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

A view of the Cheddar Gorge, designated as an SSSI for both its biological and its geological interest.

Welcome to the amazing world of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in Somerset! These are special places in Somerset, England, United Kingdom, that are protected because they have unique plants, animals, rocks, or land features. Think of them as nature's treasures!

The job of finding and protecting these sites belongs to an organization called Natural England. They look for places that are important for their fauna (animals), flora (plants), geological (rock formations), or physical features like rivers and coasts.

In Somerset, there are 127 of these special sites. Most of them (83) are protected because of their amazing wildlife, like rare plants or animals. Some (35) are important for their rocks and how the land was formed. And a few (9) are special for both their wildlife and their geology!

Natural England took over this important work in 2006. They use the old county maps from 1974 to decide where these sites are. So, some places you might think are in Somerset could actually be on the list for a nearby area called Avon. All the information about these sites comes from official records.

What are Sites of Special Scientific Interest?

A Site of Special Scientific Interest, or SSSI (pronounced "S-S-S-I"), is a special area that is protected by law. This protection helps to make sure that the important wildlife or geological features in these areas are kept safe for the future. It's like giving a special badge to a place that needs extra care.

Why are SSSIs important?

SSSIs are super important for many reasons:

Protecting Wildlife: They provide safe homes for rare and endangered plants and animals.
Studying Nature: Scientists can learn a lot about how nature works by studying these undisturbed areas.
Understanding Earth's History: Geological SSSIs show us how the Earth has changed over millions of years.
Enjoying Nature: Many SSSIs are places where people can visit and enjoy the beauty of nature, like walking or birdwatching.

Who looks after SSSIs?

Natural England is the main group in England that looks after SSSIs. They work with landowners and other organizations to make sure these sites are managed properly. This might involve making sure certain plants are not removed or that habitats for animals are kept healthy.

Some Amazing SSSIs in Somerset

Somerset is full of incredible SSSIs. Here are just a few examples from the long list:

Cheddar Complex

Cheddar Complex is a huge and famous SSSI. It's special for both its wildlife and its amazing geology. You might know it for the famous Cheddar Gorge, with its towering cliffs and deep caves. It's a great place to see how ancient rocks were formed and to find unique cave-dwelling creatures.

Exmoor Coastal Heaths

The Exmoor Coastal Heaths are found along the coast of Exmoor. This SSSI is important for its unique plants and animals that thrive in the windy, open spaces near the sea. It's a beautiful area with wide-open views and special types of heather and grasses.

Bridgwater Bay

Bridgwater Bay is a very large SSSI, covering over 3,500 hectares! It's mainly protected for its incredible wildlife, especially birds. It's a vital spot for many different types of birds that come to feed and rest, especially during their long migrations.

Wookey Hole Caves

The Wookey Hole Caves are another SSSI that's special for both its wildlife and geology. These famous caves are home to unique cave formations and creatures that have adapted to living in the dark, damp environment. They show us how water can carve out incredible shapes in rock over time.

List of Special Sites in Somerset

Here is a list of some of the Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Somerset. The table shows if a site is special for its plants and animals (Biological interest), its rocks and land (Geological interest), or both! It also shows how big the site is and when it was first protected.

