List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Hertfordshire
Encyclopedia
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, a county in the East of England
East of England
The East of England is one of the nine official regions of England. It was created in 1994 and was adopted for statistics from 1999. It includes the ceremonial counties of Essex, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. Essex has the highest population in the region.Its...
region. In terms of size, the region extends from Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, in the north, to the Thames estuary
Thames Estuary
The Thames Mouth is the estuary in which the River Thames meets the waters of the North Sea.It is not easy to define the limits of the estuary, although physically the head of Sea Reach, near Canvey Island on the Essex shore is probably the western boundary...
, in the extreme south, and almost two-thirds of the county
Counties of the United Kingdom
The counties of the United Kingdom are subnational divisions of the United Kingdom, used for the purposes of administrative, geographical and political demarcation. By the Middle Ages counties had become established as a unit of local government, at least in England. By the early 17th century all...
is rural
Rural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
.
Hertfordshire itself, however, has a population of 1,058,600 within an area of 1634 km² (403,769.8 acre), making it the 16th largest ceremonial county in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
, there are 43 sites designated within this Area of Search
Area of Search
Areas of Search are geographical areas used in the selection of Sites of Special Scientific Interest. In England these are largely based on the 1974–1996 administrative counties...
, 28 of which have been designated for their biological interest, six for their geological interest, and nine for both biological and geological interest.
In England, the body responsible for designating SSSIs is Natural England
Natural England
Natural England is the non-departmental public body of the UK government responsible for ensuring that England's natural environment, including its land, flora and fauna, freshwater and marine environments, geology and soils, are protected and improved...
, which chooses sites because of their flora
Plant
Plants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Precise definitions of the kingdom vary, but as the term is used here, plants include familiar organisms such as trees, flowers, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The group is also called green plants or...
, fauna
Fauna
Fauna or faunæ is all of the animal life of any particular region or time. The corresponding term for plants is flora.Zoologists and paleontologists use fauna to refer to a typical collection of animals found in a specific time or place, e.g. the "Sonoran Desert fauna" or the "Burgess shale fauna"...
, geological
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
or physiographical features. Natural England took over the role of designating and managing SSSIs from English Nature
English Nature
English Nature was the United Kingdom government agency that promoted the conservation of wildlife, geology and wild places throughout England between 1990 and 2006...
in October 2006 when it was formed from the amalgamation of English Nature, parts of the Countryside Agency
Countryside Agency
The Countryside Agency in England was a statutory body set up in 1999 with the task of improving the quality of the rural environment and the lives of those living in it. The Agency was formed by merging the Countryside Commission and the Rural Development Commission...
and the Rural Development Service
Rural Development Service
The Rural Development Service was formerly part of the UK Government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs . It ceased to exist on 1 October 2006 following the creation of Natural England.- History :...
. The data in the table is taken from English Nature's website in the form of citation sheets for each SSSI.
Sites
| Site name | Reason for Designation | Area | Grid reference | Year in which notified | Map | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biological Interest | Geological Interest | Hectares | Acres | ||||
| Aldbury Nowers Aldbury Nowers Aldbury Nowers is a 19.7 hectare Biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Dacorum, in west Hertfordshire. The site was notified in 1990 under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The site, formerly known as "Duchie's Piece," comprises two areas of hillside, linked by The Ridgeway... |
19.7 | 48.7 | 1990 | http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=1005932,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL | |||
| Alpine Meadow | 0.4 | 1.0 | 1986 | http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=1000438,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL | |||
| Amwell Quarry Amwell, Hertfordshire Amwell , is a village in the county of Hertfordshire, England, located 1½ miles from Ware, and about 20 miles north of London. Great Amwell is also the name of the civil parish within East Hertfordshire district.... |
39.96 | 91.33 | 1999 | http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=2000384,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL | |||
| Ashridge Commons & Woods | 640.1 | 1581.7 | 1987 | http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=1000452,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL | |||
| Ashwell Springs Ashwell Springs Ashwell Springs is a 0.3 hectare Biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Ashwell, North Hertfordshire, England. The site was notified in 1986 under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 The site consists of a series of freshwater springs, which form a source for the River Cam... |
0.3 | 0.6 | 1986 | http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=1000593,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL | |||
| Benington High Wood Benington, Hertfordshire Benington is a village and civil parish in the East Hertfordshire district of Hertfordshire, England, about four miles east of Stevenage and 35 miles north of London... |
20.7 | 57.1 | 1984 | http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=1000632,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL | |||
| Blagrove Common | 4.0 | 9.9 | 1985 | http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=1000847,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL | |||
