List of the largest Sites of Special Scientific Interest in England

Last updated

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.

Contents

Sites more than 10,000 hectares in size

Site nameArea of SearchReason for designationArea [ a] Grid referenceYear in which notifiedMap [B]
Biological interestGeological interestHectaresAcres
The Wash Norfolk / LincolnshireGreen check.svg63,135.0156,010.0 TF550400 1972
North York Moors North Yorkshire / ClevelandGreen check.svg44,087.7108,943.1 NZ680000 1998
Humber Estuary East Riding of Yorkshire / LincolnshireGreen check.svgGreen check.svg37,000.691,430.5 TA216184 2004
Dark Peak Derbyshire / Greater Manchester / South Yorkshire / West YorkshireGreen check.svgGreen check.svg31,852.978,710.2 SK110960 1951
Morecambe Bay Cumbria / LancashireGreen check.svg30,287.574,842.0 SD360700 1975
Upper Solway Flats and Marshes Cumbria / ?Green check.svgGreen check.svg29,950.574,009.3 NY160610 1988
The New Forest Hampshire / WiltshireGreen check.svgGreen check.svg28,947.471,530.6 SU298081 1959 Map
South Pennine Moors West Yorkshire / Great Manchester / Lancashire / North YorkshireGreen check.svgGreen check.svg20,938.151,739.2 SD920300 1994
Salisbury Plain Wiltshire / HampshireGreen check.svg19,689.948,654.8 SU070500 1975 Map
Breckland Forest Norfolk / SuffolkGreen check.svgGreen check.svg18,078.744,673.4 TL819839 2000
Severn Estuary Avon / Somerset + othersGreen check.svgGreen check.svg15,950.039,413.3 ST480830 1976
Upper Teesdale County DurhamGreen check.svgGreen check.svg14,035.634,682.7 NY830320 1951
Moorhouse and Cross Fell Cumbria / County DurhamGreen check.svgGreen check.svg13,707.033,870.7 NY715365 1990
Dee Estuary Cheshire / ClwydGreen check.svg13,679.733,803.3 SJ220800 1954
Breckland Farmland Norfolk / SuffolkGreen check.svg13,335.732,953.2 TL762783 2000
North Dartmoor DevonGreen check.svgGreen check.svg13,413.233,144.7 SX580850 1952
North Exmoor Devon / SomersetGreen check.svgGreen check.svg12,005.329,665.7 SS800430 1954

Sites more than 4000 hectares in size

Site nameArea of SearchReason for designationArea [ a] Grid referenceYear in which notifiedMap [B]
Biological interestGeological interestHectaresAcres
South Dartmoor DevonGreen check.svgGreen check.svg9,668.223,890.6 SX630690 1952
Hexhamshire Moors County Durham / NorthumberlandGreen check.svg9,433.923,311.7 NY870530 1998 Map
Kielderhead and Emblehope Moors NorthumberlandGreen check.svg8,254.420,397.1 NT700000 1971
Eastern Peak District Moors South Yorkshire / ?Green check.svgGreen check.svg8,094.420,001.7 SK270770 1955 Map
Bollihope, Pikestone, Eggleston and Woodland Fells County DurhamGreen check.svg7,949.219,642.9 NZ005300 1996 Map
North Norfolk Coast NorfolkGreen check.svgGreen check.svg7,700.019,027.1 TG020440 1954
Duddon Estuary CumbriaGreen check.svgGreen check.svg6,806.316,818.7 SD151753 1990 (amalgamated 5) Map
Mersey Estuary Cheshire / MerseysideGreen check.svg6,702.116,561.2 SJ440800 1951
The Swale KentGreen check.svgGreen check.svg6,568.416,230.9 TR000670 1968
Blackwater Estuary EssexGreen check.svgGreen check.svg5,738.014,178.9 TL940070 1955
South Thames Estuary and Marshes KentGreen check.svg5,449.113,465.0 TQ770785 1951
Bodmin Moor, North CornwallGreen check.svg4,957.012,249.0 SX160810 1951
Kielder Mires Cumbria / NorthumberlandGreen check.svg4,818.011,905.5 NY670800 1995
Bowes Moor County DurhamGreen check.svg4,457.711,015.2 NY923104 1989 Map
Poole Harbour DorsetGreen check.svg4,049.010,005.3 SZ000890 1964

