Suffolk Wildlife Trust

Suffolk Wildlife Trust (SWT) describes itself as the county's "nature charity – the only organisation dedicated wholly to safeguarding Suffolk's wildlife and countryside."[1] It is a registered charity, and its headquarters is at Brooke House in Ashbocking, near Ipswich.[2] It was founded in 1961,[3] and is one of 46 wildlife trusts covering the Great Britain and Northern Ireland.[4] As of March 2017, it has 13,200 members, and it manages 3,120 hectares (7,700 acres) of land in 60 nature reserves, most of which are open to the public.[a] It had an income of £3.9 million in the year to 31 March 2017.[5]

Hazlewood Marshes
Hazlewood Marshes was a freshwater lagoon until a tidal surge broke through the sea wall and flooded the site with seawater.

Suffolk is a county in East Anglia. It is bounded by Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west, Essex to the south and the North Sea to the east. With an area of 1,466 square miles (3,800 km2), it is the eighth largest county in England,[6] and in mid-2016 the population was 745,000.[7] The top level of local government is Suffolk County Council, and below it are five borough and district councils: Babergh, Ipswich, Mid Suffolk, East Suffolk, West Suffolk.[8] Much of the coast consists of the estuaries of the Orwell, Stour, Alde, Deben and Blyth rivers, with large areas of wetlands and marshes. Agriculture and shipping play a major role in the county's economy.[6]

The whole or part of nine SWT reserves are Ramsar internationally important wetland sites, thirty-one are Sites of Special Scientific Interest, four are national nature reserves, ten are Special Protection Areas, ten are Special Areas of Conservation, seven are Nature Conservation Review sites, one contains a scheduled monument and three are local nature reserves. One SWT reserve is in Dedham Vale, which is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and seven are in another AONB, Suffolk Coast and Heaths.