| Bricket Wood Common Bricket Wood Bricket Wood is a village in the county of Hertfordshire, England, approximately 4½ miles from St Albans. It is part of the parish of St Stephen. Its railway station is served by a London Midland service that runs between St Albans Abbey and Watford Junction stations.Close to the village stands... |
70.0 | 172.4 | 1984 | http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=1000694,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL | |||
| Castle Lime Works Quarry Castle Lime Works Quarry Castle Lime Works Quarry is a 1.6 hectare Geological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Hertsmere, East Hertfordshire. The site was notified in 1986 under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The site is home to a dis-used chalk quarry which has been retained toshow the chalk and soil... |
1.6 | 3.9 | 1986 | http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=1000741,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL | |||
| Croxley Common Moor Croxley Green Croxley Green is a small town and civil parish of approximately 5,000 dwellings and 12,000 residents located between Watford and Rickmansworth in Hertfordshire, England... |
39.5 | 97.6 | 1986 | http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=1000788,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL | |||
| Downfield Pit, Westmill Westmill Westmill is a village and civil parish in the East Hertfordshire district of Hertfordshire, England, with an area of 1036 hectares. A population of 264 was recorded in the 2001 National Census... |
3.6 | 8.9 | 1989 | http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=1002453,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL | |||
| Frogmore Meadows | 4.6 | 11.4 | 1986 | http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=1002647,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL | |||
| Great Hormead Park | 15.0 | 37.1 | 1985 | http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=1002244,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL | |||
| Hertford Heath Hertford Heath Hertford Heath is a small village and civil parish near the county town of Hertford in Hertfordshire, England.-Geography:It is located on a heath above the River Lea valley, on its south side... |
28.0 | 69.2 | & | 1985 | http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=1001447,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL | ||
| Hillcollins Pit | 0.2 | 0.5 | 1988 | http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=1002467,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL | |||
| Hunsdon Mead Hunsdon Hunsdon is a village and civil parish in Hertfordshire, England.Hunsdon village centre contains many old houses, some known to date back to at least the 15th century... |
34.0 | 84.0 | 1984 | http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=1003531,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL | |||
| Knebworth Woods Knebworth Knebworth is a village and civil parish in the north of Hertfordshire, England immediately south of Stevenage. The civil parish covers an area between the villages of Datchworth, Woolmer Green, Codicote, Kimpton, Whitwell, St Paul's Walden and Langley, and encompasses the village of Knebworth, the... |
120.8 | 298.5 | 1985 | http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=1001506,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL | |||
| Little Heath Pit | 0.3 | 0.7 | 1986 | http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=1001529,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL | |||
| Moor Hall Meadows | 24.4 | 60.3 | 1986 | http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=1002523,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL | |||
| Moor Mill Quarry, West | 0.16 | 0.4 | 1992 | http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=1006291,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL | |||
| Northaw Great Wood Northaw Northaw is a village in the Welwyn Hatfield district of Hertfordshire, England. It is part of the civil parish of Northaw and Cuffley, which was originally known as Northaw.... |
223.6 | 552.6 | 1985 | http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=1000830,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL | |||
| Oddy Hill and Tring Park | 35.6 | 87.8 | & | 1986 | http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=1005717,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL | ||
| Oughtonhead Lane Hitchin Oughton Hitchin Oughton is one of the five electoral wards in Hitchin, England. It contains the Westmill estate and is named after the River Oughton. It invariably returns a Labour councillor.... |
0.9 | 2.2 | 1989 | http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=1001948,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL | |||
| Patmore Heath Patmore Heath Patmore Heath is a 7.6 hectare Biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in East Hertfordshire, 2 kilometres north-east of Albury, Hertfordshire. The site was notified in 1985 under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and is currently managed by the Country Trust as a Nature Reserve.... |
7.6 | 18.8 | 1985 | http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=1001607,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL | |||
| Plashes Wood Plashes Wood Plashes Wood is a 71.9 hectare Biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in East Hertfordshire. The site was notified in 1984 under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Much of the site is made up of Oak/Hornbeam woodland. The site is also home to marshland clearings and ponds.-References:... |
71.9 | 117.6 | 1984 | http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=1001628,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL | |||
| Redwell Wood | 52.8 | 130.4 | 1985 | http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=1001716,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL | |||
| Roughdown Common | 3.6 | 8.9 | 1985 | http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=1001729,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL | |||
| Rye Meads Rye Meads nature reserve Rye Meads RSPB reserve is a small wetland reserve in the Lea Valley, Hertfordshire, England, adjacent to the river itself. It was formerly known as Rye House Marsh nature reserve.... |
58.5 | 114.5 | 1989 | http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=1005497,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL | |||
