List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Dorset explained

This is a list of the Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in the county of Dorset, England, United Kingdom. In England the body responsible for designating SSSIs is Natural England, which chooses a site because of its fauna, flora, geological or physiographical features.[1] Natural England uses Dorset's borders to mark one of its Areas of Search., there are 139 sites designated in this Area of Search.[2] There are 20 sites with a purely geological interest, and 103 listed for biological interest. A further 16 sites are designated for both reasons.

Natural England took over the role of designating and managing SSSIs from English Nature in October 2006 when it was formed from the amalgamation of English Nature, parts of the Countryside Agency and the Rural Development Service. Natural England, like its predecessor, uses the 1974 - 1996 county system[3] and as such the same approach is followed here. The data in the table is taken from Natural England in the form of citation sheets for each SSSI, and the County Background Datasheet for Dorset.[4]

For other counties, see List of SSSIs by Area of Search.

Sites

Site nameReason for designationAreaCoordinates & Grid refYear in which notifiedOther designationsMap & Citation
Biological interestGeological interestHectaresAcres
Abbotsbury Blind Lane0.20.51977AONB, GCR, HC [5]
Abbotsbury Castle34.986.21984AONB, HC [6]
Arne557.61,377.91986AONB, SPA, GCR, NNR, NCR, Ramsar site, SAC [7]
Alder Hills5.2131984[8]
Aunt Mary's Bottom8.220.31991AONB, SAC [9]
River Avon System475.91,176.11996NCR, SAC [10]
Avon Valley (Bickton To Christchurch)1,403.83,468.91993SPA, ESA, WT, NCR, Ramsar site [11]
River Axe, Devon69.5171.81999AONB, GCR, SAC [12]
Babylon Hill1.12.71986GCR [13]
Batcombe Down18.545.71977AONB [14]
Belle Vue Quarry2.66.41952AONB, NT [15]
Bere Stream10.927.01977 [16]
Black Hill Down59.6147.21977AONB, SAC [17]
Black Hill Heath70.5174.31989SPA, Ramsar site, SAC [18]
Blackdown (Hardy Monument)21.854.01989AONB, GCR, NT [19]
Blackmore Vale Commons and Moors299.3739.72012Common land, SAC [20]
Blandford Camp28.770.91994AONB [21]
Blashenwell Farm Pit11.328.01954AONB, GCR [22]
Blue Pool And Norden Heaths112.5278.01985AONB, SPA, Ramsar site, SAC [23]
Boulsbury Wood119.8295.91983 [24]
Bourne Valley72.8180.01995SAM, SPA, LNR, WT, Ramsar site, SAC [25]
Bracket's Coppice And Ryewater Farm53.8132.81984AONB, SAC [26]
Bradford Abbas Railway Cutting1.43.41990GCR [27]
Breach Fields11.428.21991 [28]
Brenscombe Heath34.885.91985AONB, HC, Ramsar site, SAC [29]
Bryanston0.30.71977AONB [30]
Bugden's Copse And Meadows7.618.71990LNR [31]
Burton Bradstock0.10.21986AONB, GCR, HC [32]
Canford Heath413.11,020.71985SAM, SPA, NCR, Ramsar site, SAC [33]
Chalbury Hill And Quarry12.029.61984AONB, GCR [34]
Chesil & The Fleet983.12,429.41986AONB, GCR, NCR, Ramsar site, SAC [35]
Christchurch Harbour352.1870.21986SAM, GCR, LNR, SAC [36]
