List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Bedfordshire

Houghton Regis Marl Lakes
Houghton Regis Marl Lakes

Bedfordshire is a county in the East of England.[1] It is bounded by Hertfordshire to the south-east, Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, and Buckinghamshire to the west.[2] It has an area of 1,235 square kilometres (477 sq mi), and population estimated in 2015 at 630,000, with an increase of 10% over the previous ten years.[3] The county town is Bedford, and the name is first recorded in the treaty in about 879 between King Alfred the Great and Guthrum, which divided English and Danish territory by a line which went through Bedford.[4]

Southern Bedfordshire is part of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. North and mid Bedfordshire are undulating claylands with broad river valleys of the River Great Ouse and its tributaries, and the Bedfordshire Greensand Ridge. Jurassic and Cretaceous clays are overlaid by Quaternary glacial deposits of chalky boulder clay.[5]

There are forty Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in Bedfordshire, designated by Natural England. Thirty-five are listed for their biological interest, and five for their geological interest.[6] Three of the sites are also National nature reserves, twelve are in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and eleven are managed wholly or partly by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. In 2009 Bedfordshire was divided into three unitary local authorities: thirty-two sites are in Central Bedfordshire, eight in Bedford and none in Luton.

For other counties, see List of SSSIs by Area of Search.

Key

Interest

Other classifications

Sites

Site name Photograph B G Area[lower-alpha 1] Public access Location[lower-alpha 1] Other classifications Map[lower-alpha 1] Citation[lower-alpha 1]
Barton Hills Barton Hills Green tick 47.9 hectares (118 acres) YES Barton-le-Clay
51°57′22″N 0°25′05″W / 51.956°N 0.418°W / 51.956; -0.418 (Barton Hills), TL088298 		NNR[7] NCR[8] CAONB[8]  Map  Citation
Biddenham Pit Biddenham Pit Green tick 0.4 hectares (0.99 acres) YES Biddenham
52°08′31″N 0°30′25″W / 52.142°N 0.507°W / 52.142; -0.507 (Biddenham Pit), TL023503 		GCR[9]  Map  Citation
Blow's Down Blow's Down Green tick 33.4 hectares (83 acres) YES Dunstable
51°52′59″N 0°30′07″W / 51.883°N 0.502°W / 51.883; -0.502 (Blow's Down), TL032215 		WTBCN[10] CAONB[11]  Map  Citation
Cooper's Hill Cooper's Hill Green tick 17.8 hectares (44 acres) YES Ampthill
52°01′44″N 0°30′14″W / 52.029°N 0.504°W / 52.029; -0.504 (Cooper's Hill), TL027378 		LNR[12] WTBCN[13]  Map  Citation
Deacon Hill SSSI Deacon Hill Green tick 35.4 hectares (87 acres) YES Pegsdon
51°57′11″N 0°22′12″W / 51.953°N 0.37°W / 51.953; -0.37 (Deacon Hill), TL121295 		WTBCN[14][15] CAONB[16]  Map  Citation
Double Arches Pit Double Arches Pit Green tick 1.7 hectares (4.2 acres) NO Heath and Reach
51°57′11″N 0°38′28″W / 51.953°N 0.641°W / 51.953; -0.641 (Double Arches Pit), SP935291 		GCR[17]  Map  Citation
Dropshort Marsh Dropshort Marsh Green tick 2.7 hectares (6.7 acres) YES Toddington
51°56′17″N 0°32′24″W / 51.938°N 0.54°W / 51.938; -0.54 (Dropshort Marsh), TL005276 		WTBCN[18]  Map  Citation
Dunstable and Whipsnade Downs Dunstable Downs Green tick 73.3 hectares (181 acres) YES Dunstable
