List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Greater London

This is a list of the Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in Greater London, which is part of south east England. In geographic terms, the area is split by the River Thames. The London region has a population of 7,512,400 within an area of 1,579km², making it the second-largest populated region in the United Kingdom.[1] However, even though it is one of the largest urban conglomerations in Europe, almost two-thirds of London is made up of greenspace and wetlands, consisting primarily of extensive areas of green belt, large parks and the Thames basin.[2] As of 2007, there are 36 sites designated within this Area of Search, 18 of which have been designated for their biological interest, 11 for their geological interest, and 7 for both biological and geological interest.[3]

In England, the body responsible for designating SSSIs is Natural England, which chooses sites because of their Fauna, flora, geological or physiographical features.[4] 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.[5]

For other counties, see List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest by Area of Search.


Sites

Site name Reason for Designation Area[A] Grid reference[B][C] Year in which notified[D] Map[E] Location
Biological Interest Geological Interest Hectares Acres
Abbey Wood   Y 6.3 15.7 TQ481786 1975 [1] Abbey Wood
Barn Elms Wetland Centre Y   29.9 73.8 TQ228770 2002 [2] Barnes
Bentley Priory Y Y 55.1 136.2 TQ156297 1990 [3] Stanmore
Brent Reservoir Y   68.6 169.6 TQ217873 1985 [4] West Hendon
Chingford Reservoirs Y   316.3 781.7 TQ371953 1986 [5] Chingford
Crofton Woods Y   76.6 198.8 TQ437665 1989 [6] Crofton
Croham Hurst Y Y 33.6 83.0 TQ338632 1984 [7] South Croydon
Denham Lock Wood Y   6.3 15.5 TQ05863 1986 [8] Denham
Downe Bank and High Elms Y   86.8 214.6 TQ438610 & TQ446625 1981 [9] Downe
Elmstead Pit   Y <0.1 0.13 TQ42327066 1985 [10] Elmstead
Epping Forest Y   1,728.0 4,270.0 TL475035 – TQ405865 1990 [11] Epping Forest
Farthing Downs and Happy Valley Y Y 120.5 297.8 TQ303572 1987 [12] Coulsdon
Frays Farm Meadows Y   28.2 69.8 TQ057861 1984 [13] Denham
Gilbert's Pit   Y 5.2 12.8 TQ418786 1985 [14] Charlton
Hainault Forest Y   136.0 336.0 TQ477938 1986 [15] Hainault
Hampstead Heath Woods Y Y 16.6 41.1 TQ270875 & TQ271870 1990 [16] Hampstead
Harefield Pit   Y 1.8 4.5 TQ049898 1990 [17] Harefield
Harrow Weald   Y 3.7 9.1 TQ147929 1987 [18] Harrow Weald
Hornchurch Cutting   Y 0.8 2.0 TQ547874 1988 [19] Hornchurch
Ingrebourne Marshes Y   74.8 184.8 TQ532835 1988 [20] Hornchurch
Inner Thames Marshes Y   479.3 1,184.4 TQ531800 1986 [21] Rainham
Kempton Park Reservoirs Y   25.6 63.3 TQ118707 1999 [22] Kempton Park
Keston And Hayes Commons Y   49.7 122.8 TQ417643 1987 [23] Keston
Mid Colne Valley Y   132.0 326.1 TQ043896 1985 [24] Harefield
Old Park Wood Y   16.7 41.3 TQ046913 1984 [25] Harefield
Oxleas Woodland Y   72.7 179.7 TQ442760 1984 [26] Shooter's Hill
Richmond Park Y   856.0 2,115.1 TQ200730 (centre approx.) 1992 [27] Richmond
Riddlesdown Y Y 32.0 79.1 TQ330600 1988 [28] Riddlesdown
Ruislip Woods   Y 305.4 754.6 TQ081892 1990 [29] Ruislip
Ruxley Gravel Pits   Y 18.7 46.2 TQ474700 1985 [30] Ruxley
Saltbox Hill Y   22.2 54.8 TQ402604 & TQ408607 1985 [31] Biggin Hill
Syon Park Y   21.5 53.2 TQ176766 1984 [32] Brentford
Walthamstow Marshes Y   36.7 90.7 TQ352875 1985 [33] Walthamstow
Walthamstow Reservoirs Y   178.3 440.6 TQ351892 1986 [34] Walthamstow
Wansunt Pit   Y 1.9 4.7 TQ514736 & TQ515738 1990 [35] Dartford
Wimbledon Common Y   346.5 856.2 TQ227720 1986 [36] Wimbledon

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.[6]
C Those SSSIs with more than one OS grid reference are composed of multiple sections, separated by non-SSSI land.[6]
D 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. ^ "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 2007-12-23. 
  2. ^ "Urban Greater London". Natural England. Archived from the original on 2007-12-14. http://web.archive.org/web/20071214050819/http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/regions/london/default.htm. Retrieved 2007-12-23. 
  3. ^ "SSSIs in Greater London". English Nature. http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/special/sssi/searchresults.cfm?sssi_name=&frmcounty=1017. Retrieved 2007-12-23. 
  4. ^ "Notification of SSSIs". English Nature. http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/special/sssi/notification.cfm. Retrieved 2007-12-23. 
  5. ^ Natural England citation sheets for each SSSI. Retrieved on 2007-12-24. (PDF files).
  6. ^ a b "Guide to National Grid". Ordnance Survey. http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/getamap/help.html#gridref. Retrieved 2007-12-27. 

External links

Sites of Special Scientific Interest in the United Kingdom, grouped by Area of Search
England
Northern Ireland
Scotland
Wales