In England, Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) are designated by Natural England, which is responsible for protecting England's natural environment. Designation as an SSSI gives legal protection to the most important wildlife and geological sites.[1] As of May 2019, there are 62 Sites of Special Scientific Interest in the county,[2] 52 of which have been designated for their biological interest, 8 for their geological interest, and 2 for both biological and geological interest.
This site has dry heathland, wet heath and bog. Large areas have been protected from development because they are army training ranges. The site is important for mosses and liverworts and there are nationally important populations of European nightjars, woodlarks, Dartford warblers and hobbies.[11]
This site is important for its fossils of Mesozoic insects, with many well preserved bodies from several orders dating to the Lower Cretaceous period. It has produced new species of aculeata (wasps, ants and bees) and crickets.[14]
This is the most botanically rich aquatic area in England and flora include hairlike pondweed and tasteless water-pepper, both of which are nationally scarce. The site is also nationally important for its invertebrates. There are 24 species of dragonfly and other species include two nationally rare Red Data Book insects.[20]
This area of dry lowland heath and acid grassland is managed for conservation and fauna includes a wide range of breeding birds, the vulnerable heathland spider Oxyopes heterophthalmus and the rare beetle Lomechusoides strumosa. There is also woodland which has a rare moss, Dicranum polysetum.[22]
This damp grassland site on Weald Clay has a rich flora. There are also a number of ponds and the Ray Brook runs through the heath. The grassland is dominated by tussock grass and there are scattered oaks, hawthorns, willows and blackthorns.[26]
These commons have a variety of habitats. Approximately two-thirds of the site is woodland, but there are also areas of scrub, grassland and open water. Many species of insects have been recorded, including 611 beetles, 1140 flies, 146 bugs, 201 spiders, 17 dragonflies and more than 300 butterflies and moths. This represents over one quarter of the British list for these species.[28]
Predominantly in Hampshire, part of the southern area, including Caesar's Camp, straddles the border of Surrey and Hampshire. This site has varied habitats, with heath, woodland, scrub, mire and grassland. The heathland is important for three vulnerable birds, woodlarks, European nightjars and Dartford warblers. There is a rich invertebrate fauna, including the nationally scarce Eumenes coarctatus potter wasp, silver-studded blue butterfly and downy emerald dragonfly.[31]
These woods have a variety of habitats with broadleaved woodland, a conifer plantation, heathland, valley mire and ponds. The heath and plantation support internationally important populations of three vulnerable birds, woodlark, European nightjar and Dartford warbler, together with nationally important populations of dragonflies and damselflies.[35]
This site exposes rocks of the Atherfield Clay Formation, dating to the Aptian stage of the Lower Cretaceous around 120 million years ago. It shows the onset of marine conditions in southern England in the Aptian and it has diverse bivalve fossils.[38]
This is a steep valley cut through a broad flood plain. Much of the site is wooded, with areas of tall fen, grassland and standing water. There is a diverse fly population, including several rare species, such as Lonchoptera scutellata cranefly, Stratiomys potamida and the cranefly Gonomyia bifida.[43]
The site consists of a number of separate areas with a mosaic of habitats, such as ancient woodland and conifer plantations. Over 500 species of butterflies and moths have been recorded, including several which are rare and endangered, such as the large tortoiseshell butterfly and the rest harrow and orange upperwing moths. Other insects include the Cheilosia carbonariahoverfly.[46]
This site has ancient woodland and steeply sloping chalk grassland together with associated secondary woodland and scrub. A large part of the grassland is dominated by tor-grass, but in some areas mowing and rabbit grazing have produced a rich chalk grassland flora including the endangered greater yellow-rattle. There are rich bird and butterfly fauna.[50]
The common has a variety of habitats, such as wet and dry heathland, and its fauna and flora include many rare and scarce species. There are more than eighty birds species, including nationally important breeding populations of European nightjars, woodlarks and Dartford warblers. The site is also very important for invertebrates, with sixty-four rare or scarce species.[59]
The pit exposes temperate and subtropical palaeoenvironments of the Weald Clay Group, dating to the Lower Cretaceous. The site is particularly important for its several thousand fossil insects, including the first described social insect, a termite. There are also aquatic plants, fish and reptiles.[62]
Habitats in this site include wet and dry heath, bog and unimproved grassland. Much of the site is a military danger area and as a result little is known of its rare fauna and flora. Waterlogged areas have a layer of peat with a mass of peat mosses and a diverse bog flora. Areas of open heath provide a habitat for a variety of heathland bird species to breed.[66]
