Portal:Somerset/Selected article/18

A view of the Cheddar Gorge, designated as an SSSI for both its biological and its geological interest.

There are 127 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in Somerset of which 83 have been designated due to their biological interest, 35 due to their geological interest, and 9 for both.. 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, therefore some sites you may expect to find in this list could be in the Avon list. (Full article...)