List of the largest Sites of Special Scientific Interest in England
This is a list of the largest Sites of Special Scientific Interest in England in decreasing order of size. A lower threshold of 100 hectares or one square kilometre has been used.
Sites more than 10,000 hectares in size
Site name | Area of Search | Reason for designation | Area[ a] | Grid reference | Year in which notified | Map[B] | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Biological interest | Geological interest | Hectares | Acres | |||||
The Wash | Norfolk / Lincolnshire | ![]() |
63,135.0 | 156,010.0 | TF550400 | 1972 | ||
North York Moors | North Yorkshire / Cleveland | ![]() |
44,087.7 | 108,943.1 | NZ680000 | 1998 | ||
Humber Estuary | East Riding of Yorkshire / Lincolnshire | ![]() |
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37,000.6 | 91,430.5 | TA216184 | 2004 | |
Dark Peak | Derbyshire / Greater Manchester / South Yorkshire / West Yorkshire | ![]() |
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31,852.9 | 78,710.2 | SK110960 | 1951 | |
Morecambe Bay | Cumbria / Lancashire | ![]() |
30,287.5 | 74,842.0 | SD360700 | 1975 | ||
Upper Solway Flats and Marshes | Cumbria / ? | ![]() |
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29,950.5 | 74,009.3 | NY160610 | 1988 | |
The New Forest | Hampshire / Wiltshire | ![]() |
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28,947.4 | 71,530.6 | SU298081 | 1959 | Map |
South Pennine Moors | West Yorkshire / Great Manchester / Lancashire / North Yorkshire | ![]() |
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20,938.1 | 51,739.2 | SD920300 | 1994 | |
Salisbury Plain | Wiltshire / Hampshire | ![]() |
19,689.9 | 48,654.8 | SU070500 | 1975 | Map | |
Breckland Forest | Norfolk / Suffolk | ![]() |
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18,078.7 | 44,673.4 | TL819839 | 2000 | |
Severn Estuary | Avon / Somerset + others | ![]() |
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15,950.0 | 39,413.3 | ST480830 | 1976 | |
Upper Teesdale | County Durham | ![]() |
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14,035.6 | 34,682.7 | NY830320 | 1951 | |
Moorhouse and Cross Fell | Cumbria / County Durham | ![]() |
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13,707.0 | 33,870.7 | NY715365 | 1990 | |
Dee Estuary | Cheshire / Clwyd | ![]() |
13,679.7 | 33,803.3 | SJ220800 | 1954 | ||
Breckland Farmland | Norfolk / Suffolk | ![]() |
13,335.7 | 32,953.2 | TL762783 | 2000 | ||
North Dartmoor | Devon | ![]() |
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13,413.2 | 33,144.7 | SX580850 | 1952 | |
North Exmoor | Devon / Somerset | ![]() |
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12,005.3 | 29,665.7 | SS800430 | 1954 |
Sites more than 4000 hectares in size
Site name | Area of Search | Reason for designation | Area[ a] | Grid reference | Year in which notified | Map[B] | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Biological interest | Geological interest | Hectares | Acres | |||||
South Dartmoor | Devon | ![]() |
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9,668.2 | 23,890.6 | SX630690 | 1952 | |
Hexhamshire Moors | County Durham / Northumberland | ![]() |
9,433.9 | 23,311.7 | NY870530 | 1998 | Map | |
Kielderhead and Emblehope Moors | Northumberland | ![]() |
8,254.4 | 20,397.1 | NT700000 | 1971 | ||
Eastern Peak District Moors | South Yorkshire / ? | ![]() |
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8,094.4 | 20,001.7 | SK270770 | 1955 | Map |
Bollihope, Pikestone, Eggleston and Woodland Fells | County Durham | ![]() |
7,949.2 | 19,642.9 | NZ005300 | 1996 | Map | |
North Norfolk Coast | Norfolk | ![]() |