Key

Sites

SitePhotographArea[b]Location[b]Public
access
DesignationsDescription
Alde Mudflats[9] 22 hectares (54 acres)Aldeburgh
52°09′07″N 1°30′18″E / 52.152°N 1.505°E / 52.152; 1.505 (Alde Mudflats)
TM399562
NONCR,[10] Ramsar,[11][12] SAC,[13][14] SCHAONB,[15] SPA,[16][17] SSSI[18]This 3-mile (4.8-kilometre) stretch of inter-tidal mud and saltmarsh supports internationally important numbers of avocets, and other birds include black-tailed godwits, oystercatchers, marsh harriers, pintails, wigeons and grey plovers.[9]
Arger Fen and Spouse's Vale[19] 110 hectares (270 acres)Sudbury
51°59′N 0°49′E / 51.99°N 0.81°E / 51.99; 0.81 (Arger Fen and Spouse's Vale)
TL932357
YESDVAONB,[20] LNR,[21] SSSI[22]This site has ancient and young woodland, and areas of fen meadow. There is a large population of badgers, and uncommon fauna include hazel dormice and barbastelle bats. There are butterflies such as speckled woods, meadow browns and holly blues.[19]
Black Bourn Valley[23] 88 hectares (220 acres)Bury St Edmunds
52°15′N 0°50′E / 52.25°N 0.84°E / 52.25; 0.84 (Black Bourn Valley)
TL943650
YESThe River Black Bourn runs through this large nature reserve, which has many bird species, such as barn owls, yellowhammers, linnets, reed buntings and skylarks. Plants in wet meadows include marsh orchids and marsh marigolds.[23]
Blaxhall Common[24] 44 hectares (110 acres)Woodbridge
52°09′22″N 1°28′52″E / 52.156°N 1.481°E / 52.156; 1.481 (Blaxhall Common)
TM382566
YESSCHAONB,[15] SM,[25] SPA,[26] SSSI[27]This dry lowland heath has large areas of heather which supports diverse lichens and mosses, and other areas of grassland which are grazed by rabbits. Heathland birds include nightjars and tree pipits.[28]
Bonny Wood[29] 20 hectares (49 acres)Ipswich
52°07′52″N 1°01′55″E / 52.131°N 1.032°E / 52.131; 1.032 (Bonny Wood)
TM076524
YESSSSI[30]Orchids in this coppiced wood include early-purples, lesser twayblades, common spotteds and greater butterflies. There are many birds, badgers and deer.[29]
Bradfield Woods[31] 63 hectares (160 acres)[32]Bury St Edmunds
52°11′N 0°50′E / 52.19°N 0.83°E / 52.19; 0.83 (Bradfield Woods)
TL937580
YESNNR,[33][32] SSSI[34]These woods have a history of coppicing dating to before 1252, producing a very high diversity of flora, with over 370 plant species recorded. Uncommon woodland flowers include oxlip, herb paris and ramson. There is also a rich variety of fungi, with two species not recorded elsewhere in Britain.[35]
Bromeswell Green[36] 7.2 hectares (18 acres)Woodbridge
52°06′18″N 1°21′04″E / 52.105°N 1.351°E / 52.105; 1.351 (Bromeswell Green)
TM296505
YESThis site has woodland, saltmarsh and wet meadows. Wetland plants include lesser spearwort, fen bedstraw and southern marsh orchid, the woodland has birds such as nightingales and whitethroats, and rides have many species of butterfly.[36]
Brooke House[37] Not
available
Ipswich
52°08′35″N 1°11′20″E / 52.143°N 1.189°E / 52.143; 1.189 (Brooke House)
TM182541
YESBrooke House is the headquarters of the Suffolk Wildlife Trust. It was left to the trust by Mary Brooke. It has gardens with fruit trees and a pond, where water voles have been observed.[37]
Bull's Wood[38] 12 hectares (30 acres)Bury St Edmunds
52°09′32″N 0°48′11″E / 52.159°N 0.803°E / 52.159; 0.803 (Bull's Wood)
TL918549
YESSSSI[39]Flora in this wood include early-purple orchids, herb-paris and the uncommon oxlips. There are roe deer, marsh tits, and butterflies such as gatekeepers, speckled woods and orange tips.[38]
Captain's Wood[40] 62 hectares (150 acres)Sudbourne
52°07′N 1°32′E / 52.12°N 1.54°E / 52.12; 1.54 (Captain's Wood)
TM421531
YESThis site has woodland, rough grassland and scrub. A herd of fallow deer helps to keep the land open, and there are also barn owls, buzzards, mature oak trees and many bluebells.[40]
Carlton and Oulton Marshes[41] 151 hectares (370 acres)Lowestoft
52°28′N 1°41′E / 52.47°N 1.69°E / 52.47; 1.69 (Carlton and Oulton Marshes)
TM509919
PPRamsar,[42][43] SAC,[44][45] SPA,[46][47] SSSI[48]Semi-aquatic fen raft spiders were released on the site in 2012 to boost the low British population, and underwater insectiverous bladderworts trap water fleas. Birds of prey include marsh harriers, barn owls and hobbies, and there are many wintering wildfowl and breeding waders.[41]
Castle Marshes[49] 71 hectares (180 acres)Beccles
52°28′N 1°38′E / 52.46°N 1.63°E / 52.46; 1.63 (Castle Marshes)
TM470911
NORamsar,[42][43] SAC,[44][45] SPA,[46][47] SSSI[50]The site has fen, freshwater dykes and grazing marshes. Resident wildfowl include wigeons, gadwalls, teals and shovelers are joined in winter by migrants when the marshes are flooded. Scarce chaser and the nationally rare Norfolk hawker dragonflies breed on the site, and there are blue-tailed damselflies.[49]
Church Farm Marshes[51] 56 hectares (140 acres)Halesworth
52°19′N 1°33′E / 52.31°N 1.55°E / 52.31; 1.55 (Church Farm Marshes)
TM420742
YESThis site has areas of marshland, wet and dry woodland, and grassland. The flower-rich marshes have southern marsh orchid, marsh marigold and ragged robin. Grazing maintains diversity of flora in the meadows and marshes, ensuring a good population of insects, which provide food for birds.[51]
Combs Wood[52] 17 hectares (42 acres)Stowmarket
