What is in the website?

Map of all Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in the UK

The map above is made up of only Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). All of the 7,000 and more SSSIs of England, Scotland, Wales, and Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) in Northern Ireland are shown in this web-app, in an interactive map.

Every SSSI has its own page bringing together everything the site knows about that place: the official description, species named in the text (with IUCN/GB red-list status), habitats and the NVC plant communities best supported by those species, conservation condition, geology and landscape, bird and fish seasonality, overlapping national parks, scenic or wild land areas, counties and trails, and — for peatland or coastal habitats — a note on climate exposure. A "Share" button lets you send a direct link to any site.

The site also cross-references a site's own species against national databases of larval host-plants for moths, butterflies and beetles, to surface which notable species could plausibly be found there — a "look out for" list built from evidence in the description itself, not a guess.

Beyond the map, the site can be explored several other ways:

• Searches — by word or phrase in a description, nearest sites to a point, or by National Trail, National Park, Scenic Area, Wild Land Area or County
• Explore — cross-filter by area, habitat, IUCN status and geology together
• Geology — a geological timeline and landscape-process map
• Migration — bird and fish seasonality by site
• Species — habitat, NVC and host-plant-insect lookups, most vulnerable species, and more

This is a work in progress — new features, fixes and data get added regularly, so expect the odd rough edge alongside the improvements.

Since the 1970s and 1980s, there has been a massive decline in the UK's biodiversity. This site aims to highlight the best of what remains — a reminder of both the richness and fragility of our natural heritage.

Altogether, SSSIs (and equivalent designations) cover 24,799 km² (2,479,896 hectares) — about 10.2% of the UK's total land area.

How to use the website?

The simplest way to start is by going to Map. This will bring up a satellite image of the UK, with a mini-map for orientation.

Move the map to your area of interest. The map shows a white or black dotted outline, depending on the background, of nearby sites (within a limited distance of the centre). Clicking the red bullseye finds the nearest SSSIs, these will be listed below the map — click any name to jump straight to that site.

Mostly links are coloured orange or are dots on a map.

Use the mini-map in the bottom-right for quick navigation, or the arrow icon to locate nearby protected areas using your device's location.

Each site is shown on the map with a small orange or blue dot. Hover to see its name, click the dot for a summary below the map, then click "View full site page" for the complete picture on its own page — description, species, habitats, NVC communities, condition, geology and more, all in one place.