| Sarratt Bottom Sarratt Sarratt is a village and civil parish in Hertfordshire, England, on the border of the county with Buckinghamshire. Sarratt is near Chesham, and the River Chess passes through the village.... |
3.2 | 7.9 | 1984 | http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=1001803,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL | |||
| Sawbridgeworth Marsh Sawbridgeworth Sawbridgeworth is a small, mainly residential, town and also a civil parish in Hertfordshire, England.- Location :Sawbridgeworth is four miles south of Bishop's Stortford, twelve miles east of Hertford and nine miles north of Epping. It lies on the A1184 and has a railway station that links to... |
6.3 | 15.5 | 1986 | http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=1000575,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL | |||
| Sherrardspark Wood Sherrardspark Wood Sherrardspark Wood is a 74.9 hectare biological and geological, site of Special Scientific Interest in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire... |
74.9 | 185.1 | 1986 | http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=1000271,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL | |||
| Tewin Tewin Tewin is a village in the English county of Hertfordshire, between the towns of Welwyn Garden City, Stevenage, Welwyn and the county town Hertford, it is within commuting distance of London... bury |
7.5 | 18.5 | 1984 | http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=1001827,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL | |||
| Therfield Heath Therfield Heath Therfield Heath is a public open space and nature reserve on the chalk escarpment just north of Therfield, Hertfordshire; since it lies south-west of the town of Royston it is also known locally as Royston Heath. It has a testing racetrack for horses on its slopes and is a popular spot with dog... |
143.33 | 354.14 | 1984 | http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=1001839,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL | |||
| Thorley Flood Pound Thorley, Hertfordshire Thorley is a civil parish in Hertfordshire, England, encompassing the hamlets Thorley Street, Thorley Wash and Old Thorley; near Bishop's Stortford in Hertfordshire. It is mentioned in the Domesday book as Torlei, belonging to Geoffrey de Mandeville, a notable Norman Baron... |
17.4 | 42.7 | 1986 | http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=1001867,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL | |||
| Tring Reservoirs Tring Tring is a small market town and also a civil parish in the Chiltern Hills in Hertfordshire, England. Situated north-west of London and linked to London by the old Roman road of Akeman Street, by the modern A41, by the Grand Union Canal and by rail lines to Euston Station, Tring is now largely a... |
106.5 | 263.2 | & | 1987 | http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=1004159,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL | ||
| Tring Woodlands Tring Tring is a small market town and also a civil parish in the Chiltern Hills in Hertfordshire, England. Situated north-west of London and linked to London by the old Roman road of Akeman Street, by the modern A41, by the Grand Union Canal and by rail lines to Euston Station, Tring is now largely a... |
23.8 | 58.8 | 1985 | http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=1001430,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL | |||
| Turnford & Cheshunt Pits Turnford and Cheshunt Pits The Turnford and Cheshunt Pits is a Site of Special Scientific Interest in the English counties of Hertfordshire and Essex and covers a total of 428.17 acres . -Location:... |
173.28 | 428.17 | 1995 | http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=2000066,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL | |||
| Wain Wood Wain Wood Wain Wood is a 19.2 Biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Preston, North Hertfordshire. The site was notified in 1986 under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The wood lies on a north-east facing slope of decalcified boulder clay and is home to habitat not found in many areas of... |
19.2 | 47.4 | 1986 | http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=1002486,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL | |||
| Water End Swallow Holes Water End Swallow Holes Water End Swallow Holes is a 11.3 hectare is a biological and geological, site of Special Scientific Interest in Hertfordshire. The site was notified in 1986 under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and is currently managed by the Country Trust as a Nature Reserve.-References:* English... |
11.3 | 27.9 | 1986 | http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=1002507,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL | |||
| Westwood Quarry Westwood Quarry Westwood Quarry is a 0.07 hectare is a geological site of Special Scientific Interest in Hertfordshire. The site was notified in 1987 under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and is currently managed by the Country Trust as a Nature Reserve... |
0.07 | 0.18 | 1987 | http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=1002489,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL | |||
| Whippendell Wood Cassiobury Park Cassiobury Park is the principal public open space in Watford, Hertfordshire, in England. It comprises over and extends from the A412 Rickmansworth Road in the east to the Grand Union Canal in the west.... |
66.9 | 165.3 | 1986 | http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=1002543,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL | |||
| Wormley-Hoddesdonpark Wood South Wormley-Hoddesdonpark Wood South Wormley-Hoddesdonpark Wood South is a 192.5 hectare is a biological and geological, site of Special Scientific Interest in Hertfordshire. The site was notified in 1984 under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and is currently managed by the Country Trust as a Nature Reserve.-References:* ... |
192.5 | 475.6 | 1984 | http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=1000719,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL | |||
| Wormley-Hoddesdonpark Wood North Wormley-Hoddesdonpark Wood North Wormley-Hoddesdonpark Wood North is a 146.3 hectare is a woodland area in Hertfordshire which has been designated as a biological and geological site of Special Scientific Interest. The site was notified in 1986 under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and is currently managed by the Country... |
146.3 | 361.5 | & | 1986 | http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/map.aspx?map=sssi&feature=1002304,sssi,HYPERLINK,LABEL | ||