List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Gloucestershire facts for kids
This article is about the Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in Gloucestershire. Think of SSSIs as super important natural places in England. They are protected because they have amazing plants, animals, rocks, or land features.
The group that chooses these special places is called Natural England. They look for sites that are important for their animals, plants, geology (rocks and land), or how the land is formed. As of 2012, Gloucestershire has 121 of these special sites. About 69 of them are important for their living things (biological interest), 32 for their rocks and land (geological interest), and 20 are special for both!
Gloucestershire's Special Natural Areas
Gloucestershire is home to three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs). These are large areas of beautiful countryside that are protected for their special landscapes. They include the Cotswolds, the Malvern Hills, and the Wye Valley. Sometimes, these AONBs can also contain several SSSIs, or even be an SSSI themselves, like the Malvern Hills.
Wetlands and Wildlife Havens
Gloucestershire also has two special wetland sites called Ramsar sites: the Severn Estuary and Walmore Common. These places are super important for birds and other wildlife, especially water birds. They are also known as Special Protection Areas (SPAs) because they help protect wild birds, following rules from Europe.
There are seven Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) in Gloucestershire. These are even more protected areas that help conserve important habitats and species. Some SACs bring together several SSSIs. Examples include the Cotswold Beechwoods, Dixton Wood, and the River Wye. Other SACs are important for bats, like the Wye Valley and Forest of Dean Bat Sites, and for woodlands, like the Wye Valley Woodlands.
Some SSSIs are also extra special and are called National Nature Reserves (NNRs). In Gloucestershire, Highbury Wood SSSI and parts of the Cotswold Commons and Beechwoods SSSI are NNRs. Lady Park Wood is another NNR that is partly in Gloucestershire.
Many of these SSSIs are also known locally as Key Wildlife Sites or Regionally Important Geological/Geomorphological Sites. These local titles help make sure these important natural spots are looked after. Gloucestershire has around 800 recognised Key Wildlife Sites!
For more lists of SSSIs in different areas, you can check out the List of SSSIs by Area of Search.
List of Special Sites
This table shows some of the Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in Gloucestershire. It tells you if a site is special for its living things (biological interest) or its rocks and land (geological interest), how big it is, where it is on a map, and when it was first made a special site.
Top - 0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
Site name | Reason for designation | Area | Grid reference | Year in which notified | Map | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Biological interest | Geological interest | Hectares | Acres | ||||
Alderton Hill Quarry | ![]() |
0.3 | 0.8 | SP006345 | 1997 | Map | |
Ashleworth Ham | ![]() |
104.7 | 258.8 | SO833263 | 1974 | Map | |
