List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in South Yorkshire facts for kids

South Yorkshire shown within the UK.

South Yorkshire is a special place in the United Kingdom! It's home to many amazing natural spots. These places are called Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). They are protected because they have important plants, animals, rocks, or land features.

As of 2009, there are 35 SSSIs in South Yorkshire. Most of these sites are special because of their plants and animals (18 sites). Others are important for their unique rocks and land (14 sites). Three sites are special for both!

The job of finding and protecting these sites in England belongs to an organization called Natural England. They look for places with rare animals, interesting plants, or unique geology (the study of rocks and Earth's structure). Natural England was created in 2006.

South Yorkshire's Landscape

South Yorkshire has a very interesting and varied landscape. It changes a lot as you travel from west to east.

Western Moors and Valleys

The far west of South Yorkshire is part of the Dark Peak area. This area is also part of the Peak District National Park. It's west of Sheffield and is famous for its wide, open moorlands. These are huge areas of wild land with low-growing plants. You'll find broad, flat areas called plateaus with rocky outcrops and deep valleys. It's one of the largest natural areas in England!

Central Coalfields and Woodlands

As you move east, the land gets lower. This area changes from the wild Peak District to land rich in coal. Many towns and cities, like Sheffield, have grown up here.

North of Sheffield, the land is shaped by the coal found deep underground. Here, you can find very old woodlands, wet areas in valleys, and large fields used for farming. These areas are often found where there isn't much city development.

Eastern Limestone and Farmland

Further east, between Sheffield and Doncaster, there's a strip of land made of Magnesian Limestone. This area has open spaces, ancient woodlands, and grasslands that grow on limestone. You might even see old limestone buildings or monuments.

However, the soil here is light and dry, which is perfect for growing crops. Because of this, much of the original natural habitat has been replaced by farms.

Humberhead Levels and Rivers

In the very east of South Yorkshire, you'll find the Humberhead Levels. This area is very flat and has many rivers. It's mostly covered with small fields or areas of peatland. Peatland is a type of wetland where dead plants build up over thousands of years, forming a thick, dark soil called peat.

Special Protected Sites

Here is a list of the Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in South Yorkshire. Each site is protected for its unique biological (plants and animals) or geological (rocks and land) features.

Site name	Reason for designation		Area		Grid reference	Year in which notified	Map
	Biological interest	Geological interest	Hectares	Acres
Anston Stones Wood	Y		33.7	88.3	SK531831	1955	Map
Ashfield Brick Pits		Y	0.6	1.4	SK515981	1955	Map
Bilham Sand Pits		Y	0.2	0.1	SE487066	1987	Map
Bradgate Brickworks		Y	0.9	2.2	SK413935	1988	Map
Cadeby Quarry		Y	97.0	240.0	SE522003	1977	Map
Canyards Hills	Y	Y	64.1	158.4	SK250950	1990	Map
Carlton Main Brickworks		Y	15.5	38.4	SE412081	1989	Map
Dark Peak	Y	Y	31,852.9	78,708.4	SK110960	1951	Map
Denaby Ings	Y		24.5	60.6	SE500009	1977	Map
Eastern Peak District Moors	Y	Y	8,094.4	20,001.6	SK270770	1955	Map
Edlington Wood	Y		99.7	246.7	SK549980	1979	Map
Hatfield Moors	Y		1,400.7	3,461.1	SE705060	1954	Map
Lindrick Golf Course	Y		22.0	54.4	SK543825, SK545828, SK553827	1987	Map
Little Don Stream Section		Y	1.1	2.6	SE222004	1977	Map
Maltby Low Common	Y		6.0	14.8	SK545913	1970	Map
Neepsend Brickworks		Y	4.3	10.6	SK350891	1988	Map
Neepsend Railway Cutting		Y	1.4	3.5	SK344894	1988	Map
New Edlington Brickpit		Y	0.2	0.4	SK531988	1989	Map
Owston Hay Meadows	Y		5.5	13.5	SE554114	1979	Map
Potteric Carr	Y		118.6	293.0	SE599003	1977	Map
Pye Flatts Meadows	Y		2.2	5.4	SE274052	1990	Map
River Idle Washlands	Y		88.6	219.0	SK662936, SK685937, SK706945, SK720963	1972	Map
Roche Abbey Woodlands	Y		52.8	143.8	SK542899	1979	Map
Sandall Beat	Y		63.9	157.9	SE613037	1984	Map
Shirley Pool	Y		15.5	38.4	SE568121	1955	Map
Spring Meadows, Alderman's Head & Cow Croft Meadows	Y		16.8	41.6	SE229005	2005	Map
Sprotbrough Gorge	Y		76.9	190.1	SE534007	1988	Map
Stairfoot Brickworks		Y	0.1	0.1	SE381048	1999	Map
Stannington Ruffs		Y	2.4	5.9	SK306891	1988	Map
Thorne Crowle and Goole Moors	Y		1,918.6	4,740.9	SE730160	1970	Map
Totley Wood	Y		14.7	36.4	SK325815	1954	Map
Wadsley Fossil Forest		Y	0.3	0.7	SK318913	1990	Map
Went Ings Meadows	Y		6.4	15.8	SE650183, SE654184	1981	Map
Wharncliffe Crags		Y	14.5	35.8	SK298974	1988	Map
Wood Lee Common		Y	6.4	15.8	SK533915	1958	Map

See also

• List of SSSIs by Area of Search.