List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Cornwall

Map of SSSIs in Cornwall within the UK
Map of SSSIs in Cornwall within the UK
An island surrounded by water and rocks in the foreground
St Michael's Mount, a SSSI in west Cornwall

There are 167 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in Cornwall (including the Isles of Scilly). Cornwall, in the south-west of England, UK, has a population of 575,413 (2022) across an area of 3,545 km2 (875,988.6 acres), making it one of the least densely populated counties within England.[1] The north coast of Cornwall falls on the Celtic Sea in the Atlantic Ocean, which also surrounds the Isles of Scilly, the south coast falls on the English Channel and the county is bounded by the River Tamar, forming the border with Devon, to the east. Cornish geology consists mainly of rocks from the Devonian and Carboniferous geological periods. Granite forms a large part of these, with mineralisations of tin, copper, lead and arsenic having been mined in the area.[2] This gives rise to many distinct habitats, with strong marine influences, including sand dunes, rocky reefs, stacks and headlands as well as heathland, moorland and unusual river profiles.[3]

In England the body responsible for designating SSSIs is Natural England, which chooses a site "because of its flora, fauna, or 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. Natural England, like its predecessor, uses the 1974–96 county system[5] and as such the same approach is followed here, rather than adopting the current local government or ceremonial county boundaries.

Of the 167 sites designated in this Area of Search, the greatest number, 81, have been designated due to their biological interest, with 54 due to their geological interest and 32 for both.[6] The data in the table is taken from English Nature in the form of citation sheets for each SSSI.[7]

