List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Hertfordshire

This is a list of the Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in Hertfordshire, a county in the East of England region. In terms of size, the region extends from Norfolk, in the north, to the Thames estuary, in the extreme south,[1] and almost two-thirds of the county is rural.[2] Hertfordshire itself, however, has a population of 1,058,600 within an area of 1,634 km2 (403,770.2 acres), making it the 16th largest ceremonial county in the United Kingdom.[3] As of 2009, there are 43 sites designated within this Area of Search, 28 of which have been designated for their biological interest, six for their geological interest, and nine for both biological and geological interest.[4] In England, the body responsible for designating SSSIs is Natural England, which chooses sites because of their flora, fauna, geological or physiographical features.[5] 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. The data in the table is taken from English Nature's website in the form of citation sheets for each SSSI.[6]

Sites

Tring Reservoirs, at sunrise and sunset
Site name Reason for Designation Area[A] Grid reference[B][C] Year in which notified[D] Map[E]
Biological Interest Geological Interest Hectares Acres
Aldbury Nowers Y 19.7 48.7 SP951135 1990 [1]
Alpine Meadow Y 0.4 1.0 SP989103 1986 [2]
Amwell Quarry Y 39.9 91.3 TL377129 1999 [3]
Ashridge Commons & Woods Y 640.1 1,581.7 SP975135 1987 [4]
Ashwell Springs Y 0.3 0.6 TL270398 1986 [5]
Benington High Wood Y 20.7 57.1 TL285235 1984 [6]
Blagrove Common Y 4.0 9.9 TL326338 1985 [7]
Bricket Wood Common Y 70.0 172.4 TL130010 1984 [8]
Castle Lime Works Quarry Y 1.6 3.9 TL229026 1986 [9]
Croxley Common Moor Y 39.5 97.6 TQ083949 1986 [10]
Downfield Pit, Westmill Y 3.6 8.9 TL349165 1989 [11]
Frogmore Meadows Y 4.6 11.4 TQ021989 1986 [12]
Great Hormead Park Y 15.0 37.1 TL418292 1985 [13]
Hertford Heath Y 28.0 69.2 TL355110 & TL350106 1985 [14]
Hillcollins Pit Y 0.2 0.5 TL442268 1988 [15]
Hunsdon Mead Y 34.0 84.0 TL418110 1984 [16]
Knebworth Woods Y 120.8 298.5 TL228223 1985 [17]
Little Heath Pit Y 0.3 0.7 TL017082 1986 [18]
Moor Hall Meadows Y 24.4 60.3 TL330265 1986 [19]
Moor Mill Quarry, West Y 0.2 0.4 TL141027 1992 [20]
Northaw Great Wood Y 223.6 552.6 TL280043 1985 [21]
Oddy Hill and Tring Park Y 35.6 87.8 SP934109 & SP928103 1986 [22]
Oughtonhead Lane Y Y 0.9 2.2 TL172299 1989 [23]
Patmore Heath Y 7.6 18.8 TL443258 1985 [24]
Plashes Wood Y 71.9 117.6 TL382206 1984 [25]
Redwell Wood Y 52.8 130.4 TL213025 1985 [26]
Roughdown Common Y Y 3.6 8.9 TL047577 1985 [27]
Rye Meads Y 58.5 114.5 TL385105 1989 [28]
Sarratt Bottom Y 3.2 7.9 TQ031989 1984 [29]
Sawbridgeworth Marsh Y 6.3 15.5 TL492158 1986 [30]
Sherrardspark Wood Y Y 74.9 185.1 TL230139 1986 [31]
Tewinbury Y 7.5 18.5 TL264139 1984 [32]
Therfield Heath Y 143.3 354.1 TL335400 1984 [33]
Thorley Flood Pound Y 17.4 42.7 TL490183 1986 [34]
Tring Reservoirs Y Y 106.5 263.2 SP919136 & SP905131 1987 [35]
Tring Woodlands Y 23.8 58.8 SP917100 1985 [36]
Turnford & Cheshunt Pits Y Y 173.3 428.2 TL370030 1995 [37]
Wain Wood Y 19.2 47.4 TL180255 1986 [38]
Water End Swallow Holes Y Y 11.3 27.9 TL230043 1986 [39]
Westwood Quarry Y <0.1 0.18 TQ071993 1987 [40]
Whippendell Wood Y 66.9 165.3 TQ076978 1986 [41]
Wormley-Hoddesdonpark Wood South Y Y 192.5 475.6 TL331068 1984 [42]
Wormley-Hoddesdonpark Wood North Y Y 146.3 361.5 TL325075 & TL352085 1986 [43]

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.[7]
C Those SSSIs with more than one OS grid reference are composed of multiple sections, separated by non-SSSI land.[7]
D Site notification consists of designating a site as an SSSI and consulting with the owner(s). This list uses the date notified under Section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
E Link to maps using the Nature on the Map service provided by Natural England.

References

  1. ^ "Map of Eastern England". Natural England. Archived from the original on 2007-12-16. http://web.archive.org/web/20071216135526/http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/regions/east/default.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-21. 
  2. ^ "Hertfordshire geography". Hertfordshire Tourism Board. 2008. http://www.hertsdirect.org/libsleisure/aboutherts/geoghert/. Retrieved 2008-03-24. 
  3. ^ "T 08: Selected age groups for local authorities in the United Kingdom; estimated resident population; Mid-2006 Population Estimates". Office for National Statistics. August 22, 2007. http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/ssdataset.asp?vlnk=9664&More=Y. Retrieved 2008-02-21. 
  4. ^ "SSSIs in Hertfordshire". English Nature. http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/special/sssi/searchresults.cfm?sssi_name=&frmcounty=1021. Retrieved 2008-02-21. 
  5. ^ "Notification of SSSIs". English Nature. http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/special/sssi/notification.cfm. Retrieved 2008-02-21. 
  6. ^ Natural England citation sheets for each SSSI. Retrieved on 2008-02-26. (PDF files).
  7. ^ a b "Guide to National Grid". Ordnance Survey. http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/getamap/help.html#gridref. Retrieved 2008-02-21. 
Sites of Special Scientific Interest in the United Kingdom, grouped by Area of Search
England
Northern Ireland
Scotland
Wales