List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in South Yorkshire

File:South Yorkshire outline map with UK.png

South Yorkshire shown within the UK.

This is a list of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in South Yorkshire, United Kingdom. since 2009Template:Dated maintenance category (articles), There are 35 sites designated within this Area of Search, of which 18 have been designated due to their biological interest, 14 due to its geological interest, and 3 for both biological and geological interest. In England the body responsible for designating SSSIs is Natural England, which chooses a site because of its fauna, flora, 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 1974–1996 county system and as such the same approach is followed here, rather than, for example, merging all Yorkshire sites into a single list. Natural England produces citation sheets for each SSSI and are the main source of information for this list.

South Yorkshire's geography can be split into different types. The very west of South Yorkshire is part of Dark Peak which is part of the Peak District National Park and lies to the west of Sheffield. This extensive moorland is one of the largest semi-natural areas in England and has broad plateaus with rocky outcrops interspersed with valleys. Moving east the land elevation drops with a transition from the peak district to coal fields. Much of this area of transition has seen urban development with Sheffield being a good example.

The central region, to the north of Sheffield is largely dependent on the presence of coal measures in the areas geology. This is reflected by ancient woodlands, valley wetlands and large arable fields where there is no urban development. To the east of the coal measures is a strip of Magnesian Limestone which runs north to south between Sheffield and Doncaster. This open landscape is characterised by ancient woodlands and limestone grasslands and often has historic limestone monuments. However the light and dry soils are ideal for cultivation which means little of the original habitat remains. In the very east of South Yorkshire the Humberhead Levels dominate, with the area being relatively flat and dominated by the areas river systems. The area is predominantly covered with small fields or areas of peatland.

Sites

Site name	Reason for designation		Area[A]		Grid reference[B]	Year in which notified	Map[C]
	Biological interest	Geological interest	Hectares	Acres
Anston Stones Wood	Green tickY		33.7	88.3		1955	Template:Nature on the map
Ashfield Brick Pits		Green tickY	0.6	1.4		1955	Template:Nature on the map
Bilham Sand Pits		Green tickY	0.2	0.1		1987	Template:Nature on the map
Bradgate Brickworks		Green tickY	0.9	2.2		1988	Template:Nature on the map
Cadeby Quarry		Green tickY	97.0	240.0		1977	Template:Nature on the map
Canyards Hills	Green tickY	Green tickY	64.1	158.4		1990	Template:Nature on the map
Carlton Main Brickworks		Green tickY	15.5	38.4		1989	Template:Nature on the map
Dark Peak[D]	Green tickY	Green tickY	31,852.9	78,708.4		1951	Template:Nature on the map
Denaby Ings	Green tickY		24.5	60.6		1977	Template:Nature on the map
Eastern Peak District Moors	Green tickY	Green tickY	8,094.4	20,001.6		1955[E]	Template:Nature on the map
Edlington Wood	Green tickY		99.7	246.7		1979	Template:Nature on the map
Hatfield Moors	Green tickY		1,400.7	3,461.1		1954	Template:Nature on the map
Lindrick Golf Course	Green tickY		22.0	54.4	, ,	1987	Template:Nature on the map
Little Don Stream Section		Green tickY	1.1	2.6		1977	Template:Nature on the map
Maltby Low Common	Green tickY		6.0	14.8		1970	Template:Nature on the map
Neepsend Brickworks		Green tickY	4.3	10.6		1988	Template:Nature on the map
Neepsend Railway Cutting		Green tickY	1.4	3.5		1988	Template:Nature on the map
New Edlington Brickpit		Green tickY	0.2	0.4		1989	Template:Nature on the map
Owston Hay Meadows	Green tickY		5.5	13.5		1979	Template:Nature on the map
Potteric Carr	Green tickY		118.6	293.0		1977	Template:Nature on the map
Pye Flatts Meadows	Green tickY		2.2	5.4		1990	Template:Nature on the map
River Idle Washlands[F]	Green tickY		88.6	219.0	, , ,	1972	Template:Nature on the map
Roche Abbey Woodlands	Green tickY		52.8	143.8		1979	Template:Nature on the map
Sandall Beat	Green tickY		63.9	157.9		1984	Template:Nature on the map
Shirley Pool	Green tickY		15.5	38.4		1955	Template:Nature on the map
Spring Meadows, Alderman's Head & Cow Croft Meadows	Green tickY		16.8	41.6		2005	Template:Nature on the map
Sprotbrough Gorge	Green tickY		76.9	190.1		1988	Template:Nature on the map
Stairfoot Brickworks		Green tickY	0.1	0.1		1999	Template:Nature on the map
Stannington Ruffs		Green tickY	2.4	5.9		1988	Template:Nature on the map
Thorne Crowle and Goole Moors[G]	Green tickY		1,918.6	4,740.9		1970	Template:Nature on the map
Totley Wood	Green tickY		14.7	36.4		1954	Template:Nature on the map
Wadsley Fossil Forest		Green tickY	0.3	0.7		1990	Template:Nature on the map
Went Ings Meadows	Green tickY		6.4	15.8	,	1981	Template:Nature on the map
Wharncliffe Crags		Green tickY	14.5	35.8		1988	Template:Nature on the map
Wood Lee Common		Green tickY	6.4	15.8		1958	Template:Nature on the map

See also

• List of SSSIs by Area of Search.

Notes

^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.

^C Link to maps using the Nature on the Map service provided by English Nature.

^D The Dark Peak site extends into three other counties and so can be found on lists of SSSIs in Derbyshire, Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire.

^E Incorporates three formers SSSIs: Hallam Moors being first notified in 1955, Eastern Moors in 1964 and Houndkirk Moor in 1972.

^F SSSI is split between South Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire. 36.7 hectares (90.6 acres) is in South Yorkshire.

^G SSSI is split between South Yorkshire, the East Riding of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. 1309.1 hectares (3234.7 acres) lie in South Yorkshire.