Sites

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Site name Biological Interest[A] Geological Interest[A] Area (hectares)[B] Area (acres)[B] Grid reference[C] Year in which notified Map[D]
Aire Point to Carrick Du Green tickY Green tickY 704.8 1741.6 SW432385 1972 Map
Amble Marshes Green tickY   57.3 141.6 SW994746 1951 Map
Annet Green tickY   119.5 295.3 SV862088 1971 Map
Baulk Head to Mullion Green tickY Green tickY 152.3 376.3 SW663200 1995 Map
Bedruthan Steps and Park Head Green tickY Green tickY 80.8 200.0 SW850700 1951 Map
Belowda Beacon   Green tickY 0.5 1.2 SW973627 1996 Map
Big Pool and Browarth Point Green tickY   10.0 25.0 SV879087 1971 Map
Boconnoc Park and Woods Green tickY   50.4 124.5 SX144603 1977 Map
Bodmin Moor, North Green tickY   4957.0 12248.0 SX160810 1951 Map
Borlasevath and Retallack Moor Green tickY   54.1 133.6 SW937667 1994 Map
Boscastle to Widemouth Green tickY Green tickY 639.0 1579.0 SX140970 1972 Map
Boscawen   Green tickY 8.8 21.8 SW425231 1997 Map
Brendonmoor Green tickY   11.7 29.0 SX264955 1990 Map
Breney Common Green tickY   114.6 283.2 SX056614 1979 Map
Bude Coast Green tickY Green tickY 92.5 228.6 SS200069 1987 Map
Cabilla Manor Wood Green tickY   15.1 37.3 SX150697 1989 Map
Caerthillian to Kennack Green tickY Green tickY 141.1 349.6 SW720140 1951 Map
Cameron Quarry   Green tickY 0.5 1.2 SW704507 1996 Map
Carn Grey Rock and Quarry   Green tickY 1.9 4.8 SX034551 1991 Map
Carnkief Pond Green tickY   11.2 27.7 SW787520 1951 Map
Carrick Heaths Green tickY   42.7 105.5 SW800490 1973 Map
Carricknath Point to Porthbean Beach Green tickY   49.5 122.3 SW870330 2000 Map
Carrine Common & Penwethers Green tickY   45.8 113.3 SW797434 1973 Map
Castle Down Green tickY Green tickY 58.1 143.6 SV885160 1971 Map
Chapel Down (St. Martin's) Green tickY Green tickY 34.9 86.2 SV942159 1971 Map
Chyenhal Moor Green tickY   11.9 29.4 SW448279 1951 Map
Clicker Tor Quarry   Green tickY 4.3 10.6 SX285614 1967 Map
Cligga Head Green tickY Green tickY 113.5 280.5 SW738537 1951 Map
Coombe Mill Green tickY   0.5 1.2 SS210117 2000 Map
Coverack Cove and Dolor Point   Green tickY 5.6 13.9 SW785181 1951 Map
Coverack to Porthoustock Green tickY Green tickY 173.5 428.6 SW785189 1951 Map
Crocadon Quarry   Green tickY 0.2 0.4 SX392658 1998 Map
Crow's Nest Green tickY Green tickY 18.9 46.8 SX265700 1999 Map
Crowhill Valley Green tickY   42.5 105.0 SW934513 1951 Map
Cuckoo Rock to Turbot Point   Green tickY 102.5 253.4 SW990404 1998 Map
Cudden Point to Prussia Cove   Green tickY 15.9 39.2 SW553278 1991 Map
De Lank Quarries   Green tickY 21.9 54.1 SX101753 1994 Map
Dozmary Pool Green tickY   104.2 257.5 SX195745 1951 Map
Draynes Wood Green tickY   38.0 93.9 SX222685 1951 Map
Duckpool to Furzey Cove   Green tickY 87.3 215.7 SS200090 1996 Map
East Lizard Heathlands Green tickY  Green tickY  287.4 710.1 SW775192 1951 Map
Eastern Isles Green tickY    83.8 207.1 SV947144 1971 Map
Eglarooze Cliff Green tickY    30.8 76.1 SX349539 1951 Map
Folly Rocks   Green tickY  2.4 6.0 SW573280 1990 Map
Gerrans Bay to Camels Cove Green tickY Green tickY  139.5 344.7 SW920371 1951 Map
Godrevy Head to St Agnes Green tickY Green tickY  627.4 1550.3 SW582423 1951 Map
Goonhilly Downs Green tickY   1271.0 3140.7 SW720200 1951 Map
Goss and Tregoss Moors Green tickY   701.9 1734.4 SW950600 1988 Map
Great Pool (Tresco) Green tickY   17.5 43.2 SV894146 1971 Map
Great Wheal Fortune   Green tickY 0.6 1.4 SW627289 1991 Map
Greenamoor Green tickY    32.5 80.3 SX240955 1992 Map
Greenscoombe Wood, Luckett Green tickY    29.3 72.4 SX394725 1973 Map
Greystone Quarry   Green tickY  4.4 10.9 SX366805 1994 Map
Grimscott Green tickY   11.0 27.1 SS279076 1992 Map
Gugh Green tickY   37.7 93.2 SV890083 1976 Map
Gwithian to Mexico Towans Green tickY Green tickY 371.1 917.2 SW570395 1953 Map
Harbour Cove   Green tickY 29.1 71.9 SW915768 1990 Map
Hawks Tor Pit   Green tickY 5.9 14.7 SX150749 1993 Map
Hayle Estuary & Carrack Gladden Green tickY    190.3 470.2 SW550379 1951 Map
Higher Moors and Porth Hellick Pool (St Mary's) Green tickY    16.2 40.0 SV924108 1971 Map
Hingston Down Quarry & Consols   Green tickY  24.2 59.8 SX410718 1995 Map
