This is a list of the largest Sites of Special Scientific Interest in England in decreasing order of size. A lower threshold of 100 hectares or one square kilometre has been used.
Site name | Area of Search | Reason for designation | Area [ a] | Grid reference | Year in which notified | Map [B] | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Biological interest | Geological interest | Hectares | Acres | |||||
The Wash | Norfolk / Lincolnshire | 63,135.0 | 156,010.0 | TF550400 | 1972 | |||
North York Moors | North Yorkshire / Cleveland | 44,087.7 | 108,943.1 | NZ680000 | 1998 | |||
Humber Estuary | East Riding of Yorkshire / Lincolnshire | 37,000.6 | 91,430.5 | TA216184 | 2004 | |||
Dark Peak | Derbyshire / Greater Manchester / South Yorkshire / West Yorkshire | 31,852.9 | 78,710.2 | SK110960 | 1951 | |||
Morecambe Bay | Cumbria / Lancashire | 30,287.5 | 74,842.0 | SD360700 | 1975 | |||
Upper Solway Flats and Marshes | Cumbria / ? | 29,950.5 | 74,009.3 | NY160610 | 1988 | |||
The New Forest | Hampshire / Wiltshire | 28,947.4 | 71,530.6 | SU298081 | 1959 | Map | ||
South Pennine Moors | West Yorkshire / Great Manchester / Lancashire / North Yorkshire | 20,938.1 | 51,739.2 | SD920300 | 1994 | |||
Salisbury Plain | Wiltshire / Hampshire | 19,689.9 | 48,654.8 | SU070500 | 1975 | Map | ||
Breckland Forest | Norfolk / Suffolk | 18,078.7 | 44,673.4 | TL819839 | 2000 | |||
Severn Estuary | Avon / Somerset + others | 15,950.0 | 39,413.3 | ST480830 | 1976 | |||
Upper Teesdale | County Durham | 14,035.6 | 34,682.7 | NY830320 | 1951 | |||
Moorhouse and Cross Fell | Cumbria / County Durham | 13,707.0 | 33,870.7 | NY715365 | 1990 | |||
Dee Estuary | Cheshire / Clwyd | 13,679.7 | 33,803.3 | SJ220800 | 1954 | |||
Breckland Farmland | Norfolk / Suffolk | 13,335.7 | 32,953.2 | TL762783 | 2000 | |||
North Dartmoor | Devon | 13,413.2 | 33,144.7 | SX580850 | 1952 | |||
North Exmoor | Devon / Somerset | 12,005.3 | 29,665.7 | SS800430 | 1954 |
Site name | Area of Search | Reason for designation | Area [ a] | Grid reference | Year in which notified | Map [B] | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Biological interest | Geological interest | Hectares | Acres | |||||
South Dartmoor | Devon | 9,668.2 | 23,890.6 | SX630690 | 1952 | |||
Hexhamshire Moors | County Durham / Northumberland | 9,433.9 | 23,311.7 | NY870530 | 1998 | Map | ||
Kielderhead and Emblehope Moors | Northumberland | 8,254.4 | 20,397.1 | NT700000 | 1971 | |||
Eastern Peak District Moors | South Yorkshire / ? | 8,094.4 | 20,001.7 | SK270770 | 1955 | Map | ||
Bollihope, Pikestone, Eggleston and Woodland Fells | County Durham | 7,949.2 | 19,642.9 | NZ005300 | 1996 | Map | ||
North Norfolk Coast | Norfolk | 7,700.0 | 19,027.1 | TG020440 | 1954 | |||
Duddon Estuary | Cumbria | 6,806.3 | 16,818.7 | SD151753 | 1990 (amalgamated 5) | Map | ||
Mersey Estuary | Cheshire / Merseyside | 6,702.1 | 16,561.2 | SJ440800 | 1951 | |||
The Swale | Kent | 6,568.4 | 16,230.9 | TR000670 | 1968 | |||
Blackwater Estuary | Essex | 5,738.0 | 14,178.9 | TL940070 | 1955 | |||
South Thames Estuary and Marshes | Kent | 5,449.1 | 13,465.0 | TQ770785 | 1951 | |||
Bodmin Moor, North | Cornwall | 4,957.0 | 12,249.0 | SX160810 | 1951 | |||
Kielder Mires | Cumbria / Northumberland | 4,818.0 | 11,905.5 | NY670800 | 1995 | |||