Conegar Road Cutting0.20.41996AONB [37]
Corfe & Barrow Hills101.6251.11986SPA, Ramsar site, SAC [38]
Corfe Common91.0224.81984AONB, NT, Ramsar site, SAC [39]
Corfe Meadows18.144.81987AONB, HC [40]
Corfe Mullen Pastures11.929.41994Ramsar site, SAC [41]
Corton Cutting0.20.61997AONB, GCR [42]
Court Farm, Sydling83.2205.51987AONB, SAC [43]
Cranborne Common133.3329.41985AONB, SPA, WT, Ramsar site, SAC [44]
Creech Grange<0.10.11986AONB, NCR [45]
Crookhill Brick Pit4.711.62003GCR, HC [46]
Cull-peppers Dish0.82.11989GCR [47]
Drakenorth26.264.81986AONB [48]
East Coppice4.711.71987 [49]
Ebblake Bog11.428.21985SPA, Ramsar site, SAC [50]
Eggardon Hill & Luccas Farm144.4356.71986AONB, NT, NCR [51]
Ferndown Common64.4159.11984SPA, SAC [52]
Fontmell And Melbury Downs263.1650.11987AONB, NT, SAC [53]
Frogden Quarry0.20.51986GCR [54]
River Frome151.5374.21998SAM, AONB, WT, Ramsar site [55]
Frome St Quintin32.780.71991AONB, SAC [56]
Giant Hill84.1207.81985AONB, NT, SAC [57]
Goathill Quarry0.30.71986GCR [58]
Halfway House Quarry0.92.11986GCR [59]
Ham Common32.981.41987SPA, GCR, LNR, MOD, Ramsar site, SAC [60]
Handcocks Bottom54.4134.51988AONB [61]
Hartland Moor301.3744.51986AONB, SPA, NNR, NT, NCR, Ramsar site, SAC [62]
Haydon And Askerswell Downs107.4265.41985AONB, NCR [63]
Highcliffe To Milford Cliffs110.1272.11991GCR [64]
Higher Houghton145.0358.41984SAM, AONB, ESA, NCR [65]
Hod And Hambledon Hills101.4250.51986AONB, NNR, NT, NCR [66]
Hog Cliff85.4211.11985AONB, NNR, SAC [67]
Holnest54.9135.82004SAC [68]
Holt And West Moors Heaths767.01,895.21988SPA, MOD, NCR, Ramsar site, SAC [69]
Holton And Sandford Heaths277.2684.91997SPA, NNR, Ramsar site, SAC, [70]
Holway Hill Quarry0.10.31998 [71]
Horn Park Quarry2.76.61986AONB, GCR, NNR [72]
Horton Common20.149.51984SPA, Ramsar site, SAC [73]
Hurn Common83.4206.11986CP, SPA, WT, MOD, SAC, [74]
Lambert's Castle109.2269.91989AONB [75]
Langford Meadow7.819.21985AONB [76]
Lions Hill43.4107.21985SPA, Ramsar site, SAC [77]
Lodmoor74.9185.11985RSPB [78]
Lorton21.352.71987 [79]
Low's Hill Quarry0.81.91989GCR [80]
Lulworth Park & Lake46.9115.81988AONB [81]
Luscombe Valley58.0143.21996LNR [82]
Lyscombe And Highdon82.9204.91986SAM, AONB, ESA [83]
Mapperton And Poorton Vales85.2210.61992AONB, SAC [84]
Martin And Tidpit Downs367.5908.21987SAM, AONB, NNR, NCR [85]
Melbury Park259.4640.91985AONB, NCR [86]
The Moors157.9390.11985AONB, SPA, HC, Ramsar site, SAC [87]
Moors River System291.9721.31999AONB, CP, WT, NCR [88]
Morcombelake23.056.71991AONB, HC [89]
Morden Bog And Hyde Heath659.91,630.61996SAM, SPA, NNR, NCR, Ramsar site, SAC [90]
Nicodemus Heights7.919.51999SAC [91]
Oakers Bog29.873.71988SPA, GCR, Ramsar site, SAC [92]
Oakers Wood47.2116.51984 [93]
Oakhills Coppice14.435.61990AONB [94]
Parley Common163.9405.11984SPA, NCR, Ramsar site, SAC, [95]
Peashill Quarry0.41.11989AONB, GCR [96]
Pentridge Down62.3154.01996AONB [97]
Piddles Wood73.1180.51985WT [98]
Pitcombe Down13.132.41985AONB [99]
Poole Bay Cliffs12.330.41989GCR [100]
