Porton Down
Site of Special Scientific Interest
LocationHampshire
Wiltshire
Grid referenceSU 233 369[1]
InterestBiological
Area1,559.0 hectares (3,852 acres)[1]
Notification1992[1]
Location mapMagic Map

Porton Down SSSI is a 1,559-hectare (3,850-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest which spans the border between Hampshire and Wiltshire in England. It is adjacent to Porton Down science park near Porton, and much of it is Ministry of Defence property which is closed to the public.[1][2] It is a Nature Conservation Review site, Grade I,[3] a Special Area of Conservation[4] and a Special Protection Area.[5]

This is one of the largest areas of semi-natural chalk grassland in the country. It has also been designated an SSSI because of its important populations of lichens, vascular plants and invertebrates, and for its breeding stone curlews. There are also areas of scrub and woodland.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Designated Sites View: Porton Down". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  2. ^ "Map of Porton Down". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  3. ^ Ratcliffe, Derek, ed. (1977). A Nature Conservation Review. Vol. 2. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. pp. 125–26. ISBN 0521-21403-3.
  4. ^ "Designated Sites View: Salisbury Plain". Special Areas of Conservation. Natural England. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  5. ^ "Designated Sites View: Porton Down". Special Protection Areas. Natural England. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  6. ^ "Porton Down citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
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51°07′52″N 1°40′08″W / 51.131°N 1.669°W / 51.131; -1.669

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