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
Site name	Biological interest	Geological interest	Hectares	Acres	Grid reference	Year in which notified	Map
Aller and Beer Woods	Y		56.9	140.6	ST404305	1952	Map
Aller Hill	Y		18.4	45.4	ST408291	1988	Map
Asham Wood	Y		141.6	347.5	ST705460	1963	Map
Axbridge Hill and Fry's Hill	Y		67.1	160.1	ST433555	1990	Map
Babcary Meadows	Y		13.6	31.6	ST567293	1988	Map
River Barle	Y		104.2	257.5	SS723423	1997	Map
Barle Valley	Y		622.9	1,539.2	SS850349	1954	Map
Barrington Hill Meadows	Y		16.1	39.5	ST300170	1987	Map
Ben Knowle		Y	1.5	3.6	ST513450	1984	Map
Berrow Dunes	Y		200.0	494.3	ST293520	1952	Map
Black Down and Sampford Commons	Y		155.2	383.5	ST118161	1952	Map
Blue Anchor to Lilstock Coast		Y	742.8	1,835.5	ST033435	1971	Map
Brean Down	Y	Y	65.1	169.7	ST290590	1952	Map
Bridgwater Bay	Y		3,574.1	8,831.6	ST290480	1989	Map
Briggins Moor	Y		15.3	37.8	SS893250	1994	Map
Brimble Pit and Cross Swallet Basins		Y	154.3	381.3	ST512505	1987	Map
Bruton Railway Cutting		Y	1.7	4.3	ST688348	1971	Map
Catcott Edington and Chilton Moors	Y		1,083.0	2,676.0	ST390420	1967	Map
Chancellor's Farm	Y		34.2	84.6	ST525525	1984	Map
Cheddar Complex	Y	Y	441.3	1,090.5	ST465538	1952	Map
Cheddar Reservoir	Y		105.4	260.6	ST441537	1972	Map
Cheddar Wood	Y		86.9	214.7	ST445552	1967	Map
Cleeve Hill	Y		15.1	37.4	ST056428	1989	Map
Cloford Quarry		Y	38.9	98.6	ST718444	1994	Map
Cogley Wood	Y		60.7	150.1	ST703345	1987	Map
Cook's Wood Quarry		Y	1.8	4.4	ST669479	1988	Map
Crook Peak to Shute Shelve Hill	Y	Y	332.2	820.9	ST385555	1952	Map
Curry and Hay Moors	Y		472.8	1,168.1	ST323273	1992	Map
Deadman	Y		28.8	71.2	ST234156	1987	Map
Doulting Railway Cutting		Y	2.8	6.9	ST645424	1971	Map
Draycott Sleights	Y		62.0	153.0	ST483518	1987	Map
Dunster Park and Heathlands	Y		466.6	1,153.0	SS955441	2000	Map
East Polden Grasslands	Y		124.0	306.4	ST474325	1999	Map
Ebbor Gorge	Y		41.0	156.8	ST525485	1952	Map
Edford Woods and Meadows	Y		54.3	134.1	ST665485	1957	Map
Emborough Quarries		Y	1.0	2.5	ST623505	1971	Map
Exmoor Coastal Heaths	Y		1,758.3	4,344.7	SS620480	1994	Map
Fivehead Arable Fields	Y		10.3	25.4	ST337224	1990	Map
Fivehead Woods and Meadow	Y		62.4	154.2	ST331231	1989	Map
Freshmoor	Y		11.2	27.7	ST280125	1989	Map
Friar's Oven	Y		4.0	9.9	ST592431	1989	Map
Ge-mare Farm Fields	Y		4.1	10.3	ST155424	1988	Map
Glenthorne		Y	13.3	32.8	SS794499	1989	Map
Godminster Lane Quarry and Railway Cutting		Y	0.8	1.9	ST682345	1971	Map
Great Breach and Copley Woods	Y		64.8	160.0	ST500320	1972	Map
Greylake		Y	9.3	22.9	ST384336	1987	Map
Grove Farm	Y		36.5	90.2	ST513096	1989	Map
Ham Hill		Y	11.1	27.6	ST482162	1971	Map
Hardington Moor	Y		8.7	21.6	ST515130	1994	Map
Hestercombe House	Y		<0.1	0.2	ST242287	2000	Map
Hobbs Quarry		Y	0.5	0.1	ST622446	1984	Map
Holme Moor & Clean Moor	Y		10.8	26.7	ST095260	1987	Map
Holwell Quarries		Y	1.3	3.2	ST726450	1952	Map
Hurcott Farm		Y	26.3	65.0	ST511295	1993	Map
Hurcott Lane Cutting		Y	0.5	1.2	ST398163	1997	Map
King's Sedgemoor	Y		822.0	2,031.2	ST400330	1985	Map
Kingdown and Middledown	Y		5.7	14.1	ST480532	1991	Map
Kingweston Meadows	Y		11.5	28.4	ST540304	1990	Map
Lamb Leer		Y	14.6	36.0	ST544550	1983	Map
Lang's Farm	Y		7.5	18.5	ST170241	1990	Map
Langford Heathfield	Y		95.4	235.7	ST100235	1966	Map
Langmead and Weston Level	Y		168.8	417.1	ST353330	1991	Map
Langport Railway Cutting		Y	0.5	1.3	ST427272	1992	Map