Sites more than 2000 hectares in size

Site nameArea of SearchReason for designationArea [ a] Grid referenceYear in which notifiedMap [B]
Biological interestGeological interestHectaresAcres
Chichester Harbour Hampshire / West SussexGreen check.svgGreen check.svg3,695.09,130.5 SU760000 1970
Bridgwater Bay SomersetGreen check.svg3,574.18,831.8 ST290480 1989
Dungeness East Sussex / KentGreen check.svgGreen check.svg3,241.78,010.4 TR050180 1951
Ashdown Forest East SussexGreen check.svg3,144.67,770.5 TQ450300 1953
South Exmoor Devon / SomersetGreen check.svg3,132.77,741.1 SS880340 1992
Long Mynd ShropshireGreen check.svgGreen check.svg2,637.66,517.7 SO420950 1953
Alde-Ore Estuary SuffolkGreen check.svg2,554.36,311.8 TM394757 1952
The Quantocks SomersetGreen check.svg2,506.96,194.7 ST140390 1970 Map
Ouse Washes Cambridgeshire / NorfolkGreen check.svg2,403.05,937.9 TL482867 1955
Exe Estuary DevonGreen check.svgGreen check.svg2,186.65,403.2 SX980845 1952
East Dartmoor DevonGreen check.svgGreen check.svg2,088.15,159.8 SX695815 1976
Langstone Harbour HampshireGreen check.svg2,069.45,113.6 SU700030 1958

Sites more than 1500 hectares in size

Site nameArea of SearchReason for designationArea [ a] Grid referenceYear in which notifiedMap [B]
Biological interestGeological interestHectaresAcres
Thorne Crowle and Goole Moors East Riding / South YorkshireGreen check.svg1,918.64,741.0 SE730160 1970
Windsor Forest and Great Park Berkshire / SurreyGreen check.svg1,771.24,376.7 SU970685 1973
Exmoor Coastal Heaths SomersetGreen check.svg1,758.34,344.9 SS620480 1994 Map
Wyre Forest Shropshire / Hereford & WorcesterGreen check.svg1,753.74,333.5 SS750760 1955
Epping Forest Essex / Greater LondonGreen check.svg1,728.04,270.0 TL475035 1953
Porton Down WiltshireGreen check.svg1,561.83,859.3 SU240365 1977 Map
Rutland Water LeicestershireGreen check.svg1,540.13,805.7 SK928070 1981

Sites more than 1000 hectares in size

Site nameArea of SearchReason for designationArea [ a] Grid referenceYear in which notifiedMap [B]
Biological interestGeological interestHectaresAcres
Upper Severn Estuary GloucestershireGreen check.svg1,436.83,550.4 SO720060 1954 Map
Tamar - Tavy Estuary Cornwall / DevonGreen check.svg1,422.33,514.6 SX474650 1991
Hatfield Moors South YorkshireGreen check.svg1,400.73,461.2 SE705060 1954
Avon Valley (Bickton to Christchurch) Dorset / HampshireGreen check.svg1,383.73,419.2 TU147123 1974
Braunton Burrows DevonGreen check.svgGreen check.svg1,356.73,352.5 SS430350 1952
Taw-Torridge Estuary DevonGreen check.svg1,336.53,302.6 SS470310 1981
Nene Washes CambridgeshireGreen check.svg1,310.03,237.1 TL200977 1959
Portsmouth Harbour HampshireGreen check.svg1,266.13,128.6 SU620035 1974
East Devon Pebblebed Heaths DevonGreen check.svg1,111.92,747.6 SY050880 1952
Catcott, Edington and Chilton Moors SomersetGreen check.svg1,083.02,676.2 ST390420 1967 Map
West Sedgemoor SomersetGreen check.svg1,016.02,510.6 ST361258 1983 Map
Haldon Forest DevonGreen check.svg1,013.22,503.7 SX886838 1992 Map

Sites more than 750 hectares in size

Site nameArea of SearchReason for designationArea [ a] Grid referenceYear in which notifiedMap [B]
Biological interestGeological interestHectaresAcres
Chesil and the Fleet DorsetGreen check.svgGreen check.svg990.42,447.3 SY496885 1952
Fenn's, Whixall, Bettisfield, Wem and Cadney Mosses Shropshire / WalesGreen check.svg948.42,343.5 SJ490365 1953
Tealham and Tadham Moors SomersetGreen check.svg917.62,267.4 ST420450 1985 Map
Savernake Forest WiltshireGreen check.svg904.72,235.6 SU215665 1971 Map
King's Sedgemoor SomersetGreen check.svg822.02,031.2 ST400330 1985
Grafham Water CambridgeshireGreen check.svg811.92,006.2 TL150680 1986
Durham Coast Cleveland / DurhamGreen check.svgGreen check.svg765.41,891.3 NZ400500 1960
Rye Harbour East SussexGreen check.svgGreen check.svg761.11,880.7 TQ935180 1953 Map
Studland and Godlingston Heath DorsetGreen check.svgGreen check.svg758.91,875.3 SZ030845 1954

