This is a list of the Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) on the Isle of Wight, England. The Isle of Wight is an island and county three miles off the south coast of England in the English Channel. Its geology is complex, with a chalk downland ridge running east to west through its centre and important fossil beds from the Lower Cretaceous to the Lower Tertiary around the coast. This geology gives rise to many distinct habitats, with strong maritime influences, including chalk grassland, neutral meadows, and broad-leaved woodland. The Isle of Wight has a population of 140,000, making it one of the country's smaller counties in terms of population.
In England, the body responsible for designating SSSIs is Natural England, which chooses a site because of its fauna, flora, geological or physiographical features. 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. , there are 41 sites designated in this Area of Search; of these, 26 have been designated for their biological interest, 4 for their geological interest, and 11 for both.
The data in the table is taken from citation sheets for each SSSI, available at their website.Natural England citation sheets for each SSSI (PDF files). Retrieved on 2006-07-07.
Sites Site name Reason for designation Area Grid reference Year in which notified Map Biological interest Geological interest Hectares Acres Alverstone Marshes83.8207.01951 America Wood21.452.91986 Arreton Down 29.873.61979 Bembridge Down 56.3139.01951 Bembridge School And Cliffs12.631.11999 Bonchurch Landslips28.269.71977 Bouldnor And Hamstead Cliffs95.7236.41951 Brading Marshes to St. Helen's Ledges488.51,207.01951 Briddlesford Copses167.2413.22003 Calbourne Down15.438.11989 Colwell Bay13.634.21959 Compton Chine to Steephill Cove629.21,554.82003 Compton Down196.3484.91951 Cranmore12.430.72002 Cridmore Bog14.435.61985 Eaglehead and Bloodstone Copses10.325.51987 Freshwater Marshes23.357.61951 Garston's Down20.350.21971 Greatwood And Cliff Copses16.340.3 – 1986 Headon Warren And West High Down276.3682.61951 King's Quay Shore97.2240.11951 Lacey's Farm Quarry0.10.31993 Lake Allotments0.20.51988 Locks Farm Meadow2.35.71988 Medina Estuary100.5248.31977 Mottistone Down31.477.61971 Newtown Harbour619.31,530.31951 Northpark Copse9.924.51986 Parkhurst Forest183.5453.31986 Priory Woods2.97.31998 Prospect Quarry4.310.61971 Rew Down23.558.11977 Rowridge Valley39.898.31951 Ryde Sands and Wootton Creek424.41,048.7 – 1993 Shide Quarry4.811.81971 St Lawrence Bank0.51.21998 The Wilderness12.631.11951 Thorness Bay86.2213.01966 Ventnor Downs162.6401.81951 Whitecliff Bay And Bembridge Ledges131.6325.21955 Yar Estuary132.4327.21977
Notes Data rounded to one decimal place. Grid reference is based on the British national grid reference system, also known as OSGB36, and is the system used by the Ordnance Survey. Link to maps using the Nature on the Map service provided by English Nature. Arreton Down was originally notified as a geological SSSI, but was then renotified in 1987 for its biological interest only. This site includes three former SSSIs known as St Helen’s Duver, Brading Marshes and St. Helen’s Ledges. They were notified in 1951, 1971 and 1977 respectively. This also includes the former SSSI, Hart’s Farm Meadows which was designated in 1986. This site was formerly known as Gurnard Ledge to Saltmead Ledge SSSI and was extended in 1987.
References