North Solent

North Solent
Site of Special Scientific Interest
LocationHampshire
Grid referenceSZ 427 993[1]
InterestBiological
Geological
Area1,186.7 hectares (2,932 acres)[1]
Notification1990[1]
Location mapMagic Map

North Solent is a 1,186.7-hectare (2,932-acre) biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest along the north bank of the Solent between East End and Calshot in Hampshire.[1][2] It is a Nature Conservation Review site, Grade I.[3] Part of it is in North Solent National Nature Reserve[4] and two areas are Geological Conservation Review sites.[5][6] It is part of Solent and Southampton Water Ramsar site[7] and Special Protection Area,[8] and of Solent Maritime Special Area of Conservation.[9] Boldre Foreshore is a local nature reserve.[10]

This site has diverse habitats, including mudflats, saltmarshes, beaches, marshes, grassland and woods. It has rich insect populations and is of international importance for its wintering and migratory wildfowl and waders. Stone Point is important for studies of Quaternary stratigraphy, and it has many fossils dating to the Eemian interglacial, around 120,000 years ago.[11]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Designated Sites View: North Solent". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  2. ^ "Map of North Solent". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  3. ^ Ratcliffe, Derek, ed. (1977). A Nature Conservation Review. Vol. 2. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. pp. 6, 299. ISBN 0521-21403-3.
  4. ^ "Designated Sites View: North Solent". National Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  5. ^ "Hurst Castle Spit (Coastal Geomorphology of England)". Geological Conservation Review. Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 21 April 2020.[permanent dead link‍]
  6. ^ "Keyhaven Marsh, Hurst Castle (Coastal Geomorphology of England)". Geological Conservation Review. Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 21 April 2020.[permanent dead link‍]
  7. ^ "Designated Sites View: Solent and Southampton Water". Ramsar Site. Natural England. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  8. ^ "Designated Sites View: Solent and Southampton Water". Special Protection Areas. Natural England. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  9. ^ "Designated Sites View: Solent Maritime". Special Areas of Conservation. Natural England. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  10. ^ "Designated Sites View: Boldre Foreshore". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  11. ^ "North Solent citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
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50°44′10″N 1°31′55″W / 50.736°N 1.532°W / 50.736; -1.532