Stanford Training Area SSSI

{{Short description|British Army training and nature conservation site}}

{{Infobox SSSI

|image= Danger - Stanford Training Area - geograph.org.uk - 821601.jpg

|image_caption =

|name= Stanford Training Area SSSI

|aos= Norfolk, England

|interest=Biological
Geological

|gridref={{gbmappingsmall|TL 870 941}}

|area= {{convert|4,678.0|ha|acre|abbr=off}}

|notifydate= 1999

|map=[http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271000005%27 Magic Map]

}}

Stanford Training Area SSSI is part of the British Army Stanford Training Area. It is a {{convert| 4,678 |ha|acre|abbr=off |adj=on }} biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest north of Thetford in Norfolk, England.{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteDetail.aspx?SiteCode=S1000005&SiteName=&countyCode=29&responsiblePerson=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title=Designated Sites View: Stanford Training Area | series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|accessdate = 20 June 2018}}{{cite web|url= http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271000005%27|title=Map of Stanford Training Area |series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|accessdate= 20 June 2018}} It is a Nature Conservation Review site{{cite book|editor-first=Derek |editor-last=Ratcliffe |title=A Nature Conservation Review|volume=2 |page=131 |authorlink=Derek Ratcliffe |publisher= Cambridge University Press|location =Cambridge, UK |year=1977|isbn= 0521-21403-3 }} and part of it is a Geological Conservation Review site.{{cite web|url= http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=4174&gcr=1112 |title= Devil's Punchbowl (Karst) |series=Geological Conservation Review |publisher=Joint Nature Conservation Committee|accessdate= 25 May 2018}} It is also part of the Breckland Special Area of Conservation{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteGeneralDetail.aspx?SiteCode=UK0019865&SiteName=&countyCode=29&responsiblePerson=&unitId=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title=Designated Sites View: Breckland | series= Special Areas of Conservation|publisher=Natural England|accessdate = 25 May 2018}} and Special Protection Area.{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteGeneralDetail.aspx?SiteCode=UK9009201&SiteName=&countyCode=29&responsiblePerson=&unitId=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title=Designated Sites View: Breckland | series= Special Protection Areas|publisher=Natural England|accessdate =25 May 2018}}

This site contains an extensive area of species-rich Breckland grassland and heath. Wetlands and pools have wildfowl and many rare invertebrates. The Devil's Punchbowl is geologically important for its deep depression formed by the collapse of Pleistocene glacial sands and boulder clays.{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/PDFsForWeb/Citation/1000005.pdf |title=Stanford Training Area citation|series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|accessdate= 20 June 2018}}

Public access to the site is restricted. Part of the land area designated as Stanford Training Area SSSI is owned by the Ministry of Defence.{{Cite web |date=2020-10-06 |title=Mapping the habitats of England’s ten largest institutional landowners |url=https://whoownsengland.org/2020/10/06/mapping-the-habitats-of-englands-ten-largest-institutional-landowners/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=Who owns England? |language=en}}