List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Somerset

This is a list of the Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in Somerset, 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] There are 127 sites designated in this Area of Search, of which 83 have been designated due to their biological interest, 35 due to their geological interest, and 9 for both.[2]

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

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, therefore some sites you may expect to find in this list could be in the Avon list. The data in the table is taken from English Nature in the form of citation sheets for each SSSI.[4]

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

Sites

Contents: 

• A
• B
• C
• D
• E
• F
• G
• H
• K
• L
• M
• N
• O
• P
• Q
• R
• S
• T
• V
• W
• X
• Y
• Z

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

Notes

^A Data rounded to one decimal place.

^B Grid reference is based on the British national grid reference system, also known as OSGB36, and is the system used by the Ordnance Survey.[5]

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

^D Size smaller than can be shown with one decimal place. Actual size: 0.08 ha.[4]

^E The Severn Estuary SSSI overlaps with the following SSSIs:[4]

• Avon: Spring Cove Cliffs, Middle Hope, Portishead Pier to Black Nore and Aust Cliff.
• Gloucestershire: Purton Passage
• South Glamorgan: Penarth Coast

^F Incorporates two former SSSIs: Severn Estuary (notified 1976) and part of Brean Down and Uphill Cliff (notified 1952). It was unified as Severn Estuary in 1989.[4]

^G Size smaller than can be shown with one decimal place. Actual size: 0.04 ha. (0.1 ac.).[4]

^H The Long Dole Wood and Meadows site extends into Bath and North East Somerset and so can be found on the list of SSSIs in Avon.[4]

References

1. "Notification of SSSIs". English Nature. Archived from the original on 2012-05-15. Retrieved 2006-08-01.
2. "SSSIs in Somerset". English Nature. Archived from the original on 2012-10-24. Retrieved 2006-08-05.
3. "County search of SSSIs". English Nature. Archived from the original on 2010-08-19. Retrieved 2006-08-05.
4. English Nature citation sheets for each SSSI (PDF files). Retrieved on 2006-08-05.
   • "Aller and Beer Woods" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Aller Hill" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Asham Woods" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Axbridge Hill and Fry's Hill" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Babcary Meadows" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Barle Valley" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-03-03.
   • "Barrington Hill Meadows" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Ben Knowle" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Berrow Dunes" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Black Down and Sampford Commons" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-03-04.
   • "Blue Anchor to Lilstock Coast" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Brean Down" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Bridgwater Bay" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Briggins Moor" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Brimble Pit and Cross Swallet Basins" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Bruton Railway Cutting" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Catcott Edington And Chilton Moors" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Chancellor's Farm" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "The Cheddar Complex" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Cheddar Reservoir" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-03-04.
   • "Cheddar Wood" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Cleeve Hill" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Cloford Quarry" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Cogley Wood" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Cook's Wood Quarry" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Crook Peak to Shute Shelve Hill" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Curry and Hay Moors" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Deadman" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Doulting Railway Cutting" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Draycott Sleights" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Dunster Park and Heathlands" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "East Polden Grasslands" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Ebbor Gorge" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Edford Woods and Meadows" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Emborough Quarries" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Exmoor Coastal Heaths" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-03-04.
   • "Fivehead Arable Fields" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Fivehead Woods and Meadow" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Freshmoor" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Friar's Oven" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Ge-mare Farm Fields" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Glenthorne" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04.
   • "Godminster Lane Quarry and Railway Cutting" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Great Breach and Copley Woods" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Greylake" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Grove Farm" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Ham Hill" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Hardington Moor" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Hestercombe House" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Hobbs Quarry" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Holme Moor & Clean Moor" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Holwell Quarries" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Hurcott Farm" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Hurcott Lane Cutting" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "King's Sedgemoor" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Kingdown and Middledown" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Kingweston Meadows" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Lamb Leer" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Lang's Farm" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Langford Heathfield" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Langmead and Weston Level" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Langport Railway Cutting" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Laycock Railway Cutting" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Leighton Road Cutting" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Long Lye" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Long Lye Meadow" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Longleat Woods" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Low Ham" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Maes Down" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Maesbury Railway Cutting" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Miller's Hill, Milborne Wick" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Millwater" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Moon's Hill Quarry" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Moorlinch" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Nettlecombe Park" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "North Brewham Meadows" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "North Curry Meadow" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "North Exmoor" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "North Moor" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Old Ironstone Works, Mells" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "The Perch" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Porlock Ridge and Saltmarsh" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Postlebury Wood" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Priddy Caves" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Priddy Pools" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Prior's Park & Adcombe Wood" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Quantocks" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Quants" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Ringdown" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "River Barle" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Rodney Stoke" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Roebuck Meadows" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Ruttersleigh" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Sandpit Hole and Bishop's Lot" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Seavington St. Mary" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Severn Estuary" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Shapwick Heath" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-10-24.
   • "Sharpham Moor Plot" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Shepton Montague Railway Cutting" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Snowdon Hill Quarry" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "South Exmoor" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-03-03.
   • "Southey and Gotleigh Moors" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-03-04.
   • "Southlake Moor" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Sparkford Wood" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "St. Dunstan's Well Catchment" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Stowell Meadow" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Street Heath" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Tealham and Tadham Moors" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Thrupe Lane Swallet" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Thurlbear Wood and Quarrylands" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Twinhills Woods and Meadows" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Vallis Vale" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2011-07-07.
   • "Viaduct Quarry" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Walton and Ivythorn Hills" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "West Moor" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "West Sedgemoor" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Westhay Heath" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Westhay Moor" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Wet Moor" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Whitevine Meadows" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Windsor Hill Marsh" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Windsor Hill Quarry" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Wookey Hole Caves" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Wookey Station" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Woolhayes Farm" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
   • "Wurt Pit And Devil's Punchbowl" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-24.
5. "Guide to National Grid". Ordnance Survey. Archived from the original on 2006-07-20. Retrieved 2006-08-07.