List of biodiversity conservation sites in the United Kingdom explained

This article provides a list of sites in the United Kingdom which are recognised for their importance to biodiversity conservation. The list is divided geographically by region and county.

Contents
England
Southwest • Southeast • Midlands • East Anglia • Northwest • Northeast 
Wales
Scotland
See also

Inclusion criteria

Sites are included in this list if they are given any of the following designations:

Sites of importance in a global context

Sites of importance in a European context

Sites of importance in a national context

England

Southwest

Cornwall

Site name(s)Type of site Nature conservation interestDesignation(s)
Sites on the Penwith Peninsula
Aire Point to Carrick Du SSSICoastal cliffs and heathlandMaritime and heathland plant communities; nationally rare & scarce plants and invertebratesNCR, SSSI
Chyenhal MoorSSSI
Leswidden Block WorksFormer china clay workingsPopulations of western rustwort, Marsupella profunda, an internationally rare liverwortSSSI
Lower Bostraze China Clay WorksFormer china clay workingsPopulations of western rustwort, Marsupella profunda, an internationally rare liverwortSSSI
Porthgwarra to Pordenack PointSSSI
Treen CliffSSSI
The Lizard
West Lizard SSSIHeathlandNationally rare & scarce plants & invertebratesSSSI
Other sites
Bodmin MoorUpland moorlandMoorland birds, dragonflies & butterfliesIBA
Carrack GladdenCoastal headlandPlant communities, nationally scarce plantsSSSI
Gwithian to Mexico TowansSSSI
Godrevy Head to St AgnesSSSI
The Hayle EstuarySSSI
Lymsworthy MeadowsSSSI
Marazion MarshSSSI
Meddon MoorSSSI
Porth Kidney SandsSSSI
Tamar Estuary complexEstuaryEstuary birdsIBA

Devon

See also: List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Devon.

Site name(s)Type of site Nature conservation interestDesignation(s)
The Exe Estuary
Dawlish WarrenVegetated sand spit and estuaryEstuary birds, nationally rare plantsNNR, SSSI
Sites in east Devon
Aylesbeare CommonHeathlandHeathland birds, dragonfliesSSSI
Bolshayne FenValley fenFenland plant communities SSSI
Sites in south Devon
Berry HeadCoastal headlandSeabird colony, nationally rare plantsSSSI
South Milton LeyFreshwater reedbedReedbed birdsSSSI
Sites in north Devon
Bursdon MoorSSSI
Bradworthy CommonSSSI
Kismeldon MeadowsSSSI
Deptford Farm PasturesSSSI
Braunton BurrowsSand dune systemComplete successional range, nationally rare plants and animalsSSSI, BR, NNR (part), SAC

Dorset

Site name(s)Type of site Nature conservation interestDesignation(s)
Poole HarbourNatural harbour (the second largest in the world, after Sydney harbour)Wintering shorebirds, wintering wildfowlIBA
Brownsea IslandIsland, including a lagoonRed squirrel; breeding, wintering and migrant birdsIBA, SSSI

Somerset

Site name(s)Type of site Nature conservation interestDesignation(s)
Mendip Hills
Priddy MineriesHeathland & poolFlora, invertebratesSSSI
Other sites
Cheddar ReservoirArtificial reservoirWintering waterfowlSSSI
Bridgwater BayEstuaryEstuary birdsSSSI
Brean DownLimestone headlandGrassland plant communities; rare invertebratesSSSI
Grove FarmSSSI
MillwaterSSSI
Whitevine MeadowsSSSI
Windsor Hill MarshMarshy fieldLocally notable plant speciesSSSI