Poole Harbour2,268.95,606.61990AONB, SPA, NT, NCR, Ramsar site, SAC [101]
Isle of Portland352.1869.91987GCR, SAC [102]
Portland Harbour Shore28.169.41987Crown estate, GCR, SAC [103]
Povington And Grange Heaths1,217.13,007.51986AONB, SPA, MOD, NCR, Ramsar site, SAC [104]
Powerstock Common And Wytherston Farm161.7399.51900AONB, WT, SAC, [105]
Poxwell0.41.11998AONB [106]
Purbeck Ridge (East)143.6354.81999AONB, GCR, HC, SAC [107]
Purbeck Ridge (West)144.7357.51986AONB [108]
Purewell Meadows12.931.81985 [109]
Radipole Lake96.0237.11985RSPB [110]
Rempstone Heaths170.0420.01987AONB, SPA, HC, Ramsar site, SAC [111]
Sandford Lane Quarry0.81.91990GCR [112]
Shillingstone Quarry8.220.31995AONB [113]
Slop Bog And Uddens Heath43.9108.51985SPA, Ramsar site, SAC [114]
South Dorset Coast1,591.73,933.11986AONB, CP, GCR, HC, WT, NT, NCR, SAC [115]
St Catherine's Hill, Dorset
St Leonards And St Ives Heaths529.91,309.41999SAM, CP, SPA, WT, MOD, Ramsar site, SAC, [116]
Stoborough & Creech Heaths338.0835.21986AONB, SPA, NNR, Ramsar site, SAC [117]
Stokeford Heaths177.3438.01995SPA, Ramsar site, SAC [118]
Studland and Godlingston Heath NNR757.81,872.61986AONB, SPA, GCR, NNR, NT, NCR, Ramsar site, SAC [119]
Studland Cliffs21.152.21986AONB, GCR, NT, SAC [120]
Sutton Combe16.741.21986AONB [121]
Sutton Meadows5.012.31985AONB, WT [122]
Sydling Valley Downs74.0182.81985AONB, SAC [123]
Thrasher's Heath14.836.61984AONB, HC, Ramsar site, SAC [124]
Toller Porcorum178.5441.01986AONB, SAC [125]
Town Common256.0632.61994SPA, GCR, WT, Ramsar site, SAC [126]
Townsend13.633.61986AONB, WT, SAC [127]
Trill Quarry1.43.51989GCR [128]
Turbary And Kinson Commons36.289.31988SPA, Ramsar site, SAC [129]
Turners Puddle Heath391.0966.21990SPA, Ramsar site, SAC [130]
Upton Heath218.9540.91990SPA, NCR, Ramsar site, SAC [131]
Upwey Quarries And Bincombe Down6.516.01992AONB, GCR [132]
Valley Of Stones80.4198.71996SAM, AONB, GCR, NNR [133]
Verwood Heaths27.868.71985SPA, LNR, Ramsar site, SAC [134]
Wareham Common17.543.31992 [135]
Wareham Meadows210.9521.11987AONB, SPA, HC, Ramsar site, SAC [136]
Warmwell Heath55.4137.01987SPA, Ramsar site, SAC [137]
West Dorset Coast598.51,478.91991AONB, GCR, NT, SAC [138]
Whetley Meadows8.119.91985AONB [139]
White Horse Hill60.0148.31991AONB [140]
Winfrith Heath288.9713.81996SPA, WT, NCR, Ramsar site, SAC [141]
Woolcombe18.144.81986AONB, SAC [142]
Wootton Fitzpaine9.623.81987AONB, HC [143]
Worgret Heath8.320.61987SPA, SAC [144]

Notes

Data rounded to one decimal place.

Grid reference is based on the British national grid reference system, also known as OSGB36, and is the system used by the Ordnance Survey.[145]

Link to maps using the Nature on the Map service provided by English Nature.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Notification of SSSIs . English Nature . 2012-09-06 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120515062100/http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/special/sssi/notification.cfm . 2012-05-15 .
