This is a list of the Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in Gloucestershire . Natural England , the designating body for SSSIs in England , uses the 1974-1996 county system , and this list follows the same approach. Some sites you may expect to find here could therefore be in the Avon list.[1] It may also be that a site may on the borders of more than one county.[2] It may also be on the country borders.[3]
Cleeve Common is designated a biological and geological site
Natural England chooses a site because of its fauna , flora , geological or physiographical features.[4] As of 2012, there are 121 sites designated in this Area of Search , of which 69 have been designated due to their biological interest, 32 due to their geological interest, and 20 for both.[5]
Gloucestershire has 3 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty being the Cotswolds , Malvern Hills , and the Wye Valley (the latter is also partly in Wales). These areas may include several SSSIs, or be named an SSSI as is the case for the Malvern Hills.[6]
Gloucestershire has 2 designated Ramsar sites being the Severn Estuary and Walmore Common both SSSIs.[7] These two sites are also designated as Special Protection Areas (SPA) under the EC Directive on the conservation of Wild Birds.[8]
Gloucestershire has 7 recognised Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), several of which bring together more than one SSSI. These are: Cotswold Beechwoods ; Dixton Wood ; River Wye/ Afon Gwy ; Rodborough Common ; Severn Estuary ; Wye Valley and Forest of Dean Bat Sites/ Safleoedd Ystlumod Dyffryn Gwy a Fforest y Ddena; Wye Valley Woodlands/ Coetiroedd Dyffryn Gwy.[9]
Highbury Wood SSSI[10] and the Cotswold Commons and Beechwoods SSSI[11] are national nature reserves (NNR). Lady Park Wood (part of the wood is in Gloucestershire and part in Monmouthshire) is a national nature reserve.[12]
A significant number of the SSSIs are recognised by the relevant local authorities as Key Wildlife Sites and Regionally Important Geological/Geomorphological Sites . There are c. 800 recognised Key Wildlife Sites in Gloucestershire.[13]
For other counties, see List of SSSIs by Area of Search .
More information Site name, Reason for designation ...
Site name
Reason for designation
Area[A]
Grid reference[B]
Year in which notified
Map[C]
Biological interest
Geological interest
Hectares
Acres
Alderton Hill Quarry
Y
0.3
0.8
SP006345
1997
Map
Ashleworth Ham
Y
104.7
258.8
SO833263
1974
Map
Astridge Wood
Y
5.7
14.0
SO547088
1998
Map
Badgeworth
Y
3.1
7.6
SO911206
1954
Map
Barnsley Warren
Y
61.3
151.0
SP055064
1954
Map
Barton Bushes
Y
5.7
14.0
SP110259
1996
Map
Bigsweir Woods
Y
48.2
119.0
SO546060
1984
Map
Blaisdon Hall
Y
0.1
0.8
SO698170
1995
Map
Bourton Down
Y
11.2
27.6
SP142313
1974
Map
Box Farm Meadows
Y
8.3
21.0
ST865997
1985
Map
Boxwell
Y
5.3
13.2
