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List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Cornwall

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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 km (875,988.6 acres), making it one of the least densely populated counties within England. 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. 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.

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". 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 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. The data in the table is taken from English Nature in the form of citation sheets for each SSSI.

Sites

Site name Biological Interest Geological Interest Area (hectares) Area (acres) Grid reference Year in which notified Map
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 tick Green tick 287.4 710.1 SW775192 1951 Map
Eastern Isles Green tick   83.8 207.1 SV947144 1971 Map
Eglarooze Cliff Green tick   30.8 76.1 SX349539 1951 Map
Folly Rocks   Green tick 2.4 6.0 SW573280 1990 Map
Gerrans Bay to Camels Cove Green tickY Green tick 139.5 344.7 SW920371 1951 Map
Godrevy Head to St Agnes Green tickY Green tick 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 tick   32.5 80.3 SX240955 1992 Map
Greenscoombe Wood, Luckett Green tick   29.3 72.4 SX394725 1973 Map
Greystone Quarry   Green tick 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 tick   190.3 470.2 SW550379 1951 Map
Higher Moors and Porth Hellick Pool (St Mary's) Green tick   16.2 40.0 SV924108 1971 Map
Hingston Down Quarry & Consols   Green tick 24.2 59.8 SX410718 1995 Map
Kelsey Head Green tick   227.6 562.4 SW775600 1951 Map
Kennack to Coverack Green tick Green tickY 265.7 656.5 SW733164 1951 Map
Kernick and Ottery Meadows Green tick   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 tick Green tick 128.7 318.0 SW647250 1951 Map
Loggans Moor Green tick   10.7 26.4 SW577390 1986 Map
Lower Bostraze and Leswidden Green tick   2.3 5.7 SW385315 1996 Map
Lower Fal & Helford Intertidal Green tick Green tickY 277.7 686.2 SW860334 1997 Map
Lower Moors Green tick   10.2 25.2 SV912106 1971 Map
Luxulyan Quarry   Green tickY 49.9 123.5 SX055590 1993 Map
Lymsworthy Meadows Green tick   7.7 19.0 SS272108 1992 Map
Lynher Estuary Green tick   687.3 1698.3 SX375565 1951 Map
Malpas Estuary Green tick   101.5 250.8 SW835430 1951 Map
Marazion Marsh Green tick   59.9 148.0 SW515318 1951 Map
Meddon Moor Green tick   32.0 79.0 SS272173 1992 Map
Meneage Coastal Section Green tick Green tick 79.7 197.0 SW777261 1994 Map
Merthen Wood Green tick   72.2 178.4 SW730263 1972 Map
Minster Church Green tick   0.7 1.7 SX111905 1998 Map
Mulberry Downs Quarry   Green tick 3.2 7.9 SX019658 1973 Map
Mullion Cliff to Predannack Cliff Green tick Green tick 108.5 268.1 SW670156 1951 Map
Nance Wood Green tick   9.8 24.2 SW665450 1951 Map
Newlyn Downs Green tick   115.7 285.9 SW834545 1997 Map
Norrard Rocks Green tick   35.6 88.0 SV860135 1971 Map
Ottery Valley Green tick   32.5 80.3 SX161895 1994 Map
Park Wood Green tick   32.7 80.9 SX345667 1988 Map
Penberthy Croft Mine   Green tick 2.3 5.7 SW552324 1993 Map
Penhale Dunes Green tick   1070.4 2645.0 SW771572 1953 Map
Peninnis Head (St. Mary's) Green tick Green tick 16.1 39.7 SV911094 1971 Map
Penlee Point   Green tick 1.8 4.4 SW473269 1990 Map
Penlee Quarry   Green tick 25.8 64.0 SW468278 1997 Map
Pentire Peninsula Green tick Green tick 113.7 281.0 SW934798 1951 Map
Pentle Bay, Merrick And Round Islands Green tick   42.8 105.7 SV896139 1976 Map
Phoenix United Mine Green tick   29.8 73.6 SX266724 1996 Map
Plains and Great Bay (St. Martin's) Green tick   15.0 37.1 SV924163 1971 Map
Plymouth Sound Shores And Cliffs Green tick   45.0 111.2 SX442488 1997 Map
Polruan to Polperro Green tick   213.4 527.3 SX122508 1951 Map
Polyne Quarry   Green tick 0.1 0.2 SX225531 1988 Map
Polyphant   Green tick 3.4 8.4 SX260825 1994 Map
Pool of Bryher & Popplestone Bank (Bryher) Green tick   5.9 14.6 SV875148 1971 Map
Porth Seal (St. Martin's)   Green tick 1.1 2.6 SV918166 1976 Map
Porthcew   Green tick 9.6 23.7 SW593270 1990 Map
Porthgwarra to Pordenack Point Green tick   157.9 390.2 SW371217 1977 Map
Porthleven Cliffs   Green tick 8.8 21.7 SW623257 1973 Map
Porthleven Cliffs East   Green tick 13.1 32.4 SW634250 1990 Map
Porthloo   Green tick 0.7 1.7 SV907117 1996 Map
Rame Head & Whitsand Bay Green tick Green tick 160.1 395.6 SX367537 1996 Map
