This article is about SSSIs in Cheshire. For other counties, see
List of SSSIs by Area of Search
.
Mosslands , such as Risley Moss , are one of the major habitat types in Cheshire
There are 63 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in Cheshire , England, covering a total area of 19,844 hectares (49,035 acres). Of these, 51 have been designated for their biological interest, 7 for their geological or geomorphological features, and 5 for both.[1]
SSSIs are governed by the
natural areas: regions defined by natural features rather than by administrative boundaries.
[5] [6] The Cheshire Area of Search encompasses four natural areas.
[1] [7]
Sketch map showing the broad locations of the four natural areas
The majority of the SSSIs fall within the
heath habitat is very rare, occurring only at a handful of sites. The Mid Cheshire Ridge rises abruptly in the middle of the plain, with a high point of 227 metres; its
Triassic sandstones are exposed at the
Raw Head geological site.
[6]
Raw Head
is one of the area's geological SSSIs
Two extensive sites,
Ten SSSIs are located in
Mersey and
Dee , which are Cheshire's largest SSSIs.
[1] [10]
Sites
Site name
Reason for designation
Area[A]
Grid reference[B]
Year in which notified
Map[C]
Citation[D]
Biological interest
Geological interest
Hectares
Acres
Abbots Moss
Y
38.4
94.8
SJ597690
1984
Map
[2]
Alderley Edge
Y
93.6
231.2
SJ848776
1951
Map
[3]
Bagmere
Y
26.9
66.3
SJ795643
1963
Map
[4]
Bar Mere
Y
12.8
31.5
SJ536478
1979
Map
[5]
Beechmill Wood and Pasture
Y
6.2
15.4
SJ540768
1979
Map
[6]
Betley Mere
Y
29.6
73.2
SJ747480
1963
Map
[7]
Bickerton Hill
Y
91.0
224.8
SJ498530
1979
Map
[8]
Black Lake, Delamere
Y
1.7
4.3
SJ537709
1963
Map
[9]
Brookhouse Moss
Y
10.1
24.9
SJ806617
1979
Map
[10]
Chapel Mere
Y
11.8
29.1
SJ540518
1987
Map
[11]
Comber Mere
Y
65.0
160.5
SJ585442
1963
Map
[12]
Dane-In-Shaw Pasture
Y
8.2
20.2
SJ877625
1990
Map
[13]
Danes Moss
Y
51.3
126.8
SJ905704
1985
Map
[14]
Dee Cliffs, Farndon
Y
2.0
5.0
SJ414542
1979
Map
[15]
Dee Estuary
Y
5,241.2
12,951.2
SJ240804
1954
Map
[16]
Dunsdale Hollow
Y
6.9
17.0
SJ513763
1987
Map
[17]
Flaxmere Moss
Y
7.0
17.2
SJ556723
1965
Map
[18]
Flood Brook Clough
Y
5.1
12.6
SJ532800
1979
Map
[19]
Frodsham Railway and Road Cuttings
Y
1.3
3.3
SJ520780
1979
Map
[20]
Gannister Quarry
Y
1.6
4.0
SJ869592
1985
Map
[21]
Gleads Moss
Y
2.8
6.9
SJ821685
1979
Map
[22]
Goyt Valley
Y
1,332.6
3,292.9
SK028746
1951
Map
[23]
Hallwood Farm Marl Pit
Y
0.1
0.3
SJ343759
1986
Map
[24]
Hatch Mere
Y
13.3
32.7
SJ551721
1951
Map
[25]
Hatherton Flush
Y
1.9
4.8
SJ671482
1985
Map
[26]
Hatton's Hey Wood, Whittle's Corner and Bank Rough