Sites more than 500 hectares in size

Site nameArea of SearchReason for designationArea [ a] Grid referenceYear in which notifiedMap [B]
Biological interestGeological interestHectaresAcres
Blue Anchor to Lilstock Coast SomersetGreen check.svg742.81,835.5 ST033435 1971
Abberton Reservoir EssexGreen check.svg716.31,770.0 TL970180 1955
Lynher Estuary CornwallGreen check.svg687.31,698.4 SX375565 1951
North Moor SomersetGreen check.svg676.31,671.2 ST325305 1986
Cotswold Commons And Beechwoods GloucestershireGreen check.svg665.51,644.5 SP900130 1954 Map
Bentley Wood Wiltshire / HampshireGreen check.svg665.01,643.3 SU250295 1985 Map
Barle Valley SomersetGreen check.svg622.91,539.2 SS850349 1954
Pagham Harbour AvonGreen check.svgGreen check.svg615.91,521.9 SZ875970 1954
Upper Fal estuary and woodlands CornwallGreen check.svg603.51,491.3 SW850410 1968
Chew Valley Lake AvonGreen check.svg565.21,396.6 ST570600 1971
Arne DorsetGreen check.svgGreen check.svg563.41,392.2 ST966880 1986
Westhay Moor SomersetGreen check.svg513.71,269.4 ST455445 1971 Map
Breydon Water NorfolkGreen check.svg506.51,251.6 TG500075 1987 Map

Sites more than 400 hectares in size

Site nameArea of SearchReason for designationArea [ a] Grid referenceYear in which notifiedMap [B]
Biological interestGeological interestHectaresAcres
Wet Moor SomersetGreen check.svg491.01,213.3 ST448244 1985 Map
Curry and Hay Moors SomersetGreen check.svg472.81,168.3 ST323273 1992 Map
Dunster Park and Heathlands SomersetGreen check.svg466.61,153.0 SS955441 2000 Map
Cranborne Chase Dorset / WiltshireGreen check.svg451.41,115.4 ST970180 1975 Map
Cheddar Complex SomersetGreen check.svgGreen check.svg441.31,090.5 ST465538 1952 Map
Blithfield Reservoir StaffordshireGreen check.svg435.61,076.4 SK057242 1968
Winterton to Horsey Dunes NorfolkGreen check.svgGreen check.svg427.21,055.6 ST490210 1954
Wytham Woods OxfordshireGreen check.svg426.51,053.9 SP462083 1950

Sites more than 300 hectares in size

Site nameArea of SearchReason for designationArea [ a] Grid referenceYear in which notifiedMap [B]
Biological interestGeological interestHectaresAcres
Bratton Downs WiltshireGreen check.svgGreen check.svg395.8978.0 ST925522 1971 Map
Shapwick Heath SomersetGreen check.svg394.0973.6 ST430403 1967 Map
South Gare and Coatham Sands ClevelandGreen check.svg381.2942.0 NZ582263 1971
Isle of Portland DorsetGreen check.svgGreen check.svg369.3912.6 SY690722 1952
Christchurch Harbour DorsetGreen check.svgGreen check.svg353.2872.8 SZ175915 1964
Lundy DevonGreen check.svg345.0852.5 SS135460 1976
Axmouth to Lyme Regis Undercliffs Devon / ?Green check.svgGreen check.svg334.6826.8 SY300900 1952
Crook Peak to Shute Shelve Hill SomersetGreen check.svgGreen check.svg332.2820.9 ST385555 1952 Map
Fyfield Down WiltshireGreen check.svgGreen check.svg325.3803.8 SU136709 1951 Map
Seaton Dunes And Common ClevelandGreen check.svg312.1771.2 NZ535285 1966
Pewsey Downs WiltshireGreen check.svg305.3754.4 SU113636 1951 Map

