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

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