Red Moor Green tick   89.1 220.2 SX072613 1979 Map
Redlake Meadows & Hoggs Moor Green tick   30.5 75.4 SX128590 1995 Map
Retire Common Green tick   61.8 152.7 SX005635 1951 Map
River Camel Valley and Tributaries Green tick   621.2 1534.9 SX060707 1998 Map
Roche Rock   Green tick 2.2 5.4 SW991596 1991 Map
Rock Dunes Green tick Green tick 68.1 168.3 SW926765 1953 Map
Rosemullion Green tick Green tick 20.5 50.7 SW795281 1990 Map
Rosenannon Bog and Downs Green tick   135.5 334.7 SW955675 1951 Map
Rosenun Lane   Green tick 0.4 0.9 SX249617 1988 Map
Rushy Bay and Heathy Hill Green tick   12.2 30.1 SV874142 1971 Map
Samson (with Green, White, Puffin & Stony Islands) Green tick   38.7 95.6 SV878125 1971 Map
Shipman Head & Shipman Down Green tick Green tick 40.7 100.6 SV877158 1971 Map
South Terras Mine   Green tick 0.6 1.5 SW933523 1996 Map
St Agnes Beacon Pits   Green tick 7.9 19.5 SW705510 1951 Map
St Austell Clay Pits Green tick   0.6 1.5 SW996586 2000 Map
St Erth Sand Pits   Green tick 3.9 9.6 SW557351 1962 Map
St Helen's (With Northwethel & Men-a-vaur) Green tick   26.6 65.7 SV900170 1971 Map
St John's Lake Green tick   279.2 689.9 SX430540 1973 Map
St Martin's Sedimentary Shore Green tick Green tick 34.1 84.2 SV920160 1996 Map
St Mewan Beacon   Green tick 0.7 1.7 SW986534 1993 Map
St Michael's Mount   Green tick 2.6 6.3 SW515298 1995 Map
St Nectan's Glen Green tick   3.4 8.4 SX080885 1985 Map
Steeple Point to Marsland Mouth Green tick   342.8 847.1 SS212174 1973 Map
Stepper Point   Green tick 1.6 3.9 SW915783 1990 Map
Stourscombe Quarry   Green tick 0.5 1.2 SX344839 1953 Map
Swanpool Green tick Green tick 8.9 22.0 SW802315 1995 Map
Sylvia's Meadow Green tick   4.5 11.4 SX412708 1992 Map
Talland Barton Green tick   2.0 5.0 SX227515 2009 Map
Tamar–Tavy Estuary Green tick   1422.3 3514.6 SX435591 1991 Map
Tater-du   Green tick 4.8 11.9 SW440231 1992 Map
Teän Green tick Green tick 18.8 46.4 SV909166 1971 Map
Tintagel Cliffs Green tick Green tick 221.8 548.1 SX042857 1951 Map
Trebetherick Point   Green tick 20.6 50.9 SW925780 1951 Map
Treen Cliff Green tick   49.3 121.8 SW395224 1951 Map
Tregargus Quarries   Green tick 1.8 4.4 SW949541 1951 Map
Tregonetha & Belowda Downs Green tick   105.1 259.8 SW960630 2000 Map
Tregonning Hill Green tick   5.2 12.9 SW601299 1994 Map
Trehane Barton Green tick   0.0 0.0 SW866482 1989 Map
Trelavour Downs   Green tick 0.3 0.7 SW960575 1990 Map
Trelow Downs Green tick   149.8 370.2 SW925683 1999 Map
Tremearne Par   Green tick 14.5 35.9 SW610266 1992 Map
Trevaunance Cove   Green tick 6.8 16.9 SW723517 1993 Map
Trevone Bay   Green tick 9.4 23.2 SW889763 1990 Map
Trevose Head and Constantine Bay Green tick Green tick 158.5 391.7 SW858753 1951 Map
Upper Fal Estuary and Woods Green tick   603.5 1490.6 SW850410 1968 Map
Upper Fowey Valley Green tick   124.0 306.4 SX215730 1989 Map
Ventongimps Moor Green tick   8.2 20.4 SW781510 1951 Map
Viverdon Quarry   Green tick 0.4 1.0 SX374675 1985 Map
Watermill Cove   Green tick 0.5 1.2 SV925122 1996 Map
West Cornwall Bryophytes Green tick   53.9 133.3 SW661407 1999 Map
West Lizard Green tick Green tick 776.3 1917.4 SW671154 1968 Map
Western Rocks Green tick   62.7 154.9 SV850070 1971 Map
Wheal Alfred   Green tick 1.1 2.8 SW580370 1990 Map
Wheal Gorland   Green tick 0.6 1.5 SW732429 1988 Map
Wheal Martyn   Green tick 0.1 0.3 SX002555 1990 Map
Wheal Penrose   Green tick 0.9 2.2 SW634252 1993 Map
White Island (off St. Martin's) Green tick Green tick 16.6 40.9 SV925176 1971 Map
Wingletang Down Green tick   28.9 71.4 SV884075 1971 Map
Yeolmbridge Quarry   Green tick 0.7 1.7 SX322874 1990 Map
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See also

Notes

Reason for designation; either for the site's biological interest, or its geological interest.
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 Natural England.

References

  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.
SSSIs in the United Kingdom, grouped by Area of Search
England
Scotland
Wales
Northern Ireland
Biological Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
Summary
Cornwall
Isles of Scilly
Neighbouring areas
Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Devon
Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Somerset
Geological Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
Summary
Cornwall
Isles of Scilly

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