Avon

Site name(s)Type of site Nature conservation interestDesignation(s)
Ashton CourtDeer parkSaproxylic invertebratesSSSI
Avon Gorge (Leigh Woods)Limestone gorge and semi-natural broad-leaved woodlandPlant communities, insect communitiesNNR, SAC, SSSI
Banwell CavesCavesGreater horseshoe bat roost siteSSSI
Biddle Street, YattonSSSI
Bishop's Hill WoodSSSI
Blagdon LakeArtificial reservoirSSSI
Bodkin Hazel WoodSSSI
Brockley Hall StablesFormer stable blockGreater horseshoe bat breeding siteSSSI
Burledge Sidelands and MeadowsUnimproved grasslandSSSI
Burrington CombeLimestone gorgeSSSI
Chew Valley LakeArtificial reservoirWildfowlSPA, SSSI
Cleeve Wood, HanhamSemi-natural broad-leaved woodlandNationally scarce plantSSSI
Combe Down and Bathampton Down MinesStone minesGreater horseshoe bat roostsSSSI
Compton Martin Ochre MineStone mineGreater horseshoe bat roostSSSI
Congrove Field and The TumpsUnimproved grasslandSSSI
Ellenborough ParkDune grassland, managed as parklandDune grassland plant communities including two Red Data Book species, branched horsetail and smooth rupturewortSSSI
Folly Farm, Bishop SuttonMeadow and woodlandGrassland plant communities, invertebrate communitiesSSSI
Gordano valleyPeatlandPlant communities, invertebrate communitiesNNR, SSSI
Harptree CombeWooded combePlant communities, invertebrate communities, the rare Appleyard's feather-mossSSSI
Horseshoe Bend, ShirehamptonWooded cliff and saltmarsh stripPlant communities, including the nationally rare True Service-treeSSSI
Iford ManorCountry houseGreater horseshoe bat breeding siteSSSI
St Catherine's ValleyGrasslandGrassland plant communities; locally scarce plantsSSSI
Uphill CliffSSSI
Yanal BogLowland mirePlant communitiesSSSI

Wiltshire

Site name(s)Type of site Nature conservation interestDesignation(s)
Baverstock Juniper BankChalk grassland and scrubLarge population of juniperSSSI
Bentley WoodExtensive area of semi-natural broadleaved woodlandInsect communitiesSSSI
Box MineAbandoned stone minesRoost site for bats, including greater horseshoeSSSI
Calstone and Cherhill DownsExtensive area of calcareous grasslandOne of a small number of British sites for the wart-biterSSSI
Chilmark QuarriesQuarries with a cave systemWinter roost for Bechstein's bat and other bat speciesSSSI
Fonthill GrottoesSubterranean folliesWinter roost for up to nine bat speciesSSSI

Gloucestershire

Site name(s)Type of site Nature conservation interestDesignation(s)
Forest of DeanExtensive area of semi-natural broadleaved woodlandPlant communities, woodland birds, insect communities
Dean Hall Coach House and StablesCountry houseGreater horseshoe bat breeding roostSSSI

Southeast

Bedfordshire

Site name(s)Type of site Nature conservation interestDesignation(s)
Barton HillsLowland grasslandGrassland plant communitiesNNR
King's Wood, Heath and ReachWoodlandWoodland plant communitiesNNR
Knocking HoeGrasslandGrassland plant communitiesNNR

Buckinghamshire

Site name(s)Type of site Nature conservation interestDesignation(s)
Windsor Hill SSSIBeech woodland, scrub and chalk grasslandPlant communitiesNCR, SSSI

Hampshire

Site name(s)Type of site Nature conservation interestDesignation(s)
Upper Greensand HangarsSemi-natural broadleaved woodlandPlant communities and geology SSSI