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7,700.0 | 19,027.1 | TG020440 | 1954 | |
Duddon Estuary | Cumbria | ![]() |
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6,806.3 | 16,818.7 | SD151753 | 1990 (amalgamated 5) | Map |
Mersey Estuary | Cheshire / Merseyside | ![]() |
6,702.1 | 16,561.2 | SJ440800 | 1951 | ||
The Swale | Kent | ![]() |
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6,568.4 | 16,230.9 | TR000670 | 1968 | |
Blackwater Estuary | Essex | ![]() |
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5,738.0 | 14,178.9 | TL940070 | 1955 | |
South Thames Estuary and Marshes | Kent | ![]() |
5,449.1 | 13,465.0 | TQ770785 | 1951 | ||
Bodmin Moor, North | Cornwall | ![]() |
4,957.0 | 12,249.0 | SX160810 | 1951 | ||
Kielder Mires | Cumbria / Northumberland | ![]() |
4,818.0 | 11,905.5 | NY670800 | 1995 | ||
Bowes Moor | County Durham | ![]() |
4,457.7 | 11,015.2 | NY923104 | 1989 | Map | |
Poole Harbour | Dorset | ![]() |
4,049.0 | 10,005.3 | SZ000890 | 1964 |
Sites more than 2000 hectares in size
Site name | Area of Search | Reason for designation | Area[ a] | Grid reference | Year in which notified | Map[B] | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Biological interest | Geological interest | Hectares | Acres | |||||
Chichester Harbour | Hampshire / West Sussex | ![]() |
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3,695.0 | 9,130.5 | SU760000 | 1970 | |
Bridgwater Bay | Somerset | ![]() |
3,574.1 | 8,831.8 | ST290480 | 1989 | ||
Dungeness | East Sussex / Kent | ![]() |
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3,241.7 | 8,010.4 | TR050180 | 1951 | |
Ashdown Forest | East Sussex | ![]() |
3,144.6 | 7,770.5 | TQ450300 | 1953 | ||
South Exmoor | Devon / Somerset | ![]() |
3,132.7 | 7,741.1 | SS880340 | 1992 | ||
Long Mynd | Shropshire | ![]() |
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2,637.6 | 6,517.7 | SO420950 | 1953 | |
Alde-Ore Estuary | Suffolk | ![]() |
2,554.3 | 6,311.8 | TM394757 | 1952 | ||
The Quantocks | Somerset | ![]() |
2,506.9 | 6,194.7 | ST140390 | 1970 | Map | |
Ouse Washes | Cambridgeshire / Norfolk | ![]() |
2,403.0 | 5,937.9 | TL482867 | 1955 | ||
Exe Estuary | Devon | ![]() |
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2,186.6 | 5,403.2 | SX980845 | 1952 | |
East Dartmoor | Devon | ![]() |
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2,088.1 | 5,159.8 | SX695815 | 1976 | |
Langstone Harbour | Hampshire | ![]() |
2,069.4 | 5,113.6 | SU700030 | 1958 |
Sites more than 1500 hectares in size
Site name | Area of Search | Reason for designation | Area[ a] | Grid reference | Year in which notified | Map[B] | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Biological interest | Geological interest | Hectares | Acres | |||||
Thorne Crowle and Goole Moors | East Riding / South Yorkshire | ![]() |
1,918.6 | 4,741.0 | SE730160 | 1970 | ||
Windsor Forest and Great Park | Berkshire / Surrey | ![]() |
1,771.2 | 4,376.7 | SU970685 | 1973 | ||
Exmoor Coastal Heaths | Somerset | ![]() |
1,758.3 | 4,344.9 | SS620480 | 1994 | Map | |
Wyre Forest | Shropshire / Hereford & Worcester | ![]() |
1,753.7 | 4,333.5 | SS750760 | 1955 | ||
Epping Forest | Essex / Greater London | ![]() |
1,728.0 | 4,270.0 | TL475035 | 1953 | ||
Porton Down | Wiltshire | ![]() |
1,561.8 | 3,859.3 | SU240365 | 1977 | Map | |
Rutland Water | Leicestershire | ![]() |
1,540.1 | 3,805.7 | SK928070 | 1981 |
Sites more than 1000 hectares in size
Site name | Area of Search | Reason for designation | Area[ a] | Grid reference | Year in which notified | Map[B] | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Biological interest | Geological interest | Hectares | Acres | |||||
Upper Severn Estuary | Gloucestershire | ![]() |