ST816928
1954
Map
Brassey Reserve And Windrush Valley
Y
2.1
5.2
SP139223
1954
Map
Brooks Head Grove
Y
11.9
29.4
SO586145
1986
Map
Buckshraft Mine & Bradley Hill Railway Tunnel
Y
5.7
14.0
SO655123
1998
Map
Bull Cross, The Frith And Juniper Hill
Y
Y
42.3
104.6
SO872083
1954
Map
Bushley Muzzard, Brimpsfield
Y
1.1
2.8
SO944133
1984
Map
Caerwood And Ashberry Goose House
Y
0.1
0.3
ST54719655 & ST54649657
1991
Map
Campden Tunnel Gravel Pit
Y
0.2
0.5
SP161408
1988
Map
Chaceley Meadow
Y
1.8
4.4
SO857306
1954
Map
Clarke's Pool Meadow
Y
1.8
4.4
SO668061
1954
Map
Cleeve Common
Y
Y
455.0
1,124.3
SO990260
1974
Map
Coaley Wood Quarries
Y
4.9
12.0
ST786996
1974
Map
Cockleford Marsh
Y
3.2
8.0
SO977133
1991
Map
Collinpark Wood
Y
66.7
164.8
SO750278
1966
Map
Coombe Hill
Y
15.4
38.1
ST765942
1994
Map
Coombe Hill Canal
Y
20.2
49.8
SO887272
1954
Map
Cotswold Commons And Beechwoods
Y
665.5
1,664.4
SO900130
1954
Map
Cotswold Water Park
Y
135.0
330.0
SU0093 – SU2099
1994
Map
Crickley Hill And Barrow Wake
Y
Y
56.8
140.3
SO929161
1974
Map
Daneway Banks
Y
17.0
42.0
SO937034
1954
Map
Dean Hall Coach House & Cellar
Y
0.1
0.1
SO672130
1988
Map
Devil's Chapel Scowles
Y
44.8
110.9
SO606045
1998
Map
Dingle Wood
Y
10.0
24.6
SO562115
1972
Map
Dixton Wood
Y
13.0
32.5
SO979313
2000
Map
Dymock Woods
Y
53.0
130.0
SO684288
1990
Map
Easter Park Farm Quarry
Y
0.2
0.4
SO810009
1986
Map
Edge Common
Y
20.5
50.6
SO847092
1974
Map
Edgehills Quarry
Y
0.4
1.0
SO660167
1974
Map
Elmlea Meadows
Y
6.9
17.1
SU079948
1989
Map
Foss Cross Quarry
Y
0.7
1.7
SP056092
1972
Map
Frampton Pools
Y
59.9
147.9
SO753073
1974
Map
Garden Cliff
Y
5.1
12.6
SO718128
1954
Map
Hampen Railway Cutting
Y
3.9
9.6
SP062205
1974
Map
Haresfield Beacon
Y
0.7
1.8
SO819088
1985
Map
Harford Railway Cutting
Y
1.2
3.0
SP135218
1974
Map
Highbury Wood
Y
50.7
123.4
SO540086
1983
Map
Hobb's Quarry, Longhope
Y
Y
1.0
2.5
SO695195
1966
Map
Hornsleasow Quarry
Y
3.5
9.6
SP131322
1974
Map
Hornsleasow Roughs
Y
28.2
69.8
SP117323
1954
Map
Hucclecote Meadows
Y
5.7
14.2
SO872163
1984
Map
Huntsman's Quarry
Y
1.6
4.0
SP125259
1974
Map
Innsworth Meadow
Y
2.2
5.4
SO851216
1979
Map
Jackdaw Quarry
Y
4.8
11.8
SP077309
1985
Map
Juniper Hill, Edgeworth
Y
11.3
27.8
SO928058 & SO928064
1974
Map
Kemble Railway Cuttings
Y
2.7
6.7
ST975976 & ST985973 & ST982989
1996
Map
Kempley Daffodil Meadow
Y
1.2
3.0
SO676301
1986
Map
Kingscote And Horsley Woods
Y
43.8
108.2
ST831971
1966
Map
Knap House Quarry, Birdlip
Y
1.8
4.4
SO925147
1974
Map
Land Grove Quarry, Mitcheldean
Y
3.8
9.4
SO672185
1974
Map
Lark Wood
Y
1.1
2.8
SP104262
1974
Map
Leckhampton Hill And Charlton Kings Common
Y
Y
63.8
157.7
SO952187
1954
Map
Lineover Wood
Y
20.3
50.2
SO987187
1986
Map
Longhope Hill
Y
0.2
0.5
SO693185
1989
Map
Lower Wye Gorge
Y
Y
65.0
160.0
ST548983 & ST537967
1954
Map
Lydney Cliff
Y
8.0
19.7
SO654020
1990
Map
May Hill
Y
Y
32.6
80.6
SO695214
1954
Map