Bowes Moor | County Durham | 4,457.7 | 11,015.2 | NY923104 | 1989 | Map | ||
Poole Harbour | Dorset | 4,049.0 | 10,005.3 | SZ000890 | 1964 |
Site name | Area of Search | Reason for designation | Area [ a] | Grid reference | Year in which notified | Map [B] | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Biological interest | Geological interest | Hectares | Acres | |||||
Chichester Harbour | Hampshire / West Sussex | 3,695.0 | 9,130.5 | SU760000 | 1970 | |||
Bridgwater Bay | Somerset | 3,574.1 | 8,831.8 | ST290480 | 1989 | |||
Dungeness | East Sussex / Kent | 3,241.7 | 8,010.4 | TR050180 | 1951 | |||
Ashdown Forest | East Sussex | 3,144.6 | 7,770.5 | TQ450300 | 1953 | |||
South Exmoor | Devon / Somerset | 3,132.7 | 7,741.1 | SS880340 | 1992 | |||
Long Mynd | Shropshire | 2,637.6 | 6,517.7 | SO420950 | 1953 | |||
Alde-Ore Estuary | Suffolk | 2,554.3 | 6,311.8 | TM394757 | 1952 | |||
The Quantocks | Somerset | 2,506.9 | 6,194.7 | ST140390 | 1970 | Map | ||
Ouse Washes | Cambridgeshire / Norfolk | 2,403.0 | 5,937.9 | TL482867 | 1955 | |||
Exe Estuary | Devon | 2,186.6 | 5,403.2 | SX980845 | 1952 | |||
East Dartmoor | Devon | 2,088.1 | 5,159.8 | SX695815 | 1976 | |||
Langstone Harbour | Hampshire | 2,069.4 | 5,113.6 | SU700030 | 1958 |
Site name | Area of Search | Reason for designation | Area [ a] | Grid reference | Year in which notified | Map [B] | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Biological interest | Geological interest | Hectares | Acres | |||||
Thorne Crowle and Goole Moors | East Riding / South Yorkshire | 1,918.6 | 4,741.0 | SE730160 | 1970 | |||
Windsor Forest and Great Park | Berkshire / Surrey | 1,771.2 | 4,376.7 | SU970685 | 1973 | |||
Exmoor Coastal Heaths | Somerset | 1,758.3 | 4,344.9 | SS620480 | 1994 | Map | ||
Wyre Forest | Shropshire / Hereford & Worcester | 1,753.7 | 4,333.5 | SS750760 | 1955 | |||
Epping Forest | Essex / Greater London | 1,728.0 | 4,270.0 | TL475035 | 1953 | |||
Porton Down | Wiltshire | 1,561.8 | 3,859.3 | SU240365 | 1977 | Map | ||
Rutland Water | Leicestershire | 1,540.1 | 3,805.7 | SK928070 | 1981 |
Site name | Area of Search | Reason for designation | Area [ a] | Grid reference | Year in which notified | Map [B] | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Biological interest | Geological interest | Hectares | Acres | |||||
Upper Severn Estuary | Gloucestershire | 1,436.8 | 3,550.4 | SO720060 | 1954 | Map | ||
Tamar - Tavy Estuary | Cornwall / Devon | 1,422.3 | 3,514.6 | SX474650 | 1991 | |||
Hatfield Moors | South Yorkshire | 1,400.7 | 3,461.2 | SE705060 | 1954 | |||
Avon Valley (Bickton to Christchurch) | Dorset / Hampshire | 1,383.7 | 3,419.2 | TU147123 | 1974 | |||
Braunton Burrows | Devon | 1,356.7 | 3,352.5 | SS430350 | 1952 | |||
Taw-Torridge Estuary | Devon | 1,336.5 | 3,302.6 | SS470310 | 1981 | |||
Nene Washes | Cambridgeshire | 1,310.0 | 3,237.1 | TL200977 | 1959 | |||
Portsmouth Harbour | Hampshire | 1,266.1 | 3,128.6 | SU620035 | 1974 | |||
East Devon Pebblebed Heaths | Devon | 1,111.9 | 2,747.6 | SY050880 | 1952 | |||
Catcott, Edington and Chilton Moors | Somerset | 1,083.0 | 2,676.2 | ST390420 | 1967 | Map | ||
West Sedgemoor | Somerset | 1,016.0 | 2,510.6 | ST361258 | 1983 | Map | ||
Haldon Forest | Devon | 1,013.2 | 2,503.7 | SX886838 | 1992 | Map |