1,436.8 | 3,550.4 | SO720060 | 1954 | Map | |
Tamar - Tavy Estuary | Cornwall / Devon | ![]() |
1,422.3 | 3,514.6 | SX474650 | 1991 | ||
Hatfield Moors | South Yorkshire | ![]() |
1,400.7 | 3,461.2 | SE705060 | 1954 | ||
Avon Valley (Bickton to Christchurch) | Dorset / Hampshire | ![]() |
1,383.7 | 3,419.2 | TU147123 | 1974 | ||
Braunton Burrows | Devon | ![]() |
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1,356.7 | 3,352.5 | SS430350 | 1952 | |
Taw-Torridge Estuary | Devon | ![]() |
1,336.5 | 3,302.6 | SS470310 | 1981 | ||
Nene Washes | Cambridgeshire | ![]() |
1,310.0 | 3,237.1 | TL200977 | 1959 | ||
Portsmouth Harbour | Hampshire | ![]() |
1,266.1 | 3,128.6 | SU620035 | 1974 | ||
East Devon Pebblebed Heaths | Devon | ![]() |
1,111.9 | 2,747.6 | SY050880 | 1952 | ||
Catcott, Edington and Chilton Moors | Somerset | ![]() |
1,083.0 | 2,676.2 | ST390420 | 1967 | Map | |
West Sedgemoor | Somerset | ![]() |
1,016.0 | 2,510.6 | ST361258 | 1983 | Map | |
Haldon Forest | Devon | ![]() |
1,013.2 | 2,503.7 | SX886838 | 1992 | Map |
Sites more than 750 hectares in size
Site name | Area of Search | Reason for designation | Area[ a] | Grid reference | Year in which notified | Map[B] | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Biological interest | Geological interest | Hectares | Acres | |||||
Chesil and the Fleet | Dorset | ![]() |
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990.4 | 2,447.3 | SY496885 | 1952 | |
Fenn's, Whixall, Bettisfield, Wem and Cadney Mosses | Shropshire / Wales | ![]() |
948.4 | 2,343.5 | SJ490365 | 1953 | ||
Tealham and Tadham Moors | Somerset | ![]() |
917.6 | 2,267.4 | ST420450 | 1985 | Map | |
Savernake Forest | Wiltshire | ![]() |
904.7 | 2,235.6 | SU215665 | 1971 | Map | |
King's Sedgemoor | Somerset | ![]() |
822.0 | 2,031.2 | ST400330 | 1985 | ||
Grafham Water | Cambridgeshire | ![]() |
811.9 | 2,006.2 | TL150680 | 1986 | ||
Durham Coast | Cleveland / Durham | ![]() |
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765.4 | 1,891.3 | NZ400500 | 1960 | |
Rye Harbour | East Sussex | ![]() |
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761.1 | 1,880.7 | TQ935180 | 1953 | Map |
Studland and Godlingston Heath | Dorset | ![]() |
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758.9 | 1,875.3 | SZ030845 | 1954 |
Sites more than 500 hectares in size
Site name | Area of Search | Reason for designation | Area[ a] | Grid reference | Year in which notified | Map[B] | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Biological interest | Geological interest | Hectares | Acres | |||||
Blue Anchor to Lilstock Coast | Somerset | ![]() |
742.8 | 1,835.5 | ST033435 | 1971 | ||
Abberton Reservoir | Essex | ![]() |
716.3 | 1,770.0 | TL970180 | 1955 | ||
Lynher Estuary | Cornwall | ![]() |
687.3 | 1,698.4 | SX375565 | 1951 | ||
North Moor | Somerset | ![]() |
676.3 | 1,671.2 | ST325305 | 1986 | ||
Cotswold Commons And Beechwoods | Gloucestershire | ![]() |
665.5 | 1,644.5 | SP900130 | 1954 | Map | |
Bentley Wood | Wiltshire / Hampshire | ![]() |
665.0 | 1,643.3 | SU250295 | 1985 | Map | |
Barle Valley | Somerset | ![]() |
622.9 | 1,539.2 | SS850349 | 1954 | ||
Pagham Harbour | West Sussex | ![]() |
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615.9 | 1,521.9 | SZ875970 | 1954 | |
Upper Fal estuary and woodlands | Cornwall | ![]() |
603.5 | 1,491.3 | SW850410 | 1968 | ||
Chew Valley Lake | Avon | ![]() |
565.2 | 1,396.6 | ST570600 | 1971 | ||
Arne | Dorset | ![]() |
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563.4 | 1,392.2 | ST966880 | 1986 | |
Westhay Moor | Somerset | ![]() |
513.7 | 1,269.4 | ST455445 | 1971 | Map | |
Breydon Water | Norfolk | ![]() |
506.5 | 1,251.6 | TG500075 | 1987 | Map |
Sites more than 400 hectares in size