This is an area of ancient forest on a south facing slope. It has a variety of woodland types due to the geological diversity of the escarpment at different levels. At the bottom is a stream with poorly drained woodland dominated by alder and a ground layer with plants such as marsh marigold and pendulous sedge.[70]
This site on a slope of the North Downs is mainly woodland and scrub, with a small area of unimproved chalk grassland. The woodland is dominated by beech and yew. There is a wide variety of bryophytes, including the rare moss Herzogiella seligeri.[74]
Habitats in this site include broadleaved and conifer woodland, heath and meadows. The invertebrate fauna is rich and varied. More than sixty species of bird breed on the site, including wood warblers, common redstarts, firecrests, redpolls and crossbill.[77]
More than 2,000 species of insects have been recorded on this site, many of which are nationally rare or scarce, although some have probably been lost due to recent reductions in the area of heath. However, there is still an outstanding community of invertebrates, and rare species include the water beetle Graphoderus cinereus, the ladybird Coccinella distincta and the bark beetle Platypus cylindrus.[88]
The three ponds on this site have been created by damming, with the oldest, Leigh Mill Pond, estimated to be around 1,500 years old. There are also areas of wet alder woodland, and 54 species of breeding birds have been recorded. The site is also important for invertebrates, especially craneflies.[93]
This heathland site is dominated by ling, bell heather and wavy hair-grass, with other plants including bryophytes and lichens. The south facing aspect of the site and patches of bare sand make it suitable for egg-laying reptiles, including a large population of the endangered and specially protected sand lizard.[95]
This sandy arable field has been designated an SSSI because of its large population of a nationally endangered plant, red-tipped cudweed. This was formerly a common weed on arable fields, but it has been in sharp decline since the 1960s. The colonies in the site and neighbouring fields may represent as much as 50% of the British population.[103]
Hedgecourt Lake is an ancient mill pond formed by damming the Eden Brook. Other habitats are fen, grassland and woodland. There are wetland breeding birds such as water rail, mute swan, sedge warbler, kingfisher and tufted duck.[106]
This site on the Bagshot Beds has diverse fauna and flora characteristic of heathland areas. It is one of the richest places in the county for bees, wasps and ants, with 163 species recorded, including 15 spider-hunting wasps, the potter wasp and the European wool carder bee.[108]
These reservoirs support many wildfowl, including nationally important numbers of wintering shovelers and substantial populations of gadwalls, cormorants and goldeneyes.[114]
The pond and its surrounding alluvial meadows on chalk represent a habitat unique in southern England. The pond is the remains of an oxbow lake, formed when a meander of the River Thames was bypassed. The pond contains all four British duckweeds, three nationally scarce plants and a species of fly which has been found nowhere else in Britain, Cerodontha ornata.[116]
These woods support diverse breeding birds, including all three species of British woodpeckers found in Britain. The invertebrate population is outstanding, with many nationally rare and uncommon species, such as the beetles Notolaemus unifasciatus, which is found on dead wood, Silvanus bidentatus, which feeds on fungus, and the water beetle Agabus melanarius. There are two nationally rare moths.[119]
This site has unimproved meadows which are poorly drained and there are a number of uncommon plants, including two which are nationally scarce, true fox-sedge and narrow-leaved water-dropwort. The site also has species-rich mature hedgerows and aquatic plants in ditches which run into the Eden Brook, which runs along the northern boundary.[121]
This eight mile long site on the North Downs contains an outstanding range of wildlife habitats, including large areas of woodland and chalk grassland. Mole Gap has a variety of Quaternary landforms and there are well developed river cliffs where alluvial fans have diverted the River Mole against the valley sides.[131]
This site is mainly heathland but it also has areas of open water, bog, woodland and scrub. It has a rich flora and it is of national importance for true flies and for dragonflies and damselflies. Rare species include the white-faced darter dragonfly and the Thyridanthrax fenestratus bee fly.[140]
This site has a variety of wetland habitats with marshes, unimproved meadows, streams and flooded gravel pits. More than seventy species of birds breed on Papercourt and ninety species winter there. The stream has a rich flora such as greater sweet-grass, reed canary grass and red pondweed.[143]
These commons on the Folkestone Beds of the Lower Greensand are surviving fragments of a formerly much larger heath. Puttenham Common has two large pools which have a variety of aquatic plants such as white water lily and the rare eight-stamened waterwort. Crooksbury Common is important for the protected smooth snake and sand lizard.[147]
This site is mainly woodland, some of it ancient, but there are also areas of heath and rough pasture. The dominant trees are pedunculate and sessile oaks, with a shrub layer of holly, silver birch and yew. There is a diverse community of breeding birds and invertebrates include the satin wave moth and the white admiral butterfly.[152]
