§ Baroness Hilton of Eggardonasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many ponds are protected by SSSI designation in England, Scotland and Wales respectively; and how many such ponds are designated specifically for the species or species assemblage they contain, and how many merely because they fall within a larger SSSI.
§ The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Viscount Ullswater)This information is not available in the form requested. SSSIs are notified by the Country Conservation Agencies (English Nature, Countryside Council for Wales and Scottish Natural Heritage) over a wide range of wildlife habitats, geological features and landforms. Each SSSI may contain a wide variety of wildlife and physical features. However, I am advised that, in Wales, there are some 144 SSSIs which contain water as a notable feature, including lakes, ponds, rivers or pools.