This is a list of the
Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in the former county of
Avon, England, United Kingdom. In England the body responsible for designating SSSIs is
Natural England, which chooses a site because of its
fauna,
flora,
geological or physiographical features.[1] Although the county of Avon no longer exists, Natural England still uses its former borders to mark one of its
Areas of Search. As of 2006, there are 86 sites designated in this
Area of Search, of which 38 have been designated due to their biological interest, 39 due to their geological interest, and 9 for both.[2]
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 English counties were revised under the 1974 reorganisation of local government. Until the 2010s,
Natural England, which maintains the database of English SSSIs, kept the listing of counties as it was in 1974, but by 2015 they had updated their lists to reflect some later changes. However, even though Avon was abolished in 1996 it is still used as an area of search by Natural England, rather than being divided between the
Gloucestershire and
Somerset lists.[3]
The data in the table is taken from English Nature in the form of citation sheets for each SSSI.[4]
C Link to maps using the Nature on the Map service provided by Natural England.
D Size smaller than can be shown with one decimal place. Actual size: 0.006 (ha.) 0.015 (ac.).[4]
E Incorporates two former SSSIs: Severn Estuary (notified 1976) and part of Brean Down and Uphill Cliff (notified 1952). It was unified as Severn Estuary in 1989. It also overlaps with several other SSSIs:
This is a list of the
Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in the former county of
Avon, England, United Kingdom. In England the body responsible for designating SSSIs is
Natural England, which chooses a site because of its
fauna,
flora,
geological or physiographical features.[1] Although the county of Avon no longer exists, Natural England still uses its former borders to mark one of its
Areas of Search. As of 2006, there are 86 sites designated in this
Area of Search, of which 38 have been designated due to their biological interest, 39 due to their geological interest, and 9 for both.[2]
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 English counties were revised under the 1974 reorganisation of local government. Until the 2010s,
Natural England, which maintains the database of English SSSIs, kept the listing of counties as it was in 1974, but by 2015 they had updated their lists to reflect some later changes. However, even though Avon was abolished in 1996 it is still used as an area of search by Natural England, rather than being divided between the
Gloucestershire and
Somerset lists.[3]
The data in the table is taken from English Nature in the form of citation sheets for each SSSI.[4]
C Link to maps using the Nature on the Map service provided by Natural England.
D Size smaller than can be shown with one decimal place. Actual size: 0.006 (ha.) 0.015 (ac.).[4]
E Incorporates two former SSSIs: Severn Estuary (notified 1976) and part of Brean Down and Uphill Cliff (notified 1952). It was unified as Severn Estuary in 1989. It also overlaps with several other SSSIs: