| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
Pamber Forest shown in Christopher Saxton's 1575 map of Hampshire |
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Shown within Hampshire
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| Area of Search | Hampshire |
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| Grid reference | SU616607 |
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 840 acres (1.31 sq mi) |
| Notification | 1951 |
| Natural England website | |
Pamber Forest and Silchester Common is a Site of Special Scientific Interest in Hampshire, UK.[1] Covering 478 acres (0.747 sq mi), the forest is known for its abundance of butterflies, of which 40 species have been identified – including the Purple Emperor, the White Admiral, the Silver-washed Fritillary and the Purple Hairstreak.[2]
Pamber Forest (an oak wood) covers 458 acres (0.716 sq mi) of the SSSI, and is managed as a Local Nature Reserve. Silchester Common, along with Tadley Common (both heathland commons), was designated a Countryside Heritage Site in 1987. The site is subject to the European Union's 1979 Birds Directive.[3]