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List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Avon facts for kids

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This article is about special places in the area once known as Avon, England. These places are called Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). They are protected because they have unique plants, animals, rocks, or land features.

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A view of the Avon Gorge, a special place for its wildlife and rocks.

In England, a group called Natural England chooses and looks after these SSSIs. Even though the county of Avon doesn't exist anymore, Natural England still uses its old boundaries to help organize these special sites.

As of 2006, there are 86 SSSIs in the former Avon area.

  • 38 of these sites are special because of their amazing plants and animals.
  • 39 are special because of their interesting rocks and land formations.
  • 9 sites are special for both reasons!

What are SSSIs?

SSSIs are like nature's treasures. They are areas that have been officially recognized as important because of their natural features. This could be rare wildlife, unusual plants, or special geological sites that show us how the Earth was formed.

Natural England works to protect these places. They make sure that these sites are looked after so that their special features can continue to thrive for many years.

Special Sites in Avon

Here is a list of some of the amazing SSSIs found in the former Avon area. Each one is unique and important in its own way.

Site name Why it's special Size Map location (Grid reference) Year protected Map
Plants & Animals Rocks & Land Hectares Acres
Ashton Court YesY 210.3 519.7 ST553723 1998 Map
Aust Cliff YesY 5.3 13.1 ST565894 1954 Map
Avon Gorge YesY YesY 155.4 384.0 ST560743 1952 Map
Banwell Caves YesY YesY 1.7 4.2 ST383588 1963 Map
Banwell Ochre Caves YesY 12.5 30.8 ST407593 1983 Map
Barnhill Quarry YesY 3.1 7.7 ST725827 1966 Map
Barns Batch Spinney YesY 0.1 0.2 ST557659 1987 Map
Bickley Wood YesY 9.5 23.5 ST644703 1988 Map
Biddle Street, Yatton YesY 44.8 110.7 ST423648 1994 Map
Bishop's Hill Wood YesY 30.6 75.6 ST733873 1984 Map
Blagdon Lake YesY 212.7 525.6 ST515597 1971 Map
Bleadon Hill YesY 13.5 33.4 ST705943 1999 Map
Bodkin Hazel Wood YesY 10.6 26.2 ST780850 1974 Map
Bourne YesY 8.5 20.9 ST484600 1992 Map
Bowlditch Quarry YesY 0.3 0.6 ST668558 1952 Map
Brinkmarsh Quarry YesY 0.5 1.2 ST674913 1974 Map
Brockley Hall Stables YesY 0.1 0.2 ST471669 1987 Map
Brown's Folly YesY YesY 39.9 98.5 ST793662 1974 Map
Buckover Road Cutting YesY 1.7 4.1 ST665906 1967 Map
Burledge Sidelands and Meadows YesY 48.7 120.3 ST588587 2005 Map
Burrington Combe YesY YesY 139.1 343.8 ST478583 1952 Map
Cattybrook Brickpit YesY 2.2 5.5 ST594835 1989 Map
Chew Valley Lake YesY 565.2 1,396.6 ST570600 1971 Map
Cleaves Wood YesY 40.4 99.8 ST758576 1988 Map
Cleeve Wood, Hanham YesY 8.9 21.9 ST655703 1966 Map
Clevedon Shore YesY 0.4 0.9 ST402719 1991 Map
Combe Down and Bathampton Down Mines YesY 6.2 15.4 ST761625 1991 Map