Meezy Hurst
Y
4.3
10.6
SO638089
1986
Map
Minchinhampton Common
Y
Y
182.7
451.4
SO855010
1972
Map
Nagshead
Y
120.1
316.6
SO608090
1972
Map
New Park Quarry
Y
1.3
3.2
SP175282
1987
Map
Nibley Knoll
Y
3.2
7.9
ST744956
1974
Map
Notgrove Railway Cutting
Y
1.7
4.2
SP086209
1974
Map
Oakenhill Railway Cutting
Y
0.8
2.0
SO630069
1985
Map
Old Bow And Old Ham Mines
Y
40.3
99.6
SO579088
1998
Map
Old River Severn, Upper Lode
Y
3.7
9.2
SO880331
1985
Map
Pennsylvania Fields, Sedbury
Y
27.0
66.8
ST542929
1985
Map
Poor's Allotment
Y
28.6
70.6
ST560990
1954
Map
Puckham Woods
Y
32.4
80.0
SP010224
1954
Map
Puddlebrook Quarry
Y
0.7
1.9
SO646183
1986
Map
Purton Passage
Y
4.9
12.1
SO687045
1966
Map
Range Farm Fields
Y
12.8
31.6
SO850130
1996
Map
River Wye
Y
Y
England: 1,159.6
Wales: 245.2
Total: 1,404.8
England: 2,865.0
Wales: 606.0
Total: 3,471.0
ST544912 – SO230429
1978
Map
Robin's Wood Hill Quarry
Y
1.7
4.1
SO836148
1966
Map
Rodborough Common
Y
Y
116
287
SO851035
1954
Map
Rough Bank, Miserden
Y
9.2
22.7
SO907087
1986
Map
Salmonsbury Meadows
Y
Y
18.0
44.0
SP178213
1985
Map
Scully Grove Quarry
Y
0.4
1.0
SO657186
1974
Map
Selsley Common
Y
Y
39.4
97.4
SO829030
1966
Map
Severn Estuary
Y
Y
15,950.0
39,410.0
ST480830
1976
Map
Severn Ham, Tewkesbury
Y
70.8
175.0
SO885325
1974
Map
Shorn Cliff And Caswell Woods
Y
69.2
171.0
SO540005 & SO540990
1986
Map
Slade Brook
Y
Y
3.6
8.9
SO564055
2003
Map
Soudley Ponds
Y
7.0
17.4
SO662112
1984
Map
Speech House Oaks
Y
16.3
40.2
SO622123
1972
Map
Stenders Quarry
Y
Y
2.8
6.9
SO659183
1966
Map
Stinchcombe Hill
Y
28.6
70.7
ST740983
1966
Map
Stony Furlong Railway Cutting
Y
2.7
6.7
SP063106
1987
Map
Strawberry Banks
Y
5.1
12.5
SO910033
1993
Map
Swanpool Wood And Furnace Grove
Y
13.6
33.6
SO541107
1984
Map
Swift's Hill
Y
Y
9.2
22.6
SO877067
1966
Map
Sylvan House Barn
Y
<0.1
0.1
SO534023
1995
Map
The Hudnalls
Y
94.4
233.3
SO533030 & SO540042 & SO545046
1972
Map
The Malvern Hills
Y
Y
732.3
1,899.6
SO766472 – SO758350
1954
Map
Tudor Farm Bank
Y
3.7
9.1
SO573081
1999
Map
Turvey's Piece
Y
1.0
2.5
SO882301
1993
Map
Upham Meadow And Summer Leasow
Y
104.0
257.0
SO917375
1991
Map
Upper Severn Estuary
Y
Y
1,436.8
3,550.4
SO720060
1954
Map
Upper Wye Gorge
Y
Y
245.1
605.7
SO560155
1969
Map
Veizey's Quarry
Y
1.4
3.5
ST881944
1974
Map
Wainlode Cliff
Y
1.3
3.2
SO845257
1954
Map
Walmore Common
Y
57.8
142.8
SO740162 & SO745150
1955
Map
Wellacre Quarry
Y
12.3
30.4
SP180370
1974
Map
Westbury Brook Ironstone Mine
Y
15.7
38.8
SO662166
1998
Map
Whelford Meadow
Y
1.9
4.6
SP168000
1985
Map
Wigpool Ironstone Mine
Y
34.9
95.0
SO654197
1998
Map
Wildmoorway Meadows
Y
12.6
31.1
SU066973
1989
Map
Winson Meadows
Y
7.9
19.6
SP093081
1974
Map
Wood Green Quarry & Railway Cutting
Y
0.3
0.7
SO694166
1966
Map
Woodchester Park
Y
214.9
531.0
SO820014
1966
Map
Wotton Hill
Y
Y
26.1
64.0
ST753942
1954
Map
Yarley Meadows
Y
12.2
30.2
ST757888
1987
Map
Close