Coate Water has been noted under Section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

The status of a SSSI is awarded by English Nature and a public body to some of the country’s very best wildlife and geological sites and registered as a local land charge. These include large wetlands, chalk rivers, heath lands, meadows, beaches, moorland and peat bogs among with many more.

There are over 4,000 SSSI’s across England, which cover approximately 7-8% of England’s landscape.

The Government has a Public Service Agreement that a target of 95% of SSSI land is to be deemed ‘favourable’ or in ‘recovering’ condition by 2010.

Due to the diverse breeding population connected with both the lakes at Coate Water along with the semi-natural vegetation, it is one of the most important sites in Wiltshire for breeding birds. The site also sustains and supports a broad range of dragonfly and damselfly species and has botanical interest.

15 species of Dragonfly and 6 species of Damselfly have been recorded.

Below is a list of birds, dragon/damselflies and plants of importance;

Certain activities and operations have to be approved by English Nature before they can be carried out to avoid damage to the features of special interest. Details of operations listed in notifications can be found at www.englishnature.org.uk

Due to changes and pressure from pollution, development, climate change and unsustainable land management, SSSI’s now have to be maintained and managed in order to preserve the conservation and condition that they have been able to reach naturally over 100’s of years. If they aren’t managed their condition will deteriorate causing features and wildlife to be lost forever.

It is an offense for anyone to intentionally or recklessly destroy, damage or disturb the special features and animals of any land that they know is an SSSI and noted as being of special interest.