The legal or non-statutory designation of a site, defined as follows:
Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) are those areas of land and water that are considered best to represent natural heritage in terms of their flora, fauna, geology, geomorphology or a mixture of these natural features.
They are legally protected and managed in accordance with their conservation objectives.
National Nature Reserve
National Nature Reserves (NNRs) were established to protect some of our most important habitats, species and geology, and to provide 'outdoor laboratories' for research. Most NNRs offer opportunities to schools, specialist interest groups and the public to experience wildlife at first hand and to learn more about nature conservation.
Special Area of Conservation
Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) are protected areas in the UK designated under various pieces of legislation. Under these Regulations, the UK Government and devolved administrations are required to establish a network of important high-quality conservation sites that will make a significant contribution to conserving the habitats and species identified in Annexes I and II, respectively, of
European Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, known as the Habitats Directive. The listed habitat types and species are those considered to be most in need of conservation at a European level (excluding birds).
SACs, together with SPA's form part of the UK's national site network.
https://jncc.gov.uk/our-work/special-areas-of-conservation/
Ramsar Site
Ramsar Sites are wetlands of international importance that have been designated under the criteria of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands for containing representative, rare or unique wetland types or for their importance in conserving biological diversity.
Special Protection Area
Special Protection Areas (SPAs) are protected areas for birds in the UK classified under various pieces of legislation.
SPAs, together with SAC's form the UK's national site network.
Local Wildlife Trust Reserve
The Wildlife Trusts own and manage thousands of Nature Reserves across the UK. Many of these have public access.
National Trust Reserve
The National Trust owns and manages an extensive area of land across the UK. Many of their reserves have public access.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/countryside-woodland/visit-our-nature-reserves
Other Voluntary Conservation Organisation Reserve
There are numerous local organisations that have secured land to manage for nature. Where these are known, they are indicated in the site information.
Registered Common Land
Common land is land owned by one or more persons where other people, known as 'commoners' are entitled to use the land or take resources from it. Typically, the designation as common land allows the right to roam.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/managing-common-land
County Wildlife Site
A County Wildlife Site/Local Site designation confirms a site's importance and value for wildlife in its county context. The details of the selection process differ from county to county, but sites are typically selected in collaboration with statutory and non-statutory organisations within each county. CWS designation does not confer any legal protection, but indicates to planners and others that the site has important county-wide conservation value.
Local Nature Reserve
LNR's are sites owned or controlled by Local Authorities, who are responsible for their designation. Typically, part of the site must be publicly accessible.
Non-statutory site
Any other locally designated site that does not have any legal protection.
