Complete newbie here - just picked up a 2nd hand DJI Mini 2 as a starter drone, and got my Operator ID…just familiarising myself with controls, filming etc before setting out on a ‘proper’ shoot!
Getting to grips with Drone Assist, and thought I’d check out my local area of Cannock, specifically Cannock Chase - it would appear that a very large portion of it is designated an SSSI. So I’m assuming that it’s pretty much a no-go zone as far as drone flying and filming is concerned?
Have I misinterpreted Drone Assist’s guidance?
Many thanks!
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Not at all, fly free and enjoy.
The SSSI relates to the vast amount of land being ecologically valuable etc etc. You’re flying above it, not tearing a quad bike across it. 
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Use our own Drone Scene, all the additional information is available
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If you fly in the area shown you have loads of fab open area to fly in. Just keep an eye out for horses though. Weekends seem to be prime days for groups to go out on rides. A few weeks ago I had to wait for around 30 horses to past.
You have the Cannock Chase War Cemetery that you can visit and fly around - just keep an eye out for people but generally its relative quiet around there.
Only other thing to keep an eye out for is helicopters - saw quite a few in the area the other weekend too but other than that its a great place to fly and popular with quite a few members too.
I am torn between flying or riding my mountain bike when I go here - haha.
Oh and no need to go over to the area where Go-Ape etc is to fly - you will only find loads of people and trees !
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Alright Dave, quite a few of us have flown over the Chase before now, even had foreigners from oooop north over there a couple of times 
. As above watch out for the bloody horses, they think they own the place and they’ll come close even tho’ they’ve been there 10 minutes beforehand and seen you flying.
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Thank you all very much for your replies and guidance - I guess I was concerned after I looked up drones on the Cannock-chase.co.uk website and it provides the following guidance:-
**Where can I fly my drone?
Drone operators must have permission from the owner of the land where a drone takes off and lands. When flying drones please look after Cannock Chase and respect other users and avoid disturbance to wildlife. Flying drones is not permitted on nature reserves, Sites of Special Scientific Interest or on National Trust property.
So they’re saying that drones cannot be flown in SSSIs?
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Probably they are misinformed ( like a lot of the public named Karen or Ken) Other organisations to be wary of include English Heritage, National Trust and the Canal and River Trust , who all seem to be under the impression that they own the airspace above them. 
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They can say what they like, theyre talking shite. Find a public road to TOAL. Job done.
But mind, we want to see the pictures and/videos
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