Site name | Area of Search | Reason for designation | Area[ a] | Grid reference | Year in which notified | Map[B] | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Biological interest | Geological interest | Hectares | Acres | |||||
Wet Moor | Somerset | ![]() |
491.0 | 1,213.3 | ST448244 | 1985 | Map | |
Curry and Hay Moors | Somerset | ![]() |
472.8 | 1,168.3 | ST323273 | 1992 | Map | |
Dunster Park and Heathlands | Somerset | ![]() |
466.6 | 1,153.0 | SS955441 | 2000 | Map | |
Cranborne Chase | Dorset / Wiltshire | ![]() |
451.4 | 1,115.4 | ST970180 | 1975 | Map | |
Cheddar Complex | Somerset | ![]() |
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441.3 | 1,090.5 | ST465538 | 1952 | Map |
Blithfield Reservoir | Staffordshire | ![]() |
435.6 | 1,076.4 | SK057242 | 1968 | ||
Winterton to Horsey Dunes | Norfolk | ![]() |
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427.2 | 1,055.6 | ST490210 | 1954 | |
Wytham Woods | Oxfordshire | ![]() |
426.5 | 1,053.9 | SP462083 | 1950 |
Sites more than 300 hectares in size
Site name | Area of Search | Reason for designation | Area[ a] | Grid reference | Year in which notified | Map[B] | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Biological interest | Geological interest | Hectares | Acres | |||||
Bratton Downs | Wiltshire | ![]() |
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395.8 | 978.0 | ST925522 | 1971 | Map |
Shapwick Heath | Somerset | ![]() |
394.0 | 973.6 | ST430403 | 1967 | Map | |
South Gare and Coatham Sands | Cleveland | ![]() |
381.2 | 942.0 | NZ582263 | 1971 | ||
Isle of Portland | Dorset | ![]() |
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369.3 | 912.6 | SY690722 | 1952 | |
Christchurch Harbour | Dorset | ![]() |
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353.2 | 872.8 | SZ175915 | 1964 | |
Lundy | Devon | ![]() |
345.0 | 852.5 | SS135460 | 1976 | ||
Axmouth to Lyme Regis Undercliffs | Devon / ? | ![]() |
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334.6 | 826.8 | SY300900 | 1952 | |
Crook Peak to Shute Shelve Hill | Somerset | ![]() |
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332.2 | 820.9 | ST385555 | 1952 | Map |
Fyfield Down | Wiltshire | ![]() |
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325.3 | 803.8 | SU136709 | 1951 | Map |
Seaton Dunes And Common | Cleveland | ![]() |
312.1 | 771.2 | NZ535285 | 1966 | ||
Pewsey Downs | Wiltshire | ![]() |
305.3 | 754.4 | SU113636 | 1951 | Map |
Sites more than 250 hectares in size
Site name | Area of Search | Reason for designation | Area[ a] | Grid reference | Year in which notified | Map[B] | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Biological interest | Geological interest | Hectares | Acres | |||||
Church Wood, Blean | Kent | ![]() |
297.1 | 734.2 | TR109603 | 1951 | ||
Seal Sands | Cleveland | ![]() |
294.4 | 727.5 | NZ529260 | 1966 | ||
Lower Woods | Avon | ![]() |
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280.1 | 692.1 | ST743876 | 1966 | |
Greenham and Crookham Commons | Berkshire | ![]() |
278.6 | 688.4 | SU490645 & SU523643 | 1985 | ||
Lower Fal & Helford Intertidal | Cornwall | ![]() |
277.7 | 686.2 | SW860334 | 1997 | ||
Tees and Hartlepool Foreshore and Wetlands | Cleveland | ![]() |
255.6 | 631.6 | NZ516348 & NZ505224 | 1997 | ||
Skipwith Common | North Yorkshire | ![]() |
274 | 677.1 | SE668362 | 1958 | ||
Slapton Ley | Devon | ![]() |
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254.7 | 629.4 | SX826440 | 2004 |
Sites more than 200 hectares in size
Site name | Area of Search | Reason for designation | Area[ a] | Grid reference | Year in which notified | Map[B] | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Biological interest | Geological interest | Hectares | Acres | |||||