This sloping site on the North Downs has woodland, scrub and botanically rich grassland. The diverse invertebrate fauna includes two nationally rare flies, Norellia spinipes and Microdon devius. A cutting in Mountain Wood exposes a unique gravel Pleistocene deposit which throws light on the Quaternary history of the Weald and the evolution of the London Basin.[165]
This common on Weald Clay has been wooded since the Anglo-Saxon period and past management has left many ancient trees. The canopy is mainly pedunculate oak and the older trees support a rich lichen flora. The moth fauna is outstanding, with six uncommon species.[175]
Staines Moor consists of the alluvial flood meadows, the King George VI Reservoir, the Staines Reservoirs and a stretch of the River Colne. The reservoirs have nationally important populations of wintering wildfowl and a pond has a nationally important aquatic flora, including one of only three known British localities of the brown galingale.[177]
This deep pond in an urban area has been designated an SSSI because it has one of the largest colonies of great crested newts in England, with 400 to 500 adults during the breeding season. There is also a population of more than 1,000 smooth newts.[182]
This former gravel pit has been designated an SSSI because it is nationally important for wintering gadwall. There are also several other species of wintering wildfowl, such as goldeneyes and smew.[187]
This site is of national importance for its invertebrates, birds and reptiles. It is mainly heathland but the valley mire on Thursley Common is one of the best in the country. Orthoptera include the nationally rare large marsh grasshopper. The site is one of the richest in southern England for birds and of outstanding importance for reptiles, such as the nationally rare sand lizard.[195]
These pits have yielded deposits which are part of the Netley Heath Beds, which date to the Early Pleistocene and are related to the Red Crag Formation. There is a considerable difference in elevation compared with the Red Crag of East Anglia, suggesting differential warping. Near the base there are sandy deposits with many marine fossils.[200]
This site has a lake and ancient woodland which is botanically rich, especially for mosses, liverworts and fungi. There are diverse species of breeding birds and invertebrates include the rare Molophilus lackschewitzianus cranefly and purple emperor and silver-washed fritillary butterflies. There is also a population of dormice.[203]
This 4-kilometre (2.5-mile) long stretch of the valley of the River Wey consists of species-rich unimproved meadows. Much of it is maintained by rabbit grazing, but there are also areas wet fen meadow, woodland and scrub. Snipe, lapwing and kingfisher breed on the site.[205]
This site on the heath of the London Basin has a variety of heathland habitats, as well as areas of woodland, meadow and still and running water. The heath has a nationally scarce spider, Oxyopes heterophthalmus and beetle Hyperaspis pseudopustulata and there are nationally important populations of several bird species.[209]
This large site has woodland with many ancient trees and large areas of parkland. It is second only to the New Forest for the diversity of its invertebrates, including many Red Data Book beetles and flies. There is an internationally important population of the violet click beetle. The fungi species are very diverse, including some which are extremely rare.[214]
^"Ash Ranges". Surrey Wildlife Trust. Archived from the original on 24 October 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
^"Ash to Brookwood Heaths citation"(PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
^"Auclaye (Palaeoentomology)". Geological Conservation Review. Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Archived from the original on 25 October 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
^"Auclaye citation"(PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
^"Banstead Downs citation"(PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
^"Basingstoke Canal citation"(PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
^"Basingstoke Canal citation"(PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
^"Blackheath citation"(PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
^"Blindley Heath". Surrey Wildlife Trust. Archived from the original on 24 October 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
^"Blindley Heath citation"(PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
^"Bookham Commons citation"(PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
^"Brook Brick Pit (Aptian-Albian)". Geological Conservation Review. Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Archived from the original on 26 October 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
^"Brook Brick Pit citation"(PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
^"Thundry Meadows". Surrey Wildlife Trust. Archived from the original on 24 October 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
^"Charleshill citation"(PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
^"Charterhouse to Eashing citation"(PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
^"Fir Tree Copse". Surrey Wildlife Trust. Archived from the original on 24 October 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
^"Chiddingfold Forest citation"(PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