Site name | Area of Search | Reason for designation | Area [ a] | Grid reference | Year in which notified | Map [B] | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Biological interest | Geological interest | Hectares | Acres | |||||
Chesil and the Fleet | Dorset | 990.4 | 2,447.3 | SY496885 | 1952 | |||
Fenn's, Whixall, Bettisfield, Wem and Cadney Mosses | Shropshire / Wales | 948.4 | 2,343.5 | SJ490365 | 1953 | |||
Tealham and Tadham Moors | Somerset | 917.6 | 2,267.4 | ST420450 | 1985 | Map | ||
Savernake Forest | Wiltshire | 904.7 | 2,235.6 | SU215665 | 1971 | Map | ||
King's Sedgemoor | Somerset | 822.0 | 2,031.2 | ST400330 | 1985 | |||
Grafham Water | Cambridgeshire | 811.9 | 2,006.2 | TL150680 | 1986 | |||
Durham Coast | Cleveland / Durham | 765.4 | 1,891.3 | NZ400500 | 1960 | |||
Rye Harbour | East Sussex | 761.1 | 1,880.7 | TQ935180 | 1953 | Map | ||
Studland and Godlingston Heath | Dorset | 758.9 | 1,875.3 | SZ030845 | 1954 |
Site name | Area of Search | Reason for designation | Area [ a] | Grid reference | Year in which notified | Map [B] | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Biological interest | Geological interest | Hectares | Acres | |||||
Blue Anchor to Lilstock Coast | Somerset | 742.8 | 1,835.5 | ST033435 | 1971 | |||
Abberton Reservoir | Essex | 716.3 | 1,770.0 | TL970180 | 1955 | |||
Lynher Estuary | Cornwall | 687.3 | 1,698.4 | SX375565 | 1951 | |||
North Moor | Somerset | 676.3 | 1,671.2 | ST325305 | 1986 | |||
Cotswold Commons And Beechwoods | Gloucestershire | 665.5 | 1,644.5 | SP900130 | 1954 | Map | ||
Bentley Wood | Wiltshire / Hampshire | 665.0 | 1,643.3 | SU250295 | 1985 | Map | ||
Barle Valley | Somerset | 622.9 | 1,539.2 | SS850349 | 1954 | |||
Pagham Harbour | Avon | 615.9 | 1,521.9 | SZ875970 | 1954 | |||
Upper Fal estuary and woodlands | Cornwall | 603.5 | 1,491.3 | SW850410 | 1968 | |||
Chew Valley Lake | Avon | 565.2 | 1,396.6 | ST570600 | 1971 | |||
Arne | Dorset | 563.4 | 1,392.2 | ST966880 | 1986 | |||
Westhay Moor | Somerset | 513.7 | 1,269.4 | ST455445 | 1971 | Map | ||
Breydon Water | Norfolk | 506.5 | 1,251.6 | TG500075 | 1987 | Map |
Site name | Area of Search | Reason for designation | Area [ a] | Grid reference | Year in which notified | Map [B] | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Biological interest | Geological interest | Hectares | Acres | |||||
Wet Moor | Somerset | 491.0 | 1,213.3 | ST448244 | 1985 | Map | ||
Curry and Hay Moors | Somerset | 472.8 | 1,168.3 | ST323273 | 1992 | Map | ||
Dunster Park and Heathlands | Somerset | 466.6 | 1,153.0 | SS955441 | 2000 | Map | ||
Cranborne Chase | Dorset / Wiltshire | 451.4 | 1,115.4 | ST970180 | 1975 | Map | ||
Cheddar Complex | Somerset | 441.3 | 1,090.5 | ST465538 | 1952 | Map | ||
Blithfield Reservoir | Staffordshire | 435.6 | 1,076.4 | SK057242 | 1968 | |||
Winterton to Horsey Dunes | Norfolk | 427.2 | 1,055.6 | ST490210 | 1954 | |||
Wytham Woods | Oxfordshire | 426.5 | 1,053.9 | SP462083 | 1950 |
Site name | Area of Search | Reason for designation | Area [ a] | Grid reference | Year in which notified | Map [B] | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Biological interest | Geological interest | Hectares | Acres | |||||
Bratton Downs | Wiltshire | 395.8 | 978.0 | ST925522 | 1971 | Map | ||
