highlands of Scotland: Ardnamurchan, Moidart and Morar. It is one of 40 such areas in Scotland, which are defined so as to identify areas of exceptional scenery and to ensure its protection from inappropriate development by restricting certain forms of development. The Morar, Moidart and Ardnamurchan NSA covers 36,956 ha in total, consisting of 17,220 ha of land with a further 19,736 ha being marine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North West Sutherland National Scenic Area</span>

North West Sutherland is a national scenic area (NSA) covering the mountains and coastal scenery of the northwestern part of the county of Sutherland in the highlands of Scotland. The designated area covers the mountains of Foinaven, Arkle and Ben Stack as well as the coastal scenery surrounding Loch Laxford and Handa Island. It is one of 40 such areas in Scotland, which are defined so as to identify areas of exceptional scenery and to ensure its protection by restricting certain forms of development. The North West Sutherland NSA covers 26,565 ha in total, consisting of 23,415 ha of land with a further 3,151 ha being marine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scarba, Lunga and the Garvellachs National Scenic Area</span>

Scarba, Lunga and the Garvellachs is the name of one of the 40 national scenic areas of Scotland. The designated area covers the islands of Scarba, Lunga, and the Garvellachs, all of which lie in the Firth of Lorn, along with much of the surrounding seascape. The national scenic areas are defined so as to identify areas of exceptional scenery and to ensure its protection by restricting certain forms of development, and are considered to represent the type of scenic beauty "popularly associated with Scotland and for which it is renowned". The Scarba, Lunga and the Garvellachs NSA covers 6,542 ha in total, consisting of 2,139 ha of land with a further 4,402 ha being marine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Upper Tweeddale National Scenic Area</span>

The Upper Tweeddale National Scenic Area lies in the Borders region of Scotland. It is one of 40 national scenic areas (NSA) in Scotland, which are defined so as to identify areas of exceptional scenery and to ensure their protection from inappropriate development. The designated area covers 12,770 ha of countryside surrounding the upper reaches of the River Tweed between Broughton and Peebles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Invereshie and Inshriach National Nature Reserve</span>

Invereshie and Inshriach is a national nature reserve on the western flank of the Cairngorms in the Highland council area of Scotland. The reserve covers habitats at a range of different altitudes, ranging from Caledonian Forest beside the River Feshie in the west, via bog and open moorland, to an arctic-alpine environment on the Cairngorm plateau. The Munro summit of Sgòr Gaoith (1118 m) lies on the eastern boundary of the reserve. The forested areas of the reserve form part of an expanse of Caledonian pinewood that stretches from Glen Feshie to Abernethy, and which as a whole forms the largest single area of this habitat remaining in Scotland. The reserve is owned and managed jointly by NatureScot and Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS): NatureScot own the Invereshie portion of the reserve and FLS the Inshriach area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minnigaff Hills</span>

The Minnigaff Hills are a range of hills in the Galloway Hills range, part of the Southern Uplands of Scotland. A southerly range, they are perpendicular to the Range of the Awful Hand, Dungeon Hills and Rhinns of Kells to the north. In total, these four ranges are part of the Galloway Forest Park.

References

  1. ↑ "Aberlady Bay LNR". sitelink.nature.scot.
  2. ↑ "Bangley Quarry SSSI". sitelink.nature.scot. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  3. ↑ "SSSI Map - Bangley Quarry". apps.snh.gov.uk. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  4. ↑ "BANGLEY QUARRY - citation". apps.snh.gov.uk. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  5. ↑ "Barns Ness Coast SSSI Barns Ness Coast SSSI". sitelink.nature.scot. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  6. ↑ "Barns ness - Map". apps.snh.gov.uk. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  7. ↑ "Barns Ness - citation". apps.snh.gov.uk. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  8. ↑ "Auchencorth Moss SSSI". sitelink.nature.scot. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  9. ↑ "Auchencorth Moss - Map". apps.snh.gov.uk. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  10. ↑ "Auchencorth Moss - citation". apps.snh.gov.uk. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  11. ↑ "Bass Rock SSSI". sitelink.nature.scot. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  12. ↑ "Bass Rock - map". apps.snh.gov.uk. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  13. ↑ "Bass Rock - citation". apps.snh.gov.uk. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  14. ↑ "Bilston Burn - SSSI". sitelink.nature.scot. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  15. ↑ "Bilston Burn - map". apps.snh.gov.uk. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  16. ↑ "Bilston Burn - citation". apps.snh.gov.uk. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  17. ↑ "Black Burn - SSSI". sitelink.nature.scot. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  18. ↑ "Black Burn - map". apps.snh.gov.uk.
  19. ↑ "Black Burn - citation". apps.snh.gov.uk. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.