List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Gloucestershire

[3] Natural England chooses a site because of its fauna, flora, geological or physiographical features.

[5] Gloucestershire has 3 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty being the Cotswolds, Malvern Hills, and the Wye Valley (the latter is also partly in Wales).

[6] Gloucestershire has 2 designated Ramsar sites being the Severn Estuary and Walmore Common both SSSIs.

[7] These two sites are also designated as Special Protection Areas (SPA) under the EC Directive on the conservation of Wild Birds.

[8] Gloucestershire has 7 recognised Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), several of which bring together more than one SSSI.