^"Fames Rough". Surrey Wildlife Trust. Archived from the original on 24 October 2018. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
^"Shabden Park". Surrey Wildlife Trust. Archived from the original on 24 October 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
^"Chipstead Downs citation"(PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
^"Chobham Common". Surrey Wildlife Trust. Archived from the original on 24 October 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
^"Gracious Pond". Surrey Wildlife Trust. Archived from the original on 24 October 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
^"Chobham Common citation"(PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
^"Clock House (Palaeoentomology)". Geological Conservation Review. Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Archived from the original on 26 October 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
^"Clock House Brickworks citation"(PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
^"Colyers Hanger citation"(PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
^"Shere Woodlands". Surrey Wildlife Trust. Archived from the original on 24 October 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
^"Combe Bottom citation"(PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
^"Devil's Punch Bowl citation"(PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
^"Dumsey Meadow citation"(PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
^"West End Common". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Archived from the original on 18 October 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
^"Esher Commons citation"(PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
^"Glover's Wood citation"(PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
^"Godstone Ponds citation"(PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
^"Gong Hill citation"(PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
^"Hankley Farm citation"(PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
^"Hedgecourt". Surrey Wildlife Trust. Archived from the original on 24 October 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
^"Hedgecourt citation"(PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
^"Horsell Common citation"(PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
^"Langham Pond citation"(PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
^"Leith Hill citation"(PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
^"Lingfield Cernes citation"(PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
^"Moor Park citation"(PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
^"Chiddingfold (Wealden)". Geological Conservation Review. Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Archived from the original on 29 October 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
^"Papercourt Marshes". Surrey Wildlife Trust. Archived from the original on 24 October 2018. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
^"Papercourt citation"(PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
^"Quarry Hangers". Surrey Wildlife Trust. Archived from the original on 24 October 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
^"Quarry Hangers citation"(PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
^"Ranmore Common citation"(PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
^"Reigate Heat citation"(PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
^"Seale Chalk Pit citation"(PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
^"Sheepleas". Surrey Wildlife Trust. Archived from the original on 24 October 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
^"Sheepleas citation"(PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
^"Smart's and Prey Heaths citation"(PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
^"Smokejack (Palaeoentomology)". Geological Conservation Review. Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Archived from the original on 29 October 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
^"Smokejack Clay Pit citation"(PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
^"Staffhurst Wood". Surrey Wildlife Trust. Archived from the original on 24 October 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
^"Staffhurst Wood citation"(PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
^"Stock Farm Quarry (Aptian-Albian)". Geological Conservation Review. Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Archived from the original on 29 October 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
^"Stockstone Quarry citation"(PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
^"Stones Road Pond citation"(PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
^"Thorpe Hay Meadow". Surrey Wildlife Trust. Archived from the original on 24 October 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
^"Thorpe Hay Meadow citation"(PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
^"Titsey Woods citation"(PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
^"Upper Common Pits citation"(PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
^"Wey Valley Meadowscitation"(PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
^"Whitmoor Common citation"(PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
^"Wraysbury Reservoir citation"(PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
Sources
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