  2. Web site: SSSIs in Dorset. English Nature. 2012-09-01.
  3. Web site: County search of SSSIs . English Nature . 2006-08-05 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100819192309/http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/Special/sssi/search.cfm . 2010-08-19 .
  4. http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/Special/sssi/reportAction.cfm?Report=sdrt07&Category=CF&Reference=1012 Natural England County Background datasheet for Dorset SSSIs
  5. Web site: [{{sssi link|1002308}} Abbotsbury Blind Lane].
  6. Web site: [{{sssi link|1002316}} Abbotsbury Castle].
  7. Web site: [{{sssi link|1000151}} Arne ]. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304034746/http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1000151.pdf . 2016-03-04 .
  8. Web site: 1 August 2020. Alder Hills nature reserve. BCP Council.
  9. Web site: [{{sssi link|1000453}} Aunt Mary's Bottom].
  10. Web site: [{{sssi link|2000183}} River Avon System].
  11. Web site: [{{sssi link|1006622}} Avon Valley (Bickton To Christchurch)].
  12. Web site: [{{sssi link|2000139}} River Axe].
  13. Web site: [{{sssi link|1002345}} Babylon Hill].
  14. Web site: [{{sssi link|1002387}} Batcombe Down].
  15. Web site: [{{sssi link|1002399}} Belle Vue Quarry].
  16. Web site: [{{sssi link|1002430}} Bere Stream].
  17. Web site: [{{sssi link|1003276}} Black Hill Down].
  18. Web site: [{{sssi link|1003753}} Black Hill Heath].
  19. Web site: [{{sssi link|1002464}} Blackdown (Hardy Monument)].
  20. Web site: [{{sssi link|2000702}} Blackmore Vale Commons and Moors ].
  21. Web site: [{{sssi link|1001233}} Blandford Camp].
  22. Web site: [{{sssi link|1002484}} Blashenwell Farm Pit].
  23. Web site: [{{sssi link|1000266}} Blue Pool And Norden Heaths].
  24. Web site: [{{sssi link|1003712}} Boulsbury Wood].
  25. Web site: [{{sssi link|1000277}} Bourne Valley].
  26. Web site: [{{sssi link|1002524}} Bracket's Coppice And Ryewater Farm].
  27. Web site: [{{sssi link|1000957}} Bradford Abbas Railway Cutting].
  28. Web site: [{{sssi link|1003758}} Breach Fields].
  29. Web site: [{{sssi link|1001657}} Brenscombe Heath].
  30. Web site: [{{sssi link|1002561}} Bryanston].
  31. Web site: [{{sssi link|1006027}} Bugden's Copse And Meadows].
  32. Web site: [{{sssi link|1002596}} Burton Bradstock].
  33. Web site: [{{sssi link|1000913}} Canford Heath].
  34. Web site: [{{sssi link|1002621}} Chalbury Hill And Quarry].
  35. Web site: [{{sssi link|1002654}} Chesil & The Fleet].
  36. Web site: [{{sssi link|1002678}} Christchurch Harbour].
  37. Web site: [{{sssi link|2000043}} Conegar Road Cutting].
  38. Web site: [{{sssi link|1001382}} Corfe & Barrow Hills ]. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304030133/http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1001382.pdf . 2016-03-04 .
  39. Web site: [{{sssi link|1003357}} Corfe Common].
  40. Web site: [{{sssi link|1003819}} Corfe Meadows].
  41. Web site: [{{sssi link|1006519}} Corfe Mullen Pastures].
  42. Web site: [{{sssi link|2000235}} Corton Cutting].
  43. Web site: [{{sssi link|1004090}} Court Farm, Sydling].
  44. Web site: [{{sssi link|1003391}} Cranborne Common].
  45. Web site: [{{sssi link|1003518}} Creech Grange].
  46. Web site: [{{sssi link|1003402}} Crookhill Brick Pit].
  47. Web site: [{{sssi link|1001170}} Cull-Peppers Dish].
  48. Web site: [{{sssi link|1000211}} Drakenorth].
  49. Web site: [{{sssi link|1000229}} East Coppice].
  50. Web site: [{{sssi link|1000568}} Ebblake Bog].
  51. Web site: [{{sssi link|1003437}} Eggardon Hill & Luccas Farm].
  52. Web site: [{{sssi link|1001454}} Ferndown Common ]. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303223709/http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1001454.pdf . 2016-03-03 .
