It has been designated as a SSSI since January 1977 in an attempt to protect its fragile biological and geological elements.

[1] The site has an area of 64.15 hectares (158.5 acres) and is managed by Natural Resources Wales.

Some elements of this fauna have more in common with North American species than with those seen in the rest of Wales.

The folds and dislocations in these rocks exemplifies the overall structure of the southern part of one of the major zones of the Variscan belt in Pembrokeshire.

The limestone cliffs also support crevice communities such as thrift (Armeria maritima), sea plantain (Plantago maritima), rock sea-spurrey (Spergularia rupicola), sea-lavender (Limonium binervosum) and golden-samphire (Inula crithmoides).