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ECN Sites: Porton Down

Sponsoring organisation(s)

Defence Science and Technology Laboratory

Site Characteristics

Easting	4253
Northing	1365
Min Altitude	m
Max Altitude	m
Area of Site	1227ha
Mean annual temperature*	9.7^oC
Mean annual rainfall*	754mm

Locate site in multimap

* calculated from the ECN database

Description

As well as being a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Porton Down is also a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and a Special Protection Area (SPA) covering over 1500 hectares. It constitutes the largest uninterrupted tract of semi-natural chalk grassland in Britain, a habitat which has declined by more than 80% in the last 50 years. As well as the grassland the site supports large areas of mixed scrub, including juniper, and broadleaved, mixed and coniferous woodland.

Related Links

The article "ECN site lines" in ECN News No. 9 (Spring 1997) gives further information about this site.

Contact

Mr Stuart Corbett

Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
CBDE Porton, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 0JQ
sjcorbett@dstl.gov.uk