51°52′08″N 0°32′24″W / 51.869°N 0.540°W / 51.869; -0.540 (Dunstable Downs), TL006199
51°51′29″N 0°33′07″W / 51.858°N 0.552°W / 51.858; -0.552 (Whipsnade Downs), SP998187 		NT[19] CAONB[19]  Map  Citation
Fancott Woods and Meadows Fancott Woods and Meadows Green tick 13.2 hectares (33 acres) YES Toddington
51°56′13″N 0°30′36″W / 51.937°N 0.51°W / 51.937; -0.51 (Fancott Woods and Meadows), TL025275 		WTBCN[20]  Map  Citation
Felmersham Gravel Pits Felmersham Gravel Pits Green tick 21.5 hectares (53 acres) YES Bedford
52°12′54″N 0°33′04″W / 52.215°N 0.551°W / 52.215; -0.551 (Felmersham Gravel Pits), SP991584 		WTBCN[21]  Map  Citation
Flitwick Moor Flitwick Moor Green tick 58.9 hectares (146 acres) YES Flitwick
52°00′18″N 0°28′34″W / 52.005°N 0.476°W / 52.005; -0.476 (Flitwick Moor), TL047352 		WTBCN[22]  Map  Citation
Galley and Warden Hills Warden Hill Green tick 47.5 hectares (117 acres) YES Warden Hills
51°55′41″N 0°24′54″W / 51.928°N 0.415°W / 51.928; -0.415 (Galley and Warden Hills), TL091267 		LNR[23] CAONB[23]  Map  Citation
Hanger Wood Hanger Wood Green tick 24.0 hectares (59 acres) NO Stagsden
52°08′02″N 0°32′46″W / 52.134°N 0.546°W / 52.134; -0.546 (Hanger Wood), SP996494 		 Map  Citation
Houghton Regis Marl Lakes Houghton Regis Marl Lakes Green tick 21.0 hectares (52 acres) YES Houghton Regis
51°53′56″N 0°32′10″W / 51.899°N 0.536°W / 51.899; -0.536 (Houghton Regis Marl Lakes), TL008233 		WTBCN[24] CAONB[25]  Map  Citation
Kensworth Chalk Pit Kensworth Chalk Pit Green tick 130.9 hectares (323 acres) NO Kensworth
51°51′58″N 0°31′01″W / 51.866°N 0.517°W / 51.866; -0.517 (Kensworth Chalk Pit), TL022196 		GCR[26] CAONB[27]  Map  Citation
Kings and Bakers Woods and Heaths King's Wood, Heath and Reach Green tick 211.3 hectares (522 acres) YES Leighton Buzzard
51°57′36″N 0°39′18″W / 51.96°N 0.655°W / 51.96; -0.655 (Kings and Bakers Woods and Heaths), SP925299 		NNR[7] NCR[28] WTBCN[29]  Map  Citation
Kings Wood and Glebe Meadows, Houghton Conquest Glebe Meadows Green tick 36.1 hectares (89 acres) YES Houghton Conquest
52°03′07″N 0°28′37″W / 52.052°N 0.477°W / 52.052; -0.477 (Kings Wood and Glebe Meadows, Houghton Conquest), TL045404 		LNR[30]  Map  Citation
Knocking Hoe Knocking Hoe Green tick 8.1 hectares (20 acres) YES Pegsdon
51°57′47″N 0°21′18″W / 51.963°N 0.355°W / 51.963; -0.355 (Knocking Hoe), TL131307 		NNR[7] NCR[31] CAONB[32]  Map  Citation
Marston Thrift Marston Thrift Green tick 37.7 hectares (93 acres) YES Cranfield
52°03′54″N 0°34′59″W / 52.065°N 0.583°W / 52.065; -0.583 (Marston Thrift), SP972417 		LNR[33]  Map  Citation
Maulden Church Meadow Maulden Church Meadow Green tick 4.2 hectares (10 acres) YES Maulden
52°01′52″N 0°27′29″W / 52.031°N 0.458°W / 52.031; -0.458 (Maulden Church Meadow), TL059381 		LNR[34]  Map  Citation
Maulden Heath Maulden Heath Green tick 7.6 hectares (19 acres) YES Maulden
52°02′06″N 0°26′31″W / 52.035°N 0.442°W / 52.035; -0.442 (Maulden Heath), TL070386 		 Map  Citation
Maulden Wood and Pennyfather's Hill Maulden Wood Green tick 148.4 hectares (367 acres) YES Maulden
52°02′24″N 0°26′28″W / 52.04°N 0.441°W / 52.04; -0.441 (Maulden Wood and Pennyfather's Hill), TL070391 		 Map  Citation
Nares Gladley Marsh Nares Gladley Marsh Green tick 5.4 hectares (13 acres) NO Leighton Buzzard
51°56′24″N 0°40′55″W / 51.94°N 0.682°W / 51.94; -0.682 (Nares Gladley Marsh), SP907277 		 Map  Citation
