Porton Down SSSI

Last updated

Porton Down
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Moll Harriss Clump (geograph 3430880).jpg
Location Hampshire
Wiltshire
Grid reference SU 233 369 [1]
InterestBiological
Area1,559.0 hectares (3,852 acres) [1]
Notification 1992 [1]
Location map Magic Map

Porton Down SSSI is a 1,559-hectare (3,850-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest which spans the border between Hampshire and Wiltshire in England. It is adjacent to Porton Down science park near Porton, and much of it is Ministry of Defence property which is closed to the public. [1] [2] It is a Nature Conservation Review site, Grade I, [3] a Special Area of Conservation [4] and a Special Protection Area. [5]

This is one of the largest areas of semi-natural chalk grassland in the country. It has also been designated an SSSI because of its important populations of lichens, vascular plants and invertebrates, and for its breeding stone curlews. There are also areas of scrub and woodland. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Swale</span> Channel of the Thames Estuary in Kent, UK

The Swale is a tidal channel of the Thames estuary that separates the Isle of Sheppey from the rest of Kent. On its banks is a 6,509.4-hectare (16,085-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest which stretches from Sittingbourne to Whitstable in Kent. It is also a Ramsar internationally important wetland site and a Special Protection Area under the European Union Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds. Parts of it are a Nature Conservation Review site, Grade I, National Nature Reserves, a Kent Wildlife Trust nature reserve and a Local Nature Reserve.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sussex Wildlife Trust</span> Conservation charity which aims to protect natural life

The Sussex Wildlife Trust (SWT) is a conservation charity which aims to protect natural life in Sussex. It was founded in 1961 and is one of 46 wildlife trusts across the UK and the Isle of Man and Alderney. As of 2019, it has 33,000 members and manages 2,000 hectares of land for nature. It is a registered charity and in the year to 31 March 2019 it had an income of £5.7 million and expenditure of £4 million, resulting in net income of £1.7 million.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">River Avon System</span>

River Avon System is a 475.9-hectare (1,176-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Hampshire and Wiltshire, southern England. It is a Nature Conservation Review site, Grade I. It is part of the Avon Valley and New Forest Ramsar sites and is also part of two Special Protection Areas: Solent and Southampton Water, and the New Forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mole Gap to Reigate Escarpment</span>

Mole Gap to Reigate Escarpment is a 1,016.4-hectare (2,512-acre) biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest west of Reigate in Surrey. It is a Geological Conservation Review site and a Special Area of Conservation. Part of it is a Nature Conservation Review site, Grade I. Two small private nature reserves in the site are managed by the Surrey Wildlife Trust, Dawcombe and Fraser Down.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wangford Warren and Carr</span>

Wangford Warren and Carr is a 67.8-hectare (168-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest between Brandon and Lakenheath in Suffolk. It is a Nature Conservation Review site, Grade I, and part of the Breckland Special Area of Conservation, and Special Protection Area An area of 15 hectares is managed as a nature reserve by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thetford Heaths</span>

Thetford Heaths is a 270.6-hectare (669-acre) biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Suffolk. It is a Nature Conservation Review site, Grade I, and parts of it are a national nature reserve, and a Geological Conservation Review, It is part of the Breckland Special Area of Conservation, and Special Protection Area A large part of this dry heathland site is calcareous grassland, and some areas are grazed by sheep or rabbits. There are several nationally rare plants and an uncommon heathland bird, and many lichens and mosses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Folkestone Warren</span>

Folkestone Warren is a 316.3-hectare (782-acre) biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) which runs along the coast between Folkestone and Dover in Kent. It is a Nature Conservation Review site and it contains three Geological Conservation Review sites and part of a fourth. An area of 83.6 hectares is a Local Nature Reserve,

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stodmarsh SSSI</span>

Stodmarsh SSSI is a 623.2-hectare (1,540-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest near Stodmarsh, north-east of Canterbury in Kent. Parts of it are a Nature Conservation Review site, Grade I, a National Nature Reserve, a Ramsar internationally important wetland site, a Special Area of Conservation and a Special Protection Area under the European Union Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stanford Training Area SSSI</span> British Army training and nature conservation site

Stanford Training Area SSSI is part of the British Army Stanford Training Area. It is a 4,678-hectare (11,560-acre) biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest north of Thetford in Norfolk. It is a Nature Conservation Review site and part of it is a Geological Conservation Review site. It is also part of the Breckland Special Area of Conservation and Special Protection Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waterperry Wood</span>

Waterperry Wood is a 137-hectare (340-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) east of Oxford in Oxfordshire. It is a Nature Conservation Review site, Grade I, and is owned and managed by the Forestry Commission.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hurst Castle and Lymington River Estuary</span>

Hurst Castle and Lymington River Estuary is a 1,077.3-hectare (2,662-acre) biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest near Lymington in Hampshire. It is a Nature Conservation Review site and two areas are Geological Conservation Review sites. Three areas are local nature reserves, Boldre Foreshore, Sturt Pond and Lymington and Keyhaven Marshes; the latter site is managed by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. Part of it is North Solent National Nature Reserve. It is part of Solent and Southampton Water Ramsar site and Special Protection Area. Parts of it are in Solent Maritime and Solent and Isle of Wight Lagoons Special Areas of Conservation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lymington River SSSI</span>

Lymington River SSSI is a 34.8-hectare (86-acre) biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest along Lymington River and its tributaries between Lymington, Burley and Stoney Cross in Hampshire. HIghland Water is a Geological Conservation Review site and Ober Water is a Nature Conservation Review site, Grade I. Parts of the site are in The New Forest and Solent and Southampton Water Ramsar sites, and in The New Forest Special Protection Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Solent</span>

North Solent is a 1,186.7-hectare (2,932-acre) biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest along the north bank of the Solent between East End and Calshot in Hampshire. It is a Nature Conservation Review site, Grade I. Part of it is in North Solent National Nature Reserve and two areas are Geological Conservation Review sites. It is part of Solent and Southampton Water Ramsar site and Special Protection Area, and of Solent Maritime Special Area of Conservation. Boldre Foreshore is a local nature reserve.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Designated Sites View: Porton Down". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  2. "Map of Porton Down". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  3. Ratcliffe, Derek, ed. (1977). A Nature Conservation Review. Vol. 2. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. pp. 125–26. ISBN   0521-21403-3.
  4. "Designated Sites View: Salisbury Plain". Special Areas of Conservation. Natural England. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  5. "Designated Sites View: Porton Down". Special Protection Areas. Natural England. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  6. "Porton Down citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 17 May 2020.

Coordinates: 51°07′52″N1°40′08″W / 51.131°N 1.669°W / 51.131; -1.669