Kelsey Head Green tickY    227.6 562.4 SW775600 1951 Map
Kennack to Coverack Green tickY  Green tickY 265.7 656.5 SW733164 1951 Map
Kernick and Ottery Meadows Green tickY    29.8 71.6 SX185913 1992 Map
Kingsand to Sandway Point   Green tickY 6.7 15.3 SX439508 1994 Map
Lidcott Mine   Green tickY 0.1 0.3 SX241851 1987 Map
Loe Pool Green tickY  Green tickY  128.7 318.0 SW647250 1951 Map
Loggans Moor Green tickY    10.7 26.4 SW577390 1986 Map
Lower Bostraze and Leswidden Green tickY    2.3 5.7 SW385315 1996 Map
Lower Fal & Helford Intertidal Green tickY  Green tickY 277.7 686.2 SW860334 1997 Map
Lower Moors Green tickY    10.2 25.2 SV912106 1971 Map
Luxulyan Quarry   Green tickY 49.9 123.5 SX055590 1993 Map
Lymsworthy Meadows Green tickY    7.7 19.0 SS272108 1992 Map
Lynher Estuary Green tickY    687.3 1698.3 SX375565 1951 Map
Malpas Estuary Green tickY    101.5 250.8 SW835430 1951 Map
Marazion Marsh Green tickY    59.9 148.0 SW515318 1951 Map
Meddon Moor Green tickY    32.0 79.0 SS272173 1992 Map
Meneage Coastal Section Green tickY  Green tickY  79.7 197.0 SW777261 1994 Map
Merthen Wood Green tickY    72.2 178.4 SW730263 1972 Map
Minster Church Green tickY    0.7 1.7 SX111905 1998 Map
Mulberry Downs Quarry   Green tickY  3.2 7.9 SX019658 1973 Map
Mullion Cliff to Predannack Cliff Green tickY  Green tickY  108.5 268.1 SW670156 1951 Map
Nance Wood Green tickY    9.8 24.2 SW665450 1951 Map
Newlyn Downs Green tickY    115.7 285.9 SW834545 1997 Map
Norrard Rocks Green tickY    35.6 88.0 SV860135 1971 Map
Ottery Valley Green tickY    32.5 80.3 SX161895 1994 Map
Park Wood Green tickY    32.7 80.9 SX345667 1988 Map
Penberthy Croft Mine   Green tickY  2.3 5.7 SW552324 1993 Map
Penhale Dunes Green tickY    1070.4 2645.0 SW771572 1953 Map
Peninnis Head (St. Mary's) Green tickY  Green tickY  16.1 39.7 SV911094 1971 Map
Penlee Point   Green tickY  1.8 4.4 SW473269 1990 Map
Penlee Quarry   Green tickY  25.8 64.0 SW468278 1997 Map
Pentire Peninsula Green tickY  Green tickY  113.7 281.0 SW934798 1951 Map
Pentle Bay, Merrick And Round Islands Green tickY    42.8 105.7 SV896139 1976 Map
Phoenix United Mine Green tickY    29.8 73.6 SX266724 1996 Map
Plains and Great Bay (St. Martin's) Green tickY    15.0 37.1 SV924163 1971 Map
Plymouth Sound Shores And Cliffs Green tickY    45.0 111.2 SX442488 1997 Map
Polruan to Polperro Green tickY    213.4 527.3 SX122508 1951 Map
Polyne Quarry   Green tickY  0.1 0.2 SX225531 1988 Map
Polyphant   Green tickY  3.4 8.4 SX260825 1994 Map
Pool of Bryher & Popplestone Bank (Bryher) Green tickY    5.9 14.6 SV875148 1971 Map
Porth Seal (St. Martin's)   Green tickY  1.1 2.6 SV918166 1976 Map
Porthcew   Green tickY  9.6 23.7 SW593270 1990 Map
Porthgwarra to Pordenack Point Green tickY    157.9 390.2 SW371217 1977 Map
Porthleven Cliffs   Green tickY  8.8 21.7 SW623257 1973 Map
Porthleven Cliffs East   Green tickY  13.1 32.4 SW634250 1990 Map
Porthloo   Green tickY  0.7 1.7 SV907117 1996 Map
Rame Head & Whitsand Bay Green tickY  Green tickY  160.1 395.6 SX367537 1996 Map
Red Moor Green tickY    89.1 220.2 SX072613 1979 Map
Redlake Meadows & Hoggs Moor Green tickY    30.5 75.4 SX128590 1995 Map
Retire Common Green tickY    61.8 152.7 SX005635 1951 Map
River Camel Valley and Tributaries Green tickY    621.2 1534.9 SX060707 1998 Map
Roche Rock   Green tickY  2.2 5.4 SW991596 1991 Map
Rock Dunes Green tickY  Green tickY  68.1 168.3 SW926765 1953 Map
Rosemullion Green tickY  Green tickY  20.5 50.7 SW795281 1990 Map
Rosenannon Bog and Downs Green tickY    135.5 334.7 SW955675 1951 Map
Rosenun Lane   Green tickY  0.4 0.9 SX249617 1988 Map
Rushy Bay and Heathy Hill Green tickY    12.2 30.1 SV874142 1971 Map
Samson (with Green, White, Puffin & Stony Islands) Green tickY    38.7 95.6 SV878125 1971 Map
Shipman Head & Shipman Down Green tickY  Green tickY  40.7 100.6 SV877158 1971 Map
South Terras Mine   Green tickY  0.6 1.5 SW933523 1996 Map
St Agnes Beacon Pits   Green tickY  7.9 19.5 SW705510 1951 Map
St Austell Clay Pits Green tickY    0.6 1.5 SW996586 2000 Map
St Erth Sand Pits   Green tickY  3.9 9.6 SW557351 1962 Map
St Helen's (With Northwethel & Men-a-vaur) Green tickY    26.6 65.7 SV900170 1971 Map
