Best wildlife sites in England

English Nature’s latest assessment of England’s best wildlife sites shows 69.8 per cent are now in target condition. Of the total 1,073,828 hectares of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), nearly 750,000 hectares have their important wildlife and geology being looked after to keep them, in, or bring them in to, favourable condition. This means that 130,000 hectares have been brought up to target condition since 2003.

The Government’s Public Service Agreement for SSSIs is to have 95 per cent, by area, in favourable condition by 2010. English Nature’s last national assessment was published in 2003, this year there are nine regional summaries as well as a national overview.