  53. Web site: [{{sssi link|1003472}} Fontmell And Melbury Downs].
  54. Web site: [{{sssi link|1003498}} Frogden Quarry].
  55. Web site: [{{sssi link|2000220}} River Frome ]. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304030510/http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/2000220.pdf . 2016-03-04 .
  56. Web site: [{{sssi link|1000252}} Frome St. Quintin].
  57. Web site: [{{sssi link|1003530}} Giant Hill].
  58. Web site: [{{sssi link|1003551}} Goathill Quarry].
  59. Web site: [{{sssi link|1003595}} Halfway House Quarry].
  60. Web site: [{{sssi link|1000273}} Ham Common].
  61. Web site: [{{sssi link|1003640}} Handcocks Bottom].
  62. Web site: [{{sssi link|1002993}} Hartland Moor ]. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303225026/http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1002993.pdf . 2016-03-03 .
  63. Web site: [{{sssi link|1003672}} Haydon And Askerswell Downs].
  64. Web site: [{{sssi link|1000971}} Highcliffe To Milford Cliffs].
  65. Web site: [{{sssi link|1003717}} Higher Houghton].
  66. Web site: [{{sssi link|1003611}} Hod And Hambledon Hills].
  67. Web site: [{{sssi link|1002732}} Hog Cliff].
  68. Web site: [{{sssi link|2000477}} Holnest].
  69. Web site: [{{sssi link|1003738}} Holt And West Moors Heaths].
  70. Web site: [{{sssi link|2000234}} Holton And Sandford Heaths].
  71. Web site: [{{sssi link|2000302}} Holway Hill Quarry].
  72. Web site: [{{sssi link|1003767}} Horn Park Quarry].
  73. Web site: [{{sssi link|1001937}} Horton Common].
  74. Web site: [{{sssi link|2000439}} Hurn Common].
  75. Web site: [{{sssi link|1000318}} Lambert's Castle].
  76. Web site: [{{sssi link|1003775}} Langford Meadow].
  77. Web site: [{{sssi link|1002708}} Lions Hill].
  78. Web site: [{{sssi link|1004374}} Lodmoor].
  79. Web site: [{{sssi link|1003117}} Lorton].
  80. Web site: [{{sssi link|1004387}} Low's Hill Quarry].
  81. Web site: [{{sssi link|1004411}} Lulworth Park & Lake].
  82. Web site: [{{sssi link|2000086}} Luscombe Valley].
  83. Web site: [{{sssi link|1002659}} Lyscombe And Highdon].
  84. Web site: [{{sssi link|1000338}} Mapperton And Poorton Vales].
  85. Web site: [{{sssi link|1001661}} Martin And Tidpit Downs].
  86. Web site: [{{sssi link|1004441}} Melbury Park].
  87. Web site: [{{sssi link|1000240}} The Moors].
  88. Web site: [{{sssi link|1004461}} Moors River System].
  89. Web site: [{{sssi link|1000617}} Morcombelake].
  90. Web site: [{{sssi link|2000103}} Morden Bog And Hyde Heath].
  91. Web site: [{{sssi link|2000366}} Nicodemus Heights].
  92. Web site: [{{sssi link|1000356}} Oakers Bog].
  93. Web site: [{{sssi link|1004517}} Oakers Wood].
  94. Web site: [{{sssi link|1005580}} Oakhills Coppice].
  95. Web site: [{{sssi link|1000013}} Parley Common ]. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140315132442/http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1000013.pdf . 2014-03-15 .