Astridge Wood | ![]() |
5.7 | 14.0 | SO547088 | 1998 | Map | |
Badgeworth | ![]() |
3.1 | 7.6 | SO911206 | 1954 | Map | |
Barnsley Warren | ![]() |
61.3 | 151.0 | SP055064 | 1954 | Map | |
Barton Bushes | ![]() |
5.7 | 14.0 | SP110259 | 1996 | Map | |
Bigsweir Woods | ![]() |
48.2 | 119.0 | SO546060 | 1984 | Map | |
Blaisdon Hall | ![]() |
0.1 | 0.8 | SO698170 | 1995 | Map | |
Bourton Down | ![]() |
11.2 | 27.6 | SP142313 | 1974 | Map | |
Box Farm Meadows | ![]() |
8.3 | 21.0 | ST865997 | 1985 | Map | |
Boxwell | ![]() |
5.3 | 13.2 | ST816928 | 1954 | Map | |
Brassey Reserve And Windrush Valley | ![]() |
2.1 | 5.2 | SP139223 | 1954 | Map | |
Brooks Head Grove | ![]() |
11.9 | 29.4 | SO586145 | 1986 | Map | |
Buckshraft Mine & Bradley Hill Railway Tunnel | ![]() |
5.7 | 14.0 | SO655123 | 1998 | Map | |
Bull Cross, The Frith And Juniper Hill | ![]() |
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42.3 | 104.6 | SO872083 | 1954 | Map |
Bushley Muzzard, Brimpsfield | ![]() |
1.1 | 2.8 | SO944133 | 1984 | Map | |
Caerwood And Ashberry Goose House | ![]() |
0.1 | 0.3 | ST54719655& ST54649657 | 1991 | Map | |
Campden Tunnel Gravel Pit | ![]() |
0.2 | 0.5 | SP161408 | 1988 | Map | |
Chaceley Meadow | ![]() |
1.8 | 4.4 | SO857306 | 1954 | Map | |
Clarke's Pool Meadow | ![]() |
1.8 | 4.4 | SO668061 | 1954 | Map | |
Cleeve Common | ![]() |
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455.0 | 1,124.3 | SO990260 | 1974 | Map |
Coaley Wood Quarries | ![]() |
4.9 | 12.0 | ST786996 | 1974 | Map | |
Cockleford Marsh | ![]() |
3.2 | 8.0 | SO977133 | 1991 | Map | |
Collinpark Wood | ![]() |
66.7 | 164.8 | SO750278 | 1966 | Map | |
Coombe Hill | ![]() |
15.4 | 38.1 | ST765942 | 1994 | Map | |
Coombe Hill Canal | ![]() |
20.2 | 49.8 | SO887272 | 1954 | Map | |
Cotswold Commons And Beechwoods | ![]() |
665.5 | 1,664.4 | SO900130 | 1954 | Map | |
Cotswold Water Park | ![]() |
135.0 | 330.0 | SU0093 – SU2099 | 1994 | Map | |
Crickley Hill And Barrow Wake | ![]() |
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56.8 | 140.3 | SO929161 | 1974 | Map |
Daneway Banks | ![]() |
17.0 | 42.0 | SO937034 | 1954 | Map | |
Dean Hall Coach House & Cellar | ![]() |
0.1 | 0.1 | SO672130 | 1988 | Map | |
Devil's Chapel Scowles | ![]() |
44.8 | 110.9 | SO606045 | 1998 | Map | |
Dingle Wood | ![]() |
10.0 | 24.6 | SO562115 | 1972 | Map | |
Dixton Wood | ![]() |
13.0 | 32.5 | SO979313 | 2000 | Map | |
Dymock Woods | ![]() |
53.0 | 130.0 | SO684288 | 1990 | Map | |
Easter Park Farm Quarry | ![]() |
0.2 | 0.4 | SO810009 | 1986 | Map | |
Edge Common | ![]() |
20.5 | 50.6 | SO847092 | 1974 | Map | |
Edgehills Quarry | ![]() |
0.4 | 1.0 | SO660167 | 1974 | Map | |
Elmlea Meadows | ![]() |
6.9 | 17.1 | SU079948 | 1989 | Map | |
Foss Cross Quarry | ![]() |
0.7 | 1.7 | SP056092 | 1972 | Map | |
Frampton Pools | ![]() |
59.9 | 147.9 | SO753073 | 1974 | Map | |
Garden Cliff | ![]() |
5.1 | 12.6 | SO718128 | 1954 | Map | |
Hampen Railway Cutting | ![]() |
3.9 | 9.6 | SP062205 | 1974 | Map | |
Haresfield Beacon | ![]() |
0.7 | 1.8 | SO819088 | 1985 | Map | |
Harford Railway Cutting | ![]() |
1.2 | 3.0 | SP135218 | 1974 | Map | |
Highbury Wood | ![]() |
50.7 | 123.4 | SO540086 | 1983 | Map | |
Hobb's Quarry, Longhope | ![]() |
