Natural History
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
| Area of Search | Bedfordshire |
|---|---|
| Grid reference | TL005205 |
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 73.36 hectare (181.27 acre) |
| Notification | 1987 |
| Location map | Natural England |
The downs are home to a wide variety of wildlife including many rare wild flowers, such as the Bee Orchid, and different butterfly species, like the Marbled White and the Chalkhill Blue.
Areas of the west-facing slope were notified in 1987 under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) called Dunstable and Whipsnade Downs. This includes parts of Whipsnade Zoo.
Read more about this topic: Dunstable Downs
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