List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Tyne and Wear

There are 37 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in Tyne and Wear, England. In England, the body responsible for designating SSSIs is Natural England, which chooses sites because of their flora, fauna, geological or physiographical features.[1] 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 1974–1996 county system with each area being called an Area of Search.[2]

A map of Tyne and Wear, and its location within the United Kingdom also shown

Tyne and Wear is made up of five administrative local authorities consisting mainly of the two largest cities in the region: Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Sunderland, thus making it the sixth largest conurbation in the United Kingdom. Tyne and Wear shares its borders with Northumberland and County Durham, to the north and south respectively.[3]

Sites

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Site name Reason for Designation Area[A] Grid reference[B] Year in which notified References
Biological interest Geological interest Hectares Acres Map[C] Citation
Big Waters  Y 27.2 67.2 NZ227734 1985 Map [1]
Boldon Pastures  Y 3.5 8.6 NZ381616 1987 Map [2]
Brenkley Meadows  Y 9.2 22.7 NZ217744 1988 Map [3]
Claxheugh Rock and Ford Limestone Quarry  Y  Y 7.1 18.0 NZ363574 1987 Map [4]
Cleadon Hills  Y 10.0 24.6 NZ389631 1984 Map [5]
Dawson's Plantation Quarry  Y 0.7 1.7 NZ336547 1996 Map [6]
Durham Coast  Y  Y 765.4 1,891.0 NZ381685NZ495362 1999 Map [7]
Eppleton Grassland  Y 13.4 33.0 Map [8]
Fulwell and Carley Hill Quarries  Y  Y 6.0 14.8 NZ382598 & NZ388595 1987 Map [9]
Gibside  Y 89.0 219.9 NZ184590 1989 Map [10]
Gilleylaw Quarry  Y 0.2 0.6 NZ375537 1986 Map [11]
Gosforth Park  Y 37.3 92.1 NZ256702 1987 Map [12]
Hallow Hill  Y 7.0 17.3 NZ157658 1986 Map [13]
Harton Down Hill  Y 1.1 2.7 NZ390655 1984 Map [14]
Hastings Hill  Y 1.3 3.1 NZ353544 1984 Map [15]
Herrington Hill  Y 6.9 17.1 NZ367528 1983 Map [16]
Hetton Bogs  Y 11.0 27.0 NZ345486 1984 Map [17]
High Haining Hill  Y 2.9 7.2 NZ357507 1983 Map [18]
High Moorsley  Y  Y 6.8 16.8 NZ333454 1985 Map [19]
Humbledon Hill Quarry  Y 0.1 0.3 NZ382553 1985 Map [20]
Hylton Castle Cutting  Y 1.1 2.8 NZ360588 1986 Map [21]
Joe's Pond  Y 4.5 11.0 NZ328486 1984 Map [22]
Lower Derwent Meadows  Y 4.2 10.3 NZ190613 1986 Map [23]
Moorsley Banks  Y 5.5 13.7 NZ336459 1987 Map [24]
Northumberland Shore  Y  Y 1,925.8 47,574.0 NT980575NU010525 & NU165363NZ365685 1992 Map [25]
Pockerley Farm Pond  Y 1.4 3.4 NZ222555 1984 Map [26]
Prestwick Carr  Y 51.4 127.0 NZ189742 1986 Map [27]
Ridley Gill  Y 12.2 30.1 NZ217556 1985 Map [28]
Ryton Willows  Y 6.9 17.0 NZ 152650, NZ155649, NZ158649 1985 Map [29]
Shibdon Pond  Y 14.6 36.0 NZ195628 1985 Map [30]
South Hylton Pasture  Y 2.8 6.9 NZ357568 1984 Map [31]
Strother Hills  Y 8.1 20.0 NZ153579 1986 Map [32]
Thornley Wood  Y 14.8 36.6 NZ177608 1990 Map [33]
Tunstall Hills and Ryhope Cutting  Y  Y 15.8 39.0 NZ391546, NZ393540 & NZ399537 1988 Map [34]
Tynemouth To Seaton Sluice  Y 97.9 241.9 NZ346755, NZ365716, NZ373694 1989 Map [35]
Wear River Bank  Y 4.8 11.9 NZ360577 1989 Map [36]
West Farm Meadow, Boldon  Y 2.8 6.9 NZ358622 1989 Map [37]

Notes

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A Data rounded to one decimal place.
B Grid reference is based on the British national grid reference system, also known as OSGB36, and is the system used by the Ordnance Survey.[4]
C Those SSSIs with more than one OS grid reference are composed of multiple sections, separated by non-SSSI land.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Notification of SSSIs". English Nature. Retrieved 5 June 2008.
  2. ^ "Glossary of SSSI terms". Natural England. 2007. Retrieved 5 June 2008.
  3. ^ "Tyne and Wear Profile: 2004". Tyne & Wear Research. 2004. Archived from the original on 27 May 2008. Retrieved 6 June 2008.
  4. ^ a b "Guide to National Grid". Ordnance Survey. Archived from the original on 20 July 2006. Retrieved 5 June 2008.