Shapwick Heath | Somerset | 394.0 | 973.6 | ST430403 | 1967 | Map | ||
South Gare and Coatham Sands | Cleveland | 381.2 | 942.0 | NZ582263 | 1971 | |||
Isle of Portland | Dorset | 369.3 | 912.6 | SY690722 | 1952 | |||
Christchurch Harbour | Dorset | 353.2 | 872.8 | SZ175915 | 1964 | |||
Lundy | Devon | 345.0 | 852.5 | SS135460 | 1976 | |||
Axmouth to Lyme Regis Undercliffs | Devon / ? | 334.6 | 826.8 | SY300900 | 1952 | |||
Crook Peak to Shute Shelve Hill | Somerset | 332.2 | 820.9 | ST385555 | 1952 | Map | ||
Fyfield Down | Wiltshire | 325.3 | 803.8 | SU136709 | 1951 | Map | ||
Seaton Dunes And Common | Cleveland | 312.1 | 771.2 | NZ535285 | 1966 | |||
Pewsey Downs | Wiltshire | 305.3 | 754.4 | SU113636 | 1951 | Map |
Site name | Area of Search | Reason for designation | Area [ a] | Grid reference | Year in which notified | Map [B] | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Biological interest | Geological interest | Hectares | Acres | |||||
Church Wood, Blean | Kent | 297.1 | 734.2 | TR109603 | 1951 | |||
Seal Sands | Cleveland | 294.4 | 727.5 | NZ529260 | 1966 | |||
Lower Woods | Avon | 280.1 | 692.1 | ST743876 | 1966 | |||
Greenham and Crookham Commons | Berkshire | 278.6 | 688.4 | SU490645 & SU523643 | 1985 | |||
Lower Fal & Helford Intertidal | Cornwall | 277.7 | 686.2 | SW860334 | 1997 | |||
Tees and Hartlepool Foreshore and Wetlands | Cleveland | 255.6 | 631.6 | NZ516348 & NZ505224 | 1997 | |||
Skipwith Common | North Yorkshire | 274 | 677.1 | SE668362 | 1958 | |||
Slapton Ley | Devon | 254.7 | 629.4 | SX826440 | 2004 |
Site name | Area of Search | Reason for designation | Area [ a] | Grid reference | Year in which notified | Map [B] | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Biological interest | Geological interest | Hectares | Acres | |||||
Longleat Woods | Somerset | 249.9 | 617.5 | ST795435 | 1972 | Map | ||
Mottisfont Bats | Hampshire | 231.0 | 570.8 | SU314281 | 2003 | |||
Moorlinch | Somerset | 226.0 | 558.5 | ST390360 | 1985 | Map | ||
West Moor | Somerset | 213.0 | 526.3 | ST420220 | 1985 | Map | ||
Otmoor | Oxfordshire | 211.6 | 522.9 | SP575130 | 1952 | |||
Blagdon Lake | Avon | 212.7 | 525.6 | ST515597 | 1971 | |||
Ashton Court | Avon | 210.3 | 519.7 | ST553723 | 1998 |
Site name | Area of Search | Reason for designation | Area [ a] | Grid reference | Year in which notified | Map [B] | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Biological interest | Geological interest | Hectares | Acres | |||||
Berrow Dunes | Somerset | 200.0 | 494.2 | ST293520 | 1952 | |||
Southlake Moor | Somerset | 196.1 | 484.6 | ST370300 | 1985 | Map | ||
Brimsdown Hill | Wiltshire | 193.7 | 478.6 | SU831385 | 1951 | Map | ||
Porlock Ridge and Saltmarsh | Somerset | 186.3 | 460.4 | SS880479 | 1990 | Map | ||
Langmead and Weston Level | Somerset | 168.8 | 417.1 | ST353330 | 1991 | |||
Gordano Valley | Avon | 161.7 | 399.6 | ST435730 | 1971 | |||
East Blean Woods | Kent | 156.8 | 387.5 | TR189640 | 1981 | |||
St. Catherine's Valley | Avon | 156.1 | 385.7 | ST760725 | 1997 | |||
Avon Gorge | Avon | 155.4 | 384.0 | ST560743 | 1952 | |||
Black Down and Sampford Commons | Somerset | 155.2 | 383.5 | ST118161 | 1952 | |||
Brimble Pit and Cross Swallet Basins | Somerset | 154.3 | 381.3 | ST512505 | 1987 |