Y
23.7
58.5
SJ570770
1979
Map
[27]
Holcroft Moss
Y
18.1
44.7
SJ685932
1991
Map
[28]
Holly Banks [E]
Y
9.3
23.1
SJ815659
1979
Map
[29]
Inner Marsh Farm
Y
22.5
55.6
SJ307733
1998
Map
[30]
Leek Moors
Y
Y
3,970.8
9,812.1
SK010649
1954
Map
[31]
Lindow Common
Y
17.7
43.7
SJ834811
1963
Map
[32]
Linmer Moss
Y
2.4
5.8
SJ547707
1994
Map
[33]
Little Budworth Common
Y
54.4
134.3
SJ585655
1979
Map
[34]
Madams Wood
Y
9.5
23.4
SJ877650
1990
Map
[35]
Mersey Estuary
Y
6,714.5
16,591.9
SJ395818
1951
Map
[36]
Norbury Meres
Y
23.7
58.6
SJ559492
1979
Map
[37]
Oak Mere
Y
68.8
169.9
SJ574677
1986
Map
[38]
Oakhanger Moss
Y
14.4
35.6
SJ767550
1994
Map
[39]
Peckforton Woods
Y
57.9
143.0
SJ531576
1984
Map
[40]
Pettypool Brook Valley
Y
46.7
115.3
SJ617702
1951
Map
[41]
Plumley Lime Beds
Y
23.3
57.5
SJ707750
1963
Map
[42]
Quoisley Meres
Y
28.3
70.0
SJ548455
1963
Map
[43]
Raw Head
Y
13.5
33.4
SJ508544
1979
Map
[44]
Red Brow Cutting
Y
0.2
0.4
SJ567816
1991
Map
[45]
Risley Moss
Y
83.8
207.1
SJ667917
1986
Map
[46]
River Dane [E]
Y
295.8
730.8
SJ808661
1994
Map
[47]
River Dee (England)
Y
Y
371.5
917.9
SJ407658
1996
Map
[48]
Rixton Clay Pits
Y
13.7
33.7
SJ685901
1979
Map
[49]
Roe Park Woods
Y
35.4
87.5
SJ858583
1990
Map
[50]
Rostherne Mere
Y
Y
152.5
376.8
SJ743842
1984
Map
[51]
Sandbach Flashes
Y
Y
157.1
388.2
SJ726607
1963
Map
[52]
Sound Heath
Y
4.8
11.9
SJ620479
1963
Map
[53]
Tabley Mere
Y
44.9
110.9
SJ723768
1963
Map
[54]
Tatton Meres
Y
90.3
223.2
SJ755799
1963
Map
[55]
Taylor's Rough & Wellmeadow Wood
Y
6.5
16.0
SJ493453
1979
Map
[56]
The Mere, Mere
Y
19.4
48.0
SJ732818
1985
Map
[57]
Warburton's Wood and Well Wood
Y
6.9
17.0
SJ554761
1979
Map
[58]
Well Rough and Long Plantation
Y
8.6
21.2
SJ455443
1979
Map
[59]
Wettenhall and Darnhall Woods
Y
45.3
111.9
SJ649626
1979
Map
[60]
Wimboldsley Wood
Y
16.4
40.6
SJ672643
1979
Map
[61]
Witton Lime Beds
Y
16.4
40.5
SJ660749
1979
Map
[62]
Woolston Eyes
Y
269.8
666.7
SJ662885
1985
Map
[63]
Wybunbury Moss
Y
Y
23.2
57.4
SJ696501
1951
Map
[64]
Notes
All tabulated data are sourced from the Natural England website, and were last updated on 1 March 2010.[11] [12]
A Data rounded to one decimal place. Area in acres converted from hectare value.
British national grid reference system, also known as OSGB36, and is the system used by the
Ordnance Survey .
[13]
C Link to maps using the Nature on the Map service provided by Natural England .[14]
D Natural England citation sheets for each SSSI.
E The River Dane and Holly Banks SSSIs overlap.
References
England Scotland Wales Northern Ireland
County Antrim
County Armagh
County Down
County Fermanagh
County Londonderry
County Tyrone