Nine Acres Pit Nine Acres Pit Green tick 20.4 hectares (50 acres) NO Leighton Buzzard
51°56′20″N 0°38′06″W / 51.939°N 0.635°W / 51.939; -0.635 (Nine Acres Pit), SP939276 		GCR[35]  Map  Citation
Odell Great Wood Odell Great Wood Green tick 85.9 hectares (212 acres) YES Odell
52°13′08″N 0°35′56″W / 52.219°N 0.599°W / 52.219; -0.599 (Odell Great Wood), SP958588 		 Map  Citation
Potton Wood Potton Wood Green tick 85.2 hectares (211 acres) YES Potton
52°08′06″N 0°10′26″W / 52.135°N 0.174°W / 52.135; -0.174 (Potton Wood), TL251501 		 Map  Citation
Pulloxhill Marsh Pulloxhill Marsh Green tick 5.1 hectares (13 acres) NO Pulloxhill
51°59′20″N 0°27′50″W / 51.989°N 0.464°W / 51.989; -0.464 (Pulloxhill Marsh), TL056334 		 Map  Citation
Sandy Warren Sandy Warren Green tick 16.4 hectares (41 acres) YES Sandy
52°07′05″N 0°15′43″W / 52.118°N 0.262°W / 52.118; -0.262 (Sandy Warren), TL191480 		RSPB[36]  Map  Citation
Smithcombe, Sharpenhoe and Sundon Hills Sharpenhoe Green tick 87.5 hectares (216 acres) YES Sharpenhoe
51°57′25″N 0°26′46″W / 51.957°N 0.446°W / 51.957; -0.446 (Smithcombe, Sharpenhoe and Sundon Hills), TL069299 		NT[37] CAONB[38] SM[37]  Map  Citation
Southill Lake and Woods Southill Lake Green tick 25.6 hectares (63 acres) NO Southill
52°04′23″N 0°19′52″W / 52.073°N 0.331°W / 52.073; -0.331 (Southill Lake and Woods), TL145429 		RHPG[39]  Map  Citation
Stevington Marsh Stevington Marsh Green tick 7.6 hectares (19 acres) YES Pavenham
52°10′59″N 0°33′54″W / 52.183°N 0.565°W / 52.183; -0.565 (Stevington Marsh), SP982548 		 Map  Citation
Sundon Chalk Quarry Sundon Chalk Quarry Green tick 26.8 hectares (66 acres) YES Upper Sundon
51°56′10″N 0°29′24″W / 51.936°N 0.49°W / 51.936; -0.49 (Sundon Chalk Quarry), TL039275 		CAONB[40]  Map  Citation
Swineshead Wood Swineshead Wood Green tick 21.9 hectares (54 acres) YES Swineshead
52°17′20″N 0°26′46″W / 52.289°N 0.446°W / 52.289; -0.446 (Swineshead Wood), TL061668 		WT[41]  Map  Citation
Tebworth Marsh Tebworth Marsh Green tick 5.7 hectares (14 acres) YES Toddington
51°57′00″N 0°34′23″W / 51.95°N 0.573°W / 51.95; -0.573 (Tebworth Marsh), SP982289 		 Map  Citation
Tilwick Meadow Tilwick Meadow Green tick 3.6 hectares (8.9 acres) YES Thurleigh
52°11′49″N 0°25′59″W / 52.197°N 0.433°W / 52.197; -0.433 (Tilwick Meadow), TL072566 		 Map  Citation
Totternhoe Chalk Quarry Totternhoe Chalk Quarry Green tick 13.5 hectares (33 acres) YES Totternhoe
51°53′28″N 0°34′08″W / 51.891°N 0.569°W / 51.891; -0.569 (Totternhoe Chalk Quarry), SP986224 		CAONB[42] WTBCN[43]  Map  Citation
Totternhoe Knolls Totternhoe Knolls Green tick 13.4 hectares (33 acres) YES Totternhoe
51°53′17″N 0°34′48″W / 51.888°N 0.58°W / 51.888; -0.58 (Totternhoe Knolls), SP978220 		LNR[44] WTBCN[43] CAONB[42]  Map  Citation
Totternhoe Stone Pit Totternhoe Stone Pit Green tick 2.2 hectares (5.4 acres) NO Totternhoe
51°53′24″N 0°34′37″W / 51.89°N 0.577°W / 51.89; -0.577 (Totternhoe Stone Pit), SP980222 		GCR[45] CAONB[42]  Map  Citation
Wavendon Heath Ponds Wavendon Heath Ponds Green tick 4.7 hectares (12 acres) YES Aspley Heath
51°59′42″N 0°38′49″W / 51.995°N 0.647°W / 51.995; -0.647 (Wavendon Heath Ponds), SP930338 		 Map  Citation
Yelden Meadows Yelden Meadows Green tick 2.8 hectares (6.9 acres) NO Yelden
52°17′42″N 0°31′19″W / 52.295°N 0.522°W / 52.295; -0.522 (Yelden Meadows), TL009673 		 Map  Citation