Sites more than 250 hectares in size

Site nameArea of SearchReason for designationArea [ a] Grid referenceYear in which notifiedMap [B]
Biological interestGeological interestHectaresAcres
Church Wood, Blean KentGreen check.svg297.1734.2 TR109603 1951
Seal Sands ClevelandGreen check.svg294.4727.5 NZ529260 1966
Lower Woods AvonGreen check.svgGreen check.svg280.1692.1 ST743876 1966
Greenham and Crookham Commons BerkshireGreen check.svg278.6688.4 SU490645 & SU523643 1985
Lower Fal & Helford Intertidal CornwallGreen check.svg277.7686.2 SW860334 1997
Tees and Hartlepool Foreshore and Wetlands ClevelandGreen check.svg255.6631.6 NZ516348 & NZ505224 1997
Skipwith Common North YorkshireGreen check.svg274677.1 SE668362 1958
Slapton Ley DevonGreen check.svgGreen check.svg254.7629.4 SX826440 2004

Sites more than 200 hectares in size

Site nameArea of SearchReason for designationArea [ a] Grid referenceYear in which notifiedMap [B]
Biological interestGeological interestHectaresAcres
Longleat Woods SomersetGreen check.svg249.9617.5 ST795435 1972 Map
Mottisfont Bats HampshireGreen check.svg231.0570.8 SU314281 2003
Moorlinch SomersetGreen check.svg226.0558.5 ST390360 1985 Map
West Moor SomersetGreen check.svg213.0526.3 ST420220 1985 Map
Otmoor OxfordshireGreen check.svg211.6522.9 SP575130 1952
Blagdon Lake AvonGreen check.svg212.7525.6 ST515597 1971
Ashton Court AvonGreen check.svg210.3519.7 ST553723 1998

Sites more than 150 hectares in size

Site nameArea of SearchReason for designationArea [ a] Grid referenceYear in which notifiedMap [B]
Biological interestGeological interestHectaresAcres
Berrow Dunes SomersetGreen check.svg200.0494.2 ST293520 1952
Southlake Moor SomersetGreen check.svg196.1484.6 ST370300 1985 Map
Brimsdown Hill WiltshireGreen check.svg193.7478.6 SU831385 1951 Map
Porlock Ridge and Saltmarsh SomersetGreen check.svgGreen check.svg186.3460.4 SS880479 1990 Map
Langmead and Weston Level SomersetGreen check.svg168.8417.1 ST353330 1991
Gordano Valley AvonGreen check.svgGreen check.svg161.7399.6 ST435730 1971
East Blean Woods KentGreen check.svg156.8387.5 TR189640 1981
St. Catherine's Valley AvonGreen check.svg156.1385.7 ST760725 1997
Avon Gorge AvonGreen check.svgGreen check.svg155.4384.0 ST560743 1952
Black Down and Sampford Commons SomersetGreen check.svg155.2383.5 ST118161 1952
Brimble Pit and Cross Swallet Basins SomersetGreen check.svg154.3381.3 ST512505 1987

Sites more than 100 hectares in size

Site nameArea of SearchReason for designationArea [ a] Grid referenceYear in which notifiedMap [B]
Biological interestGeological interestHectaresAcres
Attenborough Nature Reserve NottinghamshireGreen check.svg226.6559.9 SK514338 1982 Map
Asham Wood SomersetGreen check.svg141.6349.9 ST705460 1963
Burrington Combe Avon / North SomersetGreen check.svgGreen check.svg139.1343.7 ST478583 1952
Wenlock Edge ShropshireGreen check.svgGreen check.svg136.8338.0 SO606995 1954
Tickenham, Nailsea and Kenn Moors AvonGreen check.svg129.4319.8 ST440700 1995
Bowerchalke Downs WiltshireGreen check.svg128.6317.8 SU004218 1971 Map
Calstone And Cherhill Downs WiltshireGreen check.svg128.6317.8 SU047692 1971 Map
King's Wood and Urchin Wood AvonGreen check.svg128.1316.5 ST454645 1990
East Polden Grasslands SomersetGreen check.svg124.0306.4 ST474325 1999 Map
Upper Fowey Valley CornwallGreen check.svg124.0306.4 SX215730 1989
Potteric Carr South YorkshireGreen check.svg119.6295.5 SE599003 1977
Cowpen Marsh ClevelandGreen check.svg116.8288.6 NZ500529 1966
River Kennet Berkshire / WiltshireGreen check.svg112.7278.5 SU203692 1995 Map
Cheddar Reservoir SomersetGreen check.svg105.4260.4 ST441537 1972 Map
River Barle SomersetGreen check.svg104.2257.5 SS723423 1997 Map
Dozmary Pool CornwallGreen check.svgGreen check.svg104.2257.5 SX195745 1986
Prior's Park & Adcombe Wood SomersetGreen check.svg103.6256.0 ST225170 1952 Map

Notes

a Data rounded to one decimal place.
B Link to maps using the Nature on the Map service provided by English Nature.

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