Compton Martin Ochre Mine YesY YesY 0.9 2.1 ST545570 1988 Map
Congrove Field and The Tumps YesY 12.5 30.8 ST713698 1991 Map
Court Hill YesY 10.5 25.8 ST436722 1997 Map
Cullimore's Quarry YesY 0.9 2.2 ST721927 1974 Map
Damery Road Section YesY 0.5 1.0 ST705943 1974 Map
Dolebury Warren YesY 90.6 223.3 ST455590 1952 Map
Dundry Main Road South Quarry YesY 0.7 1.8 ST566654 1974 Map
Ellenborough Park West YesY 1.8 4.4 ST319608 1989 Map
Folly Farm YesY 3.1 7.7 ST607604 1987 Map
Goblin Combe YesY 51.9 128.2 ST473652 1999 Map
Gordano Valley YesY YesY 161.7 399.5 ST435730 1971 Map
Ham Green YesY 1.1 2.7 ST539738 1990 Map
Hampton Rocks Cutting YesY 1.3 3.2 ST779666 1990 Map
Harptree Combe YesY 13.1 32.3 ST561558 1954 Map
Hartcliff Rocks Quarry YesY 1.6 3.9 ST534662 1991 Map
Hawkesbury Meadow YesY 3.3 8.2 ST754874 1987 Map
Hawkesbury Quarry YesY 0.3 0.6 ST771873 1967 Map
Hinton Charterhouse Field YesY 0.3 0.8 ST764574 1991 Map
Hinton Charterhouse Pit YesY 0.4 1.0 ST772573 1971 Map
Hinton Hill, Wellow YesY 0.3 0.6 ST757582 1996 Map
Holly Lane YesY 0.5 1.2 ST419727 1990 Map
Horseshoe Bend, Shirehampton YesY 4.5 11.0 ST542767 1999 Map
Huish Colliery Quarry YesY 0.8 2.1 ST695542 1985 Map
Iford Manor YesY 0.4 1.0 ST802589 1996 Map
Kenn Church, Kenn Pier & Yew Tree Farm YesY 15.4 38.0 ST415689 1997 Map
Kilmersdon Road Quarry YesY 0.4 1.1 ST689542 1954 Map
King's Wood and Urchin Wood YesY 128.1 316.5 ST454645 1990 Map
Long Dole Wood and Meadows YesY 9.8 24.3 ST610562 1997 Map
Lower Woods YesY YesY 280.1 692.2 ST743876 1966 Map
Lulsgate Quarry YesY 1.1 2.8 ST516659 1997 Map
Max Bog YesY 10.6 26.2 ST406574 1988 Map
Middle Hope YesY YesY 84.1 207.8 ST325662 1952 Map
Midger YesY 65.7 162.3 ST797895 1966 Map
Monkswood Valley YesY 30.7 75.9 ST754710 1990 Map
Newton St. Loe YesY 2.3 5.6 ST715657 1992 Map
Nightingale Valley YesY 5.4 13.3 ST449751 1989 Map
North Road Quarry, Bath YesY 0.3 0.7 ST767646 1990 Map
Plaster's Green Meadows YesY 4.3 10.6 ST532611 1989 Map
Portishead Pier to Black Nore YesY 71.8 177.4 ST474778 1952 Map
Purn Hill YesY 6.1 15.1 ST412630 1990 Map
Puxton Moor YesY 31.1 76.8 ST412630 1994 Map
Quarry Steps, Durdham Down YesY <0.1 <0.1 ST573747 1990 Map
Severn Estuary YesY YesY 15,950.0 39,410.0 ST480830 1976 Map
Shiplate Slait YesY 33.9 83.8 ST365567 1987 Map
Slickstones Quarry, Cromhall YesY 2.7 6.6 ST704916 1966 Map
Spring Cove Cliffs YesY 2.0 4.9 ST310625 1952 Map
St. Catherine's Valley YesY 156.1 385.7 ST760725 1997 Map
Steep Holm YesY 25.5 63.0 ST228607 1952 Map
Stidham Farm YesY 17.3 42.8 ST682684 1991 Map
Tickenham, Nailsea and Kenn Moors YesY 129.4 319.7 ST440700 1995 Map
Tytherington Quarry YesY 0.9 2.2 ST662888 1989 Map
Uphill Cliff YesY 19.8 48.9 ST318583 1952 Map
Upton Coombe YesY 7.4 18.3 ST789877 1989 Map
Walton Common YesY 25.5 63.0 ST428738 1991 Map
Weston Big Wood YesY 37.5 92.6 ST455750 1971 Map
Weston-in-Gordano YesY 12.6 31.0 ST452744 1993 Map
Winterbourne Railway Cutting YesY 2.0 4.9 ST651799 1990 Map
Writhlington YesY 0.5 1.2 ST703553 1992 Map
Yanal Bog YesY 1.6 4.0 ST424607 1988 Map
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