Kent

Site name(s)Type of site Nature conservation interestDesignation(s)
Burham DownCalcareous woodland and grasslandSSSI
Burham MarshSSSI
East Blean WoodsHeath fritillarySSSI, SAC, NNR
Hothfield CommonHeathLNR, SSSI
Lydden Temple EwellCalcareous grasslandEarly spider orchid, burnt orchid, silver-spotted skipper, Adonis blueSSSI, SAC, NNR
Marden MeadowNeutral grasslandGreen-winged orchidPart SSSI
Oare MarshesSSSI, Ramsar Site, LNR, SPA, ESA
Park Gate DownCalcareous grasslandLady orchid, late spider orchid, monkey orchid and musk orchid, SSSI, SAC
Queendown WarrenCalcareous grasslandEarly spider orchid and lady orchidSSSI, SAC, LNR
Romney Marsh Visitor CentreSSSI, LNR
Sandwich and Pegwell BayCoastal grassland and dunesLizard orchidSSSI, Ramsar Site, SPA, cSAC, NNR
Sevenoaks Wildlife ReserveSSSI
South SwaleSSSI, Ramsar Site, LNR, SPA, ESA
West BleanHeath fritillarySSSI
Westfield WoodCalcareous woodlandSAC, SSSI
Yockletts BankCalcareous woodlandLady orchidSSSI

Surrey

Site name(s)Type of site Nature conservation interestDesignation(s)
Bookham CommonsWoodland, grassland and scrubLocally notable plants, rare moths, breeding bird communitiesSSSI

Sussex

Rye Harbour Nature Reserve

Midlands

Shropshire

Site name(s)Type of site Nature conservation interestDesignation(s)
Catherton CommonUncultivated heathlandNationally scarce bird, insect and plant speciesSSSI

Worcestershire

Site name(s)Type of site Nature conservation interestDesignation(s)
Christopher Cadbury Wetland ReserveWetland (freshwater & saline pools)Many species of birds, including avocet, curlew, ringed plover and bittern[1] SSSI
Semi-natural woodlandWildlife including hawfinch, dipper, common crossbill, pied flycatcher, long-eared owl and adder.NNR, SSSI

Northwest

Cheshire

Site name(s)Type of site Nature conservation interestDesignation(s)
Sandbach FlashesWetland (partially saline, even though inland)Aquatic plant & invertebrate communities; woodland lichen flora; wintering wildfowl and wadersSSSI

Northeast

Lincolnshire

Site name(s)Type of site Nature conservation interestDesignation(s)
Potter Hanworth WoodSmall-leaved lime woodlandPlant & animal communitiesSSSI

Yorkshire

Site name(s)Type of site Nature conservation interestDesignation(s)
Grass Wood, WharfedaleWoodland with areas of limestone grasslandPlant communitySSSI

County Durham

Site name(s)Type of site Nature conservation interestDesignation(s)
Bishop Middleham QuarryDisused quarryMagnesian limestone grassland plant communitiesSSSI

Wales

Anglesey

Site name(s)Type of site Nature conservation interestDesignation(s)
Holy Island seabird cliffs
South StackCoastal cliffSeabird colonySPA
Anglesey tern colonies
The SkerriesOffshore isletsSeabird colonyIBA, SPA, SSSI
Cemlyn Bay and lagoonCoastal lagoonTern colonyIBA, SPA, SSSI
Ynys FeurigOffshore isletsTern colonyIBA, SPA, SSSI
Other sites
Fedw FawrCoastal cliffSeabird colonySSSI

Scotland

Northeast Scotland

Site name(s)Type of site Nature conservation interestDesignation(s)
Fowlsheugh, KincardineshireCliffSeabird colonySPA, SSSI

Shetland

Site name(s)Type of site Nature conservation interestDesignation(s)
HermanessCliffSeabird colonyNNR
Unst

Outer Hebrides

Lewis and Harris
  • North Uist, South Uist and Benbecula
  • Other islands

    Site name(s)Type of site Nature conservation interestDesignation(s)
    St KildaIsland groupSeabird colony (largest in Britain), endemic subspecies of wren and wood mouseIBA, NNR, WHS
    North RonaIslandSeabird colonyIBA, NNR
    Sula SgeirIslandSeabird colonyIBA, NNR
    Flannan IslesIsland groupSeabird colonyIBA
    Shiant IslesIslandSeabird colony, passage & wintering geeseIBA
    Monach IslandsIsland groupBreeding seabirds, passage & wintering geeseIBA

    See also

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: The Christopher Cadbury wetland reserve at Upton Warren: The Flashes – a summary of the Management Plan. wildlifetrusts.org. 30 March 2023. July 2014.