# List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest on the Isle of Wight

This is a list of the Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) on the Isle of Wight, England. The Isle of Wight is an island and county three miles off the south coast of England in the English Channel. Its geology is complex, with a chalk downland ridge running east to west through its centre and important fossil beds from the Lower Cretaceous to the Lower Tertiary around the coast. This geology gives rise to many distinct habitats, with strong maritime influences, including chalk grassland, neutral meadows, and broad-leaved woodland. The Isle of Wight has a population of 140,000, making it one of the country's smaller counties in terms of population.
In England, the body responsible for designating SSSIs is Natural England, which chooses a site because of its fauna, flora, geological or physiographical features. Natural England took over the role of designating and managing SSSIs from English Nature in October 2006, when it was formed from the amalgamation of English Nature, parts of the Countryside Agency, and the Rural Development Service. As of 2008, there are 41 sites designated in this Area of Search; of these, 26 have been designated for their biological interest, 4 for their geological interest, and 11 for both.
The data in the table is taken from citation sheets for each SSSI, available at their website.

## Sites

| Site name | Reason for designation | Reason for designation | Area | Area | Grid reference | Year in which notified | Map |
| Site name | Biological interest | Geological interest | Hectares | Acres | Grid reference | Year in which notified | Map |
| Alverstone Marshes | Y | | 83.8 | 207.0 | SZ572859 | 1951 | Map |
| America Wood | Y | | 21.4 | 52.9 | SZ567820 | 1986 | Map |
| Arreton Down | Y | | 29.8 | 73.6 | SZ540872 | 1979 | Map |
| Bembridge Down | Y | Y | 56.3 | 139.0 | SZ628856 | 1951 | Map |
| Bembridge School And Cliffs | | Y | 12.6 | 31.1 | ST647869 | 1999 | Map |
| Bonchurch Landslips | Y | Y | 28.2 | 69.7 | SZ582785 | 1977 | Map |
| Bouldnor And Hamstead Cliffs | Y | Y | 95.7 | 236.4 | SZ390910 | 1951 | Map |
| Brading Marshes to St. Helen's Ledges | Y | Y | 488.5 | 1,207.0 | SZ635883 | 1951 | Map |
| Briddlesford Copses | Y | | 167.2 | 413.2 | SZ549904 | 2003 | Map |
| Calbourne Down | Y | | 15.4 | 38.1 | SZ429858 | 1989 | Map |
| Colwell Bay | | Y | 13.6 | 34.2 | SZ323873 | 1959 | Map |
| Compton Chine to Steephill Cove | Y | Y | 629.2 | 1,554.8 | SZ489763 | 2003 | Map |
| Compton Down | Y | Y | 196.3 | 484.9 | SZ365856 | 1951 | Map |
| Cranmore | Y | | 12.4 | 30.7 | SZ393901 | 2002 | Map |
| Cridmore Bog | Y | | 14.4 | 35.6 | SZ495815 | 1985 | Map |
| Eaglehead and Bloodstone Copses | Y | | 10.3 | 25.5 | SZ584877 | 1987 | Map |
| Freshwater Marshes | Y | | 23.3 | 57.6 | SZ344866 | 1951 | Map |
| Garston's Down | Y | | 20.3 | 50.2 | SZ475855 | 1971 | Map |
| Greatwood And Cliff Copses | Y | | 16.3 | 40.3 | SZ5680 – SZ5780 | 1986 | Map |
| Headon Warren And West High Down | Y | Y | 276.3 | 682.6 | SZ316852 | 1951 | Map |
| King's Quay Shore | Y | Y | 97.2 | 240.1 | SZ536935 | 1951 | Map |
| Lacey's Farm Quarry | | Y | 0.1 | 0.3 | SZ323862 | 1993 | Map |
| Lake Allotments | Y | | 0.2 | 0.5 | SZ586838 | 1988 | Map |
| Locks Farm Meadow | Y | | 2.3 | 5.7 | SZ449908 | 1988 | Map |
| Medina Estuary | Y | | 100.5 | 248.3 | SZ508924 | 1977 | Map |
| Mottistone Down | Y | | 31.4 | 77.6 | SZ414846 | 1971 | Map |
| Newtown Harbour | Y | | 619.3 | 1,530.3 | SZ425915 | 1951 | Map |
| Northpark Copse | Y | | 9.9 | 24.5 | SZ435885 | 1986 | Map |
| Parkhurst Forest | Y | | 183.5 | 453.3 | SZ473915 | 1986 | Map |
| Priory Woods | | Y | 2.9 | 7.3 | SZ635900 | 1998 | Map |
| Prospect Quarry | Y | Y | 4.3 | 10.6 | SZ385866 | 1971 | Map |
| Rew Down | Y | | 23.5 | 58.1 | SZ550775 | 1977 | Map |
| Rowridge Valley | Y | | 39.8 | 98.3 | SZ454864 | 1951 | Map |
| Ryde Sands and Wootton Creek | Y | | 424.4 | 1,048.7 | SZ548920 – SZ634908 | 1993 | Map |
| Shide Quarry | Y | | 4.8 | 11.8 | SZ506881 | 1971 | Map |
| St Lawrence Bank | Y | | 0.5 | 1.2 | SZ536768 | 1998 | Map |
| The Wilderness | Y | | 12.6 | 31.1 | SZ505824 | 1951 | Map |
| Thorness Bay | Y | Y | 86.2 | 213.0 | SZ455935 | 1966 | Map |
| Ventnor Downs | Y | | 162.6 | 401.8 | SZ575786 | 1951 | Map |
| Whitecliff Bay And Bembridge Ledges | Y | Y | 131.6 | 325.2 | SZ657872 | 1955 | Map |
| Yar Estuary | Y | | 132.4 | 327.2 | SZ353886 | 1977 | Map |