Nature reserves in the North Norfolk Coast Site of Special Scientific Interest

North Norfolk Coast SSSI
Cley Marshes
North Norfolk Coast SSSI shown within Norfolk in red
LocationNorfolk, East of England, England
Established1986

The North Norfolk Coast Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is an internationally important protected area in Norfolk, England. The SSSI is a long, narrow strip of coastal land that starts between Old Hunstanton and Holme-next-the-Sea, and runs east for about 43 km (27 mi) to Kelling. The southern boundary runs roughly west to east except where it detours around towns and villages, and never crosses the A149 coast road.[1] It has an area of 7,700 ha (19,027 acres), and is additionally protected through Natura 2000, Special Protection Area (SPA) and Ramsar listings; it is also part of the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).[2][3] Scolt Head Island and the coast from the Holkham National Nature Reserve to Salthouse are a Biosphere Reserve.[4]

The North Norfolk Coast SSSI contains a variety of habitats including foreshore, shingle, salt marshes, reed bed and pasture, and is important primarily for the breeding populations of nationally and internationally scarce bird species, and also the large numbers of wildfowl it supports in winter. More than three-quarters of the SSSI has been acquired as nature reserves by conservation organisations, whose properties also hold several rare or endangered invertebrates and plants. The mixed pattern of ownership of the ten reserves existing in 2012 reflects the availability of land for purchase or management over the preceding century, and the differing priorities of the various bodies.

  1. ^ "North Norfolk Coast SSSI". Nature on the map. Natural England. Archived from the original on 2012-12-24. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
  2. ^ "North Norfolk Coast" (PDF). SSSI citations. Natural England. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-02-02. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
  3. ^ "Other conservation designations within the AONB" (PDF). Norfolk Coast AONB Management Plan 2009-14. Norfolk Coast Partnership. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-31. Retrieved 2012-01-02. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
  4. ^ Liley (2008) pp. 4–6.