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 Maps and citations for each site are taken from the Natural England database. The area and location of the site is shown on the citation. The listing is as on 10 December 2015.

References

  1. ↑ "East of England". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  2. ↑ "Your Guide to the Counties of England". Counties in England. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  3. ↑ "Bedfordshire Police". Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  4. ↑ Page, William, ed. (1912). A History of the County of Bedford 3. London: Victoria County History. p. 1.
  5. ↑ "Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire Claylands". National Character Area profile. Natural England. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  6. ↑ "Designated Sites View: SSSIs Bedfordshire". Natural England. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
  7. 1 2 3 "Bedfordshire's National Nature Reserves". Natural England. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  8. 1 2 "Barton Hills citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  9. ↑ "Biddenham Pit citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  10. ↑ "Blow's Downs". Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  11. ↑ "Blows Downs Nature Reserve". Wildlife Extra. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  12. ↑ "Coopers Hill - Bedfordshire SSSI". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. 18 February 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  13. ↑ "Cooper's Hill". Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  14. ↑ "Pegsdon Hills and Hoo Bit". Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  15. ↑ "Map of Deacon Hill". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  16. ↑ "Cycling in the Chilterns". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  17. ↑ "Double Arches Pit citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  18. ↑ "Dropshort Marsh". Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  19. 1 2 "Dunstable Downs and Whipsnade Estate". National Trust. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  20. ↑ "Fancott Woods and Meadows". Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  21. ↑ "Felmersham Gravel Pits". Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  22. ↑ "Flitwick Moor (& Folly Wood)". Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  23. 1 2 "Galley and Warden Hills SSSI". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. 18 February 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  24. ↑ Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire (January 2015). "A Nature Conservation Strategy for Central Bedfordshire" (PDF). Central Bedfordshire Council. pp. 27–28. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  25. ↑ "Luton, Dunstable & Houghton Regis local transport plan 2006-2011" (PDF). Bedfordshire County Council. p. 18. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  26. ↑ "Kensworth Chalk Pit". British Upper Cretaceous Stratigraphy (PDF). Joint Nature Conservation Committee. 2001.
  27. ↑ "Kensworth Parish Green Infrastructure Plan" (PDF). Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  28. ↑ "Kings and Bakers Woods and Heaths citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  29. ↑ "King's Wood and Rammamere Heath". Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  30. ↑ "Kings Wood and Glebe Meadows, Houghton Conquest". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. 18 February 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  31. ↑ "Knocking Hoe citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  32. ↑ "Knocking Hoe National Nature Reserve". Chilterns Conservation Board. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  33. ↑ "Marston Thrift". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. 18 February 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  34. ↑ "Maulden Church Meadow". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. 18 February 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  35. ↑ "Nine Acres Pit citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  36. ↑ "Sandy Warren citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  37. 1 2 "Smithcombe, Sharpenhoe and Sundon Hills citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  38. ↑ "Sharpenhoe". National Trust. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  39. ↑ "Southill Park". Historic England. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  40. ↑ "Sundon & Streatley Chiltern Arc, Access & Green Space Vision Plan" (PDF). Central Bedfordshire Council. 2013. pp. 8–9. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  41. ↑ "Swineshead Wood citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  42. 1 2 3 "Totternhoe Knolls". Chilterns Conservation Board. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  43. 1 2 "Totternhoe". Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
  44. ↑ "Totternhoe Knolls". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. 9 February 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
  45. ↑ "Totternhoe Stone Pit citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
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Coordinates: 52°05′N 0°25′W / 52.083°N 0.417°W / 52.083; -0.417

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