St John's Lake Green tickY    279.2 689.9 SX430540 1973 Map
St Martin's Sedimentary Shore Green tickY  Green tickY  34.1 84.2 SV920160 1996 Map
St Mewan Beacon   Green tickY  0.7 1.7 SW986534 1993 Map
St Michael's Mount   Green tickY  2.6 6.3 SW515298 1995 Map
St Nectan's Glen Green tickY    3.4 8.4 SX080885 1985 Map
Steeple Point to Marsland Mouth Green tickY    342.8 847.1 SS212174 1973 Map
Stepper Point   Green tickY  1.6 3.9 SW915783 1990 Map
Stourscombe Quarry   Green tickY  0.5 1.2 SX344839 1953 Map
Swanpool Green tickY  Green tickY  8.9 22.0 SW802315 1995 Map
Sylvia's Meadow Green tickY    4.5 11.4 SX412708 1992 Map
Talland Barton Green tickY    2.0 5.0 SX227515 2009 Map
Tamar–Tavy Estuary Green tickY    1422.3 3514.6 SX435591 1991 Map
Tater-du   Green tickY  4.8 11.9 SW440231 1992 Map
Teän Green tickY  Green tickY  18.8 46.4 SV909166 1971 Map
Tintagel Cliffs Green tickY  Green tickY  221.8 548.1 SX042857 1951 Map
Trebetherick Point   Green tickY  20.6 50.9 SW925780 1951 Map
Treen Cliff Green tickY    49.3 121.8 SW395224 1951 Map
Tregargus Quarries   Green tickY  1.8 4.4 SW949541 1951 Map
Tregonetha & Belowda Downs Green tickY    105.1 259.8 SW960630 2000 Map
Tregonning Hill Green tickY    5.2 12.9 SW601299 1994 Map
Trehane Barton Green tickY    0.0 0.0 SW866482 1989 Map
Trelavour Downs   Green tickY  0.3 0.7 SW960575 1990 Map
Trelow Downs Green tickY    149.8 370.2 SW925683 1999 Map
Tremearne Par   Green tickY  14.5 35.9 SW610266 1992 Map
Trevaunance Cove   Green tickY  6.8 16.9 SW723517 1993 Map
Trevone Bay   Green tickY  9.4 23.2 SW889763 1990 Map
Trevose Head and Constantine Bay Green tickY  Green tickY  158.5 391.7 SW858753 1951 Map
Upper Fal Estuary and Woods Green tickY    603.5 1490.6 SW850410 1968 Map
Upper Fowey Valley Green tickY    124.0 306.4 SX215730 1989 Map
Ventongimps Moor Green tickY    8.2 20.4 SW781510 1951 Map
Viverdon Quarry   Green tickY  0.4 1.0 SX374675 1985 Map
Watermill Cove   Green tickY  0.5 1.2 SV925122 1996 Map
West Cornwall Bryophytes Green tickY    53.9 133.3 SW661407 1999 Map
West Lizard Green tickY  Green tickY  776.3 1917.4 SW671154 1968 Map
Western Rocks Green tickY    62.7 154.9 SV850070 1971 Map
Wheal Alfred   Green tickY  1.1 2.8 SW580370 1990 Map
Wheal Gorland   Green tickY  0.6 1.5 SW732429 1988 Map
Wheal Martyn   Green tickY  0.1 0.3 SX002555 1990 Map
Wheal Penrose   Green tickY  0.9 2.2 SW634252 1993 Map
White Island (off St. Martin's) Green tickY  Green tickY  16.6 40.9 SV925176 1971 Map
Wingletang Down Green tickY    28.9 71.4 SV884075 1971 Map
Yeolmbridge Quarry   Green tickY  0.7 1.7 SX322874 1990 Map

See also

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Notes

[edit]
A Reason for designation; either for the site's biological interest, or its geological interest.
B Data rounded to one decimal place.
C Grid reference is based on the British national grid reference system, also known as OSGB36, and is the system used by the Ordnance Survey.[8]
D Link to maps using the Nature on the Map service provided by Natural England.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Mid-Year Population Estimates, UK, June 2022". Office for National Statistics. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  2. ^ "Geodiversity: Cornwall (inc Isles of Scilly)". Natural England. Archived from the original on 11 January 2011. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
  3. ^ "AONB: Cornwall". Natural England. Archived from the original on 28 August 2011. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
  4. ^ "Guidelines for selection of biological SSSIs". Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  5. ^ "County search of SSSIs". Natural England. Archived from the original on 19 August 2010. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
  6. ^ "SSSIs in Cornwall". Natural England. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
  7. ^ Natural England citation sheets for each SSSI (PDF). Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  8. ^ "Guide to National Grid". Ordnance Survey. Archived from the original on 27 October 2007. Retrieved 2 July 2007.