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1.0 | 2.5 | SO695195 | 1966 | Map |
Hornsleasow Quarry | ![]() |
3.5 | 9.6 | SP131322 | 1974 | Map | |
Hornsleasow Roughs | ![]() |
28.2 | 69.8 | SP117323 | 1954 | Map | |
Hucclecote Meadows | ![]() |
5.7 | 14.2 | SO872163 | 1984 | Map | |
Huntsman's Quarry | ![]() |
1.6 | 4.0 | SP125259 | 1974 | Map | |
Innsworth Meadow | ![]() |
2.2 | 5.4 | SO851216 | 1979 | Map | |
Jackdaw Quarry | ![]() |
4.8 | 11.8 | SP077309 | 1985 | Map | |
Juniper Hill, Edgeworth | ![]() |
11.3 | 27.8 | SO928058 & SO928064 | 1974 | Map | |
Kemble Railway Cuttings | ![]() |
2.7 | 6.7 | ST975976 & ST985973 & ST982989 | 1996 | Map | |
Kempley Daffodil Meadow | ![]() |
1.2 | 3.0 | SO676301 | 1986 | Map | |
Kingscote And Horsley Woods | ![]() |
43.8 | 108.2 | ST831971 | 1966 | Map | |
Knap House Quarry, Birdlip | ![]() |
1.8 | 4.4 | SO925147 | 1974 | Map | |
Land Grove Quarry, Mitcheldean | ![]() |
3.8 | 9.4 | SO672185 | 1974 | Map | |
Lark Wood | ![]() |
1.1 | 2.8 | SP104262 | 1974 | Map | |
Leckhampton Hill And Charlton Kings Common | ![]() |
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63.8 | 157.7 | SO952187 | 1954 | Map |
Lineover Wood | ![]() |
20.3 | 50.2 | SO987187 | 1986 | Map | |
Longhope Hill | ![]() |
0.2 | 0.5 | SO693185 | 1989 | Map | |
Lower Wye Gorge | ![]() |
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65.0 | 160.0 | ST548983 & ST537967 | 1954 | Map |
Lydney Cliff | ![]() |
8.0 | 19.7 | SO654020 | 1990 | Map | |
May Hill | ![]() |
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32.6 | 80.6 | SO695214 | 1954 | Map |
Meezy Hurst | ![]() |
4.3 | 10.6 | SO638089 | 1986 | Map | |
Minchinhampton Common | ![]() |
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182.7 | 451.4 | SO855010 | 1972 | Map |
Nagshead | ![]() |
120.1 | 316.6 | SO608090 | 1972 | Map | |
New Park Quarry | ![]() |
1.3 | 3.2 | SP175282 | 1987 | Map | |
Nibley Knoll | ![]() |
3.2 | 7.9 | ST744956 | 1974 | Map | |
Notgrove Railway Cutting | ![]() |
1.7 | 4.2 | SP086209 | 1974 | Map | |
Oakenhill Railway Cutting | ![]() |
0.8 | 2.0 | SO630069 | 1985 | Map | |
Old Bow And Old Ham Mines | ![]() |
40.3 | 99.6 | SO579088 | 1998 | Map | |
Old River Severn, Upper Lode | ![]() |
3.7 | 9.2 | SO880331 | 1985 | Map | |
Pennsylvania Fields, Sedbury | ![]() |
27.0 | 66.8 | ST542929 | 1985 | Map | |
Poor's Allotment | ![]() |
28.6 | 70.6 | ST560990 | 1954 | Map | |
Puckham Woods | ![]() |
32.4 | 80.0 | SP010224 | 1954 | Map | |
Puddlebrook Quarry | ![]() |
0.7 | 1.9 | SO646183 | 1986 | Map | |
Purton Passage | ![]() |
4.9 | 12.1 | SO687045 | 1966 | Map | |
Range Farm Fields | ![]() |
12.8 | 31.6 | SO850130 | 1996 | Map | |
River Wye | ![]() |
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England: 1,159.6 Wales: 245.2 Total: 1,404.8 |
England: 2,865.0 Wales: 606.0 Total: 3,471.0 |
ST544912 – SO230429 | 1978 | Map |
Robin's Wood Hill Quarry | ![]() |
1.7 | 4.1 | SO836148 | 1966 | Map | |
Rodborough Common | ![]() |
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116 | 287 | SO851035 | 1954 | Map |
Rough Bank, Miserden | ![]() |
9.2 | 22.7 | SO907087 | 1986 | Map | |
Salmonsbury Meadows | ![]() |
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18.0 | 44.0 | SP178213 | 1985 | Map |
