Seaford to Beachy Head

{{Short description|Geological site in Sussex}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox SSSI

|image= View of lighthouse along coast path, just west of Beachy Head - geograph.org.uk - 931849.jpg

|image_caption =

|name= Seaford to Beachy Head

|aos= East Sussex

|interest=Biological
Geological

|gridref={{gbmappingsmall|TV 541 976}}

|area= {{convert|1,108.7|ha|acre|abbr=off}}

|notifydate= 1999

|map=[https://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271002008%27 Magic Map]

}}

Seaford to Beachy Head is a {{convert| 1,108.7 |ha|acre|abbr=off |adj=on }} biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest which stretches from Seaford to Eastbourne in East Sussex.{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteDetail.aspx?SiteCode=S1002008&SiteName=&countyCode=14&responsiblePerson=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title=Designated Sites View: Seaford to Beachy Head | series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|accessdate = 23 January 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271002008%27 |title=Map of Seaford to Beachy Head|series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|accessdate= 23 January 2019}} It has several Geological Conservation Review sites. Part of it is a Nature Conservation Review site, Grade I.{{cite book|editor-first=Derek |editor-last=Ratcliffe |title=A Nature Conservation Review|volume=2 |page= 1|authorlink=Derek Ratcliffe |publisher= Cambridge University Press|location =Cambridge, UK |year=1977|isbn= 0521-21403-3 }} An area of {{convert|150|ha|acre|abbr=off}} is a Local Nature Reserve{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteLNRDetail.aspx?SiteCode=L1009127&SiteName=&countyCode=14&responsiblePerson=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title= Designated Sites View: Seaford Head |series=Local Nature Reserves|publisher=Natural England |accessdate= 10 January 2019}} managed by the Sussex Wildlife Trust.{{cite web|url= https://sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/visit/seaford-head |title= Seaford Head |publisher= Sussex Wildlife Trust |accessdate= 10 January 2019}}

This site is of national importance for both its biological and geological features. Its habitats include chalk grassland, maritime grassland, chalk heath, foreshore, chalk cliffs, river meanders, and greensand reef. It has nationally rare plants, invertebrates, and birds. The site also exposes extensive chalk sections dating to the Late Cretaceous epoch around 80 million years ago.{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/PDFsForWeb/Citation/1002008.pdf |title=Seaford to Beachy Head citation|series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|accessdate= 23 January 2019}}