Site name | Area of Search | Reason for designation | Area [ a] | Grid reference | Year in which notified | Map [B] | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Biological interest | Geological interest | Hectares | Acres | |||||
Attenborough Nature Reserve | Nottinghamshire | 226.6 | 559.9 | SK514338 | 1982 | Map | ||
Asham Wood | Somerset | 141.6 | 349.9 | ST705460 | 1963 | |||
Burrington Combe | Avon / North Somerset | 139.1 | 343.7 | ST478583 | 1952 | |||
Wenlock Edge | Shropshire | 136.8 | 338.0 | SO606995 | 1954 | |||
Tickenham, Nailsea and Kenn Moors | Avon | 129.4 | 319.8 | ST440700 | 1995 | |||
Bowerchalke Downs | Wiltshire | 128.6 | 317.8 | SU004218 | 1971 | Map | ||
Calstone And Cherhill Downs | Wiltshire | 128.6 | 317.8 | SU047692 | 1971 | Map | ||
King's Wood and Urchin Wood | Avon | 128.1 | 316.5 | ST454645 | 1990 | |||
East Polden Grasslands | Somerset | 124.0 | 306.4 | ST474325 | 1999 | Map | ||
Upper Fowey Valley | Cornwall | 124.0 | 306.4 | SX215730 | 1989 | |||
Potteric Carr | South Yorkshire | 119.6 | 295.5 | SE599003 | 1977 | |||
Cowpen Marsh | Cleveland | 116.8 | 288.6 | NZ500529 | 1966 | |||
River Kennet | Berkshire / Wiltshire | 112.7 | 278.5 | SU203692 | 1995 | Map | ||
Cheddar Reservoir | Somerset | 105.4 | 260.4 | ST441537 | 1972 | Map | ||
River Barle | Somerset | 104.2 | 257.5 | SS723423 | 1997 | Map | ||
Dozmary Pool | Cornwall | 104.2 | 257.5 | SX195745 | 1986 | |||
Prior's Park & Adcombe Wood | Somerset | 103.6 | 256.0 | ST225170 | 1952 | Map |
A map is a symbolic depiction emphasizing relationships between elements of some space, such as objects, regions, or themes.
A symbol is a mark, sign, or word that indicates, signifies, or is understood as representing an idea, object, or relationship. Symbols allow people to go beyond what is known or seen by creating linkages between otherwise very different concepts and experiences. All communication is achieved through the use of symbols. Symbols take the form of words, sounds, gestures, ideas, or visual images and are used to convey other ideas and beliefs. For example, a red octagon is a common symbol for "STOP"; on maps, blue lines often represent rivers; and a red rose often symbolizes love and compassion. Numerals are symbols for numbers; letters of an alphabet may be symbols for certain phonemes; and personal names are symbols representing individuals. The variable 'x', in a mathematical equation, may symbolize the position of a particle in space.
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Westbere Copse is an eight hectares Local Nature Reserve and Site of Borough Importance for Nature Conservation, Grade 1, in West Hampstead in the London Borough of Camden. It is located at the corner of Westbere Road and Minster Road, next to the railway. The site is owned by Network Rail and is leased to Camden Council for use as a nature reserve. The nature reserve is composed of Westbere Copse itself, sections of railside, and an old orchard at Medley Gardens. There is no access to the railway land or the orchard. Westbere Copse is divided into a northern half which has free public access and a southern half, called Jenny Wood Nature Reserve, which is named after one of the founders of the site who died in 1988. This is only open at weekends.