Scully Grove Quarry | ![]() |
0.4 | 1.0 | SO657186 | 1974 | Map | |
Selsley Common | ![]() |
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39.4 | 97.4 | SO829030 | 1966 | Map |
Severn Estuary | ![]() |
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15,950.0 | 39,410.0 | ST480830 | 1976 | Map |
Severn Ham, Tewkesbury | ![]() |
70.8 | 175.0 | SO885325 | 1974 | Map | |
Shorn Cliff And Caswell Woods | ![]() |
69.2 | 171.0 | SO540005 & SO540990 | 1986 | Map | |
Slade Brook | ![]() |
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3.6 | 8.9 | SO564055 | 2003 | Map |
Soudley Ponds | ![]() |
7.0 | 17.4 | SO662112 | 1984 | Map | |
Speech House Oaks | ![]() |
16.3 | 40.2 | SO622123 | 1972 | Map | |
Stenders Quarry | ![]() |
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2.8 | 6.9 | SO659183 | 1966 | Map |
Stinchcombe Hill | ![]() |
28.6 | 70.7 | ST740983 | 1966 | Map | |
Stony Furlong Railway Cutting | ![]() |
2.7 | 6.7 | SP063106 | 1987 | Map | |
Strawberry Banks | ![]() |
5.1 | 12.5 | SO910033 | 1993 | Map | |
Swanpool Wood And Furnace Grove | ![]() |
13.6 | 33.6 | SO541107 | 1984 | Map | |
Swift's Hill | ![]() |
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9.2 | 22.6 | SO877067 | 1966 | Map |
Sylvan House Barn | ![]() |
<0.1 | 0.1 | SO534023 | 1995 | Map | |
The Hudnalls | ![]() |
94.4 | 233.3 | SO533030 & SO540042 & SO545046 | 1972 | Map | |
The Malvern Hills | ![]() |
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732.3 | 1,899.6 | SO766472 – SO758350 | 1954 | Map |
Tudor Farm Bank | ![]() |
3.7 | 9.1 | SO573081 | 1999 | Map | |
Turvey's Piece | ![]() |
1.0 | 2.5 | SO882301 | 1993 | Map | |
Upham Meadow And Summer Leasow | ![]() |
104.0 | 257.0 | SO917375 | 1991 | Map | |
Upper Severn Estuary | ![]() |
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1,436.8 | 3,550.4 | SO720060 | 1954 | Map |
Upper Wye Gorge | ![]() |
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245.1 | 605.7 | SO560155 | 1969 | Map |
Veizey's Quarry | ![]() |
1.4 | 3.5 | ST881944 | 1974 | Map | |
Wainlode Cliff | ![]() |
1.3 | 3.2 | SO845257 | 1954 | Map | |
Walmore Common | ![]() |
57.8 | 142.8 | SO740162 & SO745150 | 1955 | Map | |
Wellacre Quarry | ![]() |
12.3 | 30.4 | SP180370 | 1974 | Map | |
Westbury Brook Ironstone Mine | ![]() |
15.7 | 38.8 | SO662166 | 1998 | Map | |
Whelford Meadow | ![]() |
1.9 | 4.6 | SP168000 | 1985 | Map | |
Wigpool Ironstone Mine | ![]() |
34.9 | 95.0 | SO654197 | 1998 | Map | |
Wildmoorway Meadows | ![]() |
12.6 | 31.1 | SU066973 | 1989 | Map | |
Winson Meadows | ![]() |
7.9 | 19.6 | SP093081 | 1974 | Map | |
Wood Green Quarry & Railway Cutting | ![]() |
0.3 | 0.7 | SO694166 | 1966 | Map | |
Woodchester Park | ![]() |
214.9 | 531.0 | SO820014 | 1966 | Map | |
Wotton Hill | ![]() |
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26.1 | 64.0 | ST753942 | 1954 | Map |
Yarley Meadows | ![]() |
12.2 | 30.2 | ST757888 | 1987 | Map |
Learn More About Nature
If you're interested in learning more about protecting nature and wildlife, check out these groups:
- Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust
- Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust
- Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
- Woodland Trust
- Forestry Commission