Longleat Woods | Somerset | ![]() |
249.9 | 617.5 | ST795435 | 1972 | Map | |
Mottisfont Bats | Hampshire | ![]() |
231.0 | 570.8 | SU314281 | 2003 | ||
Moorlinch | Somerset | ![]() |
226.0 | 558.5 | ST390360 | 1985 | Map | |
West Moor | Somerset | ![]() |
213.0 | 526.3 | ST420220 | 1985 | Map | |
Otmoor | Oxfordshire | ![]() |
211.6 | 522.9 | SP575130 | 1952 | ||
Blagdon Lake | Avon | ![]() |
212.7 | 525.6 | ST515597 | 1971 | ||
Ashton Court | Avon | ![]() |
210.3 | 519.7 | ST553723 | 1998 |
Sites more than 150 hectares in size
Site name | Area of Search | Reason for designation | Area[ a] | Grid reference | Year in which notified | Map[B] | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Biological interest | Geological interest | Hectares | Acres | |||||
Berrow Dunes | Somerset | ![]() |
200.0 | 494.2 | ST293520 | 1952 | ||
Southlake Moor | Somerset | ![]() |
196.1 | 484.6 | ST370300 | 1985 | Map | |
Brimsdown Hill | Wiltshire | ![]() |
193.7 | 478.6 | SU831385 | 1951 | Map | |
Porlock Ridge and Saltmarsh | Somerset | ![]() |
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186.3 | 460.4 | SS880479 | 1990 | Map |
Langmead and Weston Level | Somerset | ![]() |
168.8 | 417.1 | ST353330 | 1991 | ||
Gordano Valley | Avon | ![]() |
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161.7 | 399.6 | ST435730 | 1971 | |
East Blean Woods | Kent | ![]() |
156.8 | 387.5 | TR189640 | 1981 | ||
St. Catherine's Valley | Avon | ![]() |
156.1 | 385.7 | ST760725 | 1997 | ||
Avon Gorge | Avon | ![]() |
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155.4 | 384.0 | ST560743 | 1952 | |
Black Down and Sampford Commons | Somerset | ![]() |
155.2 | 383.5 | ST118161 | 1952 | ||
Brimble Pit and Cross Swallet Basins | Somerset | ![]() |
154.3 | 381.3 | ST512505 | 1987 |
Sites more than 100 hectares in size
Site name | Area of Search | Reason for designation | Area[ a] | Grid reference | Year in which notified | Map[B] | ||
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Biological interest | Geological interest | Hectares | Acres | |||||
Attenborough Nature Reserve | Nottinghamshire | ![]() |
226.6 | 559.9 | SK514338 | 1982 | Map | |
Asham Wood | Somerset | ![]() |
141.6 | 349.9 | ST705460 | 1963 | ||
Burrington Combe | Avon / North Somerset | ![]() |
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139.1 | 343.7 | ST478583 | 1952 | |
Wenlock Edge | Shropshire | ![]() |
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136.8 | 338.0 | SO606995 | 1954 | |
Tickenham, Nailsea and Kenn Moors | Avon | ![]() |
129.4 | 319.8 | ST440700 | 1995 | ||
Bowerchalke Downs | Wiltshire | ![]() |
128.6 | 317.8 | SU004218 | 1971 | Map | |
Calstone And Cherhill Downs | Wiltshire | ![]() |
128.6 | 317.8 | SU047692 | 1971 | Map | |
King's Wood and Urchin Wood | Avon | ![]() |
128.1 | 316.5 | ST454645 | 1990 | ||
East Polden Grasslands | Somerset | ![]() |
124.0 | 306.4 | ST474325 | 1999 | Map | |
Upper Fowey Valley | Cornwall | ![]() |
124.0 | 306.4 | SX215730 | 1989 | ||
Potteric Carr | South Yorkshire | ![]() |
119.6 | 295.5 | SE599003 | 1977 | ||
Cowpen Marsh | Cleveland | ![]() |
116.8 | 288.6 | NZ500529 | 1966 | ||
River Kennet | Berkshire / Wiltshire | ![]() |
112.7 | 278.5 | SU203692 | 1995 | Map | |
Cheddar Reservoir | Somerset | ![]() |
105.4 | 260.4 | ST441537 | 1972 | Map | |
River Barle | Somerset | ![]() |
104.2 | 257.5 | SS723423 | 1997 | Map | |
Dozmary Pool | Cornwall | ![]() |
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104.2 | 257.5 | SX195745 | 1986 | |
Prior's Park & Adcombe Wood | Somerset | ![]() |
103.6 | 256.0 | ST225170 | 1952 | Map |
Notes
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