Laycock Railway Cutting		Y	1.3	3.1	ST678213	1993	Map
Leighton Road Cutting		Y	0.6	1.4	ST702437	1984	Map
Long Dole Wood and Meadows	Y		9.8	24.3	ST610562	1997	Map
Long Lye	Y		11.7	29.0	ST265122	1988	Map
Long Lye Meadow	Y		3.3	8.2	ST267119	2002	Map
Longleat Woods	Y		249.9	617.4	ST795435	1972	Map
Low Ham		Y	5.0	12.5	ST440290	1988	Map
Maes Down		Y	0.2	0.4	ST647406	1985	Map
Maesbury Railway Cutting		Y	2.0	5.0	ST606475	1995	Map
Miller's Hill, Milborne Wick		Y	0.6	1.4	ST663205	1985	Map
Millwater	Y		1.4	3.5	ST439100	1989	Map
Moon's Hill Quarry		Y	3.4	8.5	ST665460	1996	Map
Moorlinch	Y		226.0	558.4	ST390360	1985	Map
Nettlecombe Park	Y		90.4	223.4	ST055375	1990	Map
North Brewham Meadows	Y		8.9	21.9	ST743379	1987	Map
North Curry Meadow	Y		1.3	3.1	ST330253	1989	Map
North Exmoor	Y		12,005.3	29,665.0	SS800430	1954	Map
North Moor	Y		676.3	1,671.1	ST325305	1986	Map
Old Ironstone Works, Mells	Y		0.3	0.6	ST738488	1987	Map
The Perch	Y		72.1	178.2	ST480532	1990	Map
Porlock Ridge and Saltmarsh	Y	Y	186.3	460.4	SS880479	1990	Map
Postlebury Wood	Y		87.0	215.0	ST740430	1987	Map
Priddy Caves		Y	67.1	167.0	ST540505	1965	Map
Priddy Pools	Y	Y	52.7	130.2	ST545510	1972	Map
Prior's Park & Adcombe Wood	Y		103.6	256.0	ST225170	1952	Map
Quantocks	Y		2,506.9	6,194.5	ST140390	1970	Map
Quants	Y		50.6	126.0	ST185175	1988	Map
Ringdown	Y		4.0	9.9	ST178155	1990	Map
Rodney Stoke	Y	Y	69.6	172.0	ST492507	1957	Map
Roebuck Meadows	Y		3.6	8.9	ST132354	1988	Map
Ruttersleigh	Y		97.0	239.7	ST250165	1991	Map
Sandpit Hole and Bishop's Lot		Y	0.7	1.8	ST531498	1987	Map
Seavington St. Mary		Y	0.3	0.7	ST400144	1971	Map
Severn Estuary	Y		15,950.0	39,410.0	ST480830	1976	Map
Shapwick Heath	Y		394.0	973.6	ST430403	1967	Map
Sharpham Moor Plot	Y		0.5	1.3	ST465389	1967	Map
Shepton Montague Railway Cutting		Y	1.6	4.0	ST686316	1992	Map
Snowdon Hill Quarry		Y	0.6	1.6	ST312089	1963	Map
South Exmoor	Y		3,132.7	7,742.3	SS880340	1992	Map
Southey and Gotleigh Moors	Y		81.3	200.1	ST192110	1988	Map
Southlake Moor	Y		196.1	484.6	ST370300	1985	Map
Sparkford Wood	Y		8.4	20.7	ST613275	1954	Map
St. Dunstan's Well Catchment	Y	Y	39.8	98.3	ST668475	1967	Map
Stowell Meadow	Y		2.8	6.9	ST333062	1987	Map
Street Heath	Y		12.5	31.0	ST464394	1966	Map
Tealham and Tadham Moors	Y		917.6	2,267.3	ST420450	1985	Map
Thrupe Lane Swallet		Y	0.5	1.2	ST603458	1992	Map
Thurlbear Wood and Quarrylands	Y		26.7	65.8	ST270210	1963	Map
Twinhills Woods and Meadows	Y		21.2	52.4	ST558432	1990	Map
Vallis Vale	Y	Y	23.9	59.1	ST755490	1952	Map
Viaduct Quarry		Y	0.3	0.8	ST621443	1984	Map
Walton and Ivythorn Hills	Y		34.9	86.1	ST475346	1953	Map
West Moor	Y		213.0	526.3	ST420220	1985	Map
West Sedgemoor	Y		1,016.0	2,510.0	ST361258	1983	Map
Westhay Heath	Y		25.9	64.0	ST415422	1990	Map
Westhay Moor	Y		513.7	1,269.3	ST455445	1971	Map
Wet Moor	Y		491.0	1,214.0	ST448244	1985	Map
Whitevine Meadows	Y		13.0	32.0	ST505085	1979	Map
Windsor Hill Marsh	Y		0.8	2.0	ST619454	1972	Map
Windsor Hill Quarry		Y	0.8	1.9	ST615451	1986	Map
Wookey Hole Caves	Y	Y	39.4	97.4	ST535485	1952	Map
Wookey Station		Y	<0.1	0.1	ST531464	1997	Map
Woolhayes Farm	Y		13.2	32.5	ST315109	1992	Map
Wurt Pit and Devil's Punchbowl		Y	0.2	0.5	ST543537	1987	Map

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List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Somerset Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.