  96. Web site: [{{sssi link|1000065}} Peashill Quarry].
  97. Web site: [{{sssi link|2000071}} Pentridge Down].
  98. Web site: [{{sssi link|1000076}} Piddles Wood ]. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054257/http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1000076.pdf . 2016-03-04 .
  99. Web site: [{{sssi link|1000097}} Pitcombe Down].
  100. Web site: [{{sssi link|1005671}} Poole Bay Cliffs].
  101. Web site: [{{sssi link|1000110}} Poole Harbour].
  102. Web site: [{{sssi link|1000128}} Isle Of Portland].
  103. Web site: [{{sssi link|1002791}} Portland Harbour Shore].
  104. Web site: [{{sssi link|1000166}} Povington And Grange Heaths].
  105. Web site: [{{sssi link|2000470}} Powerstock Common And Wytherston Farm].
  106. Web site: [{{sssi link|2000267}} Poxwell].
  107. Web site: [{{sssi link|1002368}} Purbeck Ridge (East)].
  108. Web site: [{{sssi link|2000303}} Purbeck Ridge (West)].
  109. Web site: [{{sssi link|1004238}} Purewell Meadows].
  110. Web site: [{{sssi link|1000225}} Radipole Lake].
  111. Web site: [{{sssi link|1002313}} Rempstone Heaths].
  112. Web site: [{{sssi link|1000940}} Sandford Lane Quarry].
  113. Web site: [{{sssi link|2000101}} Shillingstone Quarry].
  114. Web site: [{{sssi link|1001099}} Slop Bog And Uddens Heath].
  115. Web site: [{{sssi link|1002501}} South Dorset Coast].
  116. Web site: [{{sssi link|2000305}} St Leonards And St Ives Heaths].
  117. Web site: [{{sssi link|1003232}} Stoborough & Creech Heaths].
  118. Web site: [{{sssi link|2000032}} Stokeford Heaths].
  119. Web site: [{{sssi link|1003268}} Studland & Godlingston Heaths ]. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303191246/http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1003268.pdf . 2016-03-03 .
  120. Web site: [{{sssi link|1000898}} Studland Cliffs].
  121. Web site: [{{sssi link|1001928}} Sutton Combe].
  122. Web site: [{{sssi link|1003995}} Sutton Meadows].
  123. Web site: [{{sssi link|1002572}} Sydling Valley Downs].
  124. Web site: [{{sssi link|1000944}} Thrasher's Heath].
  125. Web site: [{{sssi link|1002804}} Toller Porcorum].
  126. Web site: [{{sssi link|1002693}} Town Common].
  127. Web site: [{{sssi link|1000959}} Townsend].
  128. Web site: [{{sssi link|1000967}} Trill Quarry].
  129. Web site: [{{sssi link|1001949}} Turbary And Kinson Commons].
  130. Web site: [{{sssi link|1002320}} Turners Puddle Heath].
  131. Web site: [{{sssi link|1001003}} Upton Heath].
  132. Web site: [{{sssi link|1001021}} Upwey Quarries And Bincombe Down].
  133. Web site: [{{sssi link|1001018}} Valley Of Stones].
  134. Web site: [{{sssi link|1001978}} Verwood Heaths].
  135. Web site: [{{sssi link|1005800}} Wareham Common].
  136. Web site: [{{sssi link|1002338}} Wareham Meadows].
  137. Web site: [{{sssi link|1002352}} Warmwell Heath].
  138. Web site: [{{sssi link|1001055}} West Dorset Coast].
  139. Web site: [{{sssi link|1004255}} Whetley Meadows].
  140. Web site: [{{sssi link|1000217}} White Horse Hill].
  141. Web site: [{{sssi link|1001067}} Winfrith Heath].
  142. Web site: [{{sssi link|1000954}} Woolcombe].
  143. Web site: [{{sssi link|1002372}} Wootton Fitzpaine].
  144. Web site: [{{sssi link|1003084}} Worgret Heath].
  145. Web site: Guide to National Grid . . 2009-10-11 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071027134518/http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/getamap/help.html#gridref . 2007-10-27 .

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