52°10′16″N 0°59′56″E / 52.171°N 0.999°E / 52.171; 0.999 (Combs Wood)
TM052568
YESSSSI[53]This is ancient coppice woodland on boulder clay, with variable quantities of sand and loess re-esulting in different soil types. In areas of pedunculate oak and hornbeam the ground flora is sparse, but it is rich and diverse in ash and maple woodland. Grassy rides and a pond provide additional habitats for invertebrates.[54]
Cornard Mere[55] 6 hectares (15 acres)Sudbury
52°00′50″N 0°44′49″E / 52.014°N 0.747°E / 52.014; 0.747 (Cornard Mere)
TL886386
YESSSSI[56]This site has diverse habitats, with fen which is seasonally flooded, ruderal herb vegetation, woodland, grassland and scrub. Flora include water mint, gypsywort, skullcap, ragged robin and southern marsh orchid.[56]
Darsham Marshes[57] 20 hectares (49 acres)Halesworth
52°16′05″N 1°32′42″E / 52.268°N 1.545°E / 52.268; 1.545 (Darsham Marshes)
TM420692
YESThis marsh and fen site has two ponds and a network of dykes. The wildlife is diverse and flowering plants include ragged-robin, yellow flag, marsh marigold and southern marsh orchid. There are birds such as marsh harriers and hen harriers, and mammals include otters and water voles.[57]
Dingle Marshes[58] 93 hectares (230 acres)Dunwich
52°17′N 1°38′E / 52.28°N 1.63°E / 52.28; 1.63 (Dingle Marshes)
TM479708
YESNCR,[59] NNR[60][33] Ramsar,[61] SAC,[62][63] SCHAONB,[15] SPA,[64][65] SSSI[66]This site has the largest freshwater reedbeds in Britain. Other habitats are brackish pools, shingle, heath and woodland. There are otters and Exmoor ponies, and birds include bearded tits, bitterns, marsh harriers and grey plovers.[58]
Dunwich Forest[67] 270 hectares (670 acres)Dunwich
52°17′N 1°37′E / 52.28°N 1.62°E / 52.28; 1.62 (Dunwich Forest)
TM467710
YESThe Trust is transforming this former conifer plantation into a mosaic of broad leaved woodland, lowland heath, acid grassland and wet woodland. Fauna include siskins, adders, noctule bats, red deer and white admiral butterflies.[67]
Fox Fritillary Meadow[68] 2.4 hectares (5.9 acres)Stowmarket
52°12′07″N 1°12′04″E / 52.202°N 1.201°E / 52.202; 1.201 (Fox Fritillary Meadow)
TM188607
NOSSSI[69]This unimproved meadow is located on heavy alluvial soils at the bottom of a valley. It has a rich variety of flora, including the herbs cowslip, cuckooflower and ragged robin, together with the largest population in East Anglia of the rare snake's head fritillary.[70]
Foxburrow Farm[71] 67 hectares (170 acres)Woodbridge
52°07′N 1°19′E / 52.12°N 1.32°E / 52.12; 1.32 (Foxburrow Farm)
TM274517
YESPart of this site is a working farm which is managed by a tenant farmer, and it also has wildlife habitats and an education centre. Birds include little owls, spotted flycatchers and pied wagtails, and there are ponds with great crested newts.[71]
Framlingham Mere[72] 13.8 hectares (34 acres)Framlingham
52°13′23″N 1°20′28″E / 52.223°N 1.341°E / 52.223; 1.341 (Framlingham Mere)
TM283636
YESThis site has a lake and wet meadows adjoining Framlingham Castle. There are many migrating birds, and flora include marsh marigolds, ragged-robin and lady's smock.[72]
Groton Wood[73] 20 hectares (49 acres)Hadleigh
52°02′53″N 0°52′48″E / 52.048°N 0.88°E / 52.048; 0.88 (Groton Wood)
TL976428
YESSSSI[74]Fifteen species of butterfly have been recorded in this wood, including brimstones, speckled woods and purple hairstreaks. There are many wild cherry trees, and twenty-two seasonal ponds, which have scarce and protected great crested newts.[73]
Gunton Meadow[75] 2 hectares (4.9 acres)Lowestoft
52°30′11″N 1°44′17″E / 52.503°N 1.738°E / 52.503; 1.738 (Gunton Meadow)
TM538960
YESGunton Meadow was saved from development as a planning condition for the expansion of a local supermarket. It has scrub, a pond and grassland. There are five species of orchid including the common spotted and green-winged, and great crested newts in the pond.[75]
Gunton Warren[76] 25 hectares (62 acres)Lowestoft
52°30′00″N 1°45′14″E / 52.5°N 1.754°E / 52.5; 1.754 (Gunton Warren)
TM549958
YESLNR[77]Gunton Warren is a coastal site which has sand dunes, shingle, lowland heath and cliff slopes. Birds include rare migrants such as icterines and yellow-browed warblers.[76]
Hazlewood Marshes[78] 64 hectares (160 acres)Aldeburgh
52°10′N 1°34′E / 52.17°N 1.57°E / 52.17; 1.57 (Hazlewood Marshes)
TM442582
YESSSSI[79]This was formerly a fresh water lagoon and marshes, but on 5 December 2013 a tidal surge broke through the sea wall and flooded the site with sea water. Whole communities of plants and invertebrates disappeared, and the site is converting to salt marsh, with birds including black-tailed godwits, dunlins, redshanks, lapwings and avocets.[78]
Hen Reedbeds[80] 55 hectares (140 acres)Southwold
52°20′N 1°38′E / 52.34°N 1.63°E / 52.34; 1.63 (Hen Reedbeds)
TM471771
YESNNR,[33][81] Ramsar,[61] SCHAONB,[15] SSSI[66]The reserve is a mix of wetland habitats, including reedbeds, fens, dykes and pools. It was designed to provide a breeding site for bitterns. Other fauna include marsh harriers, herons, bearded tits, four-spotted chaser dragonflies, hairy dragonflies, otters and water voles.[80]
Hopton Fen[82] 15 hectares (37 acres)Diss
52°22′41″N 0°55′19″E / 52.378°N 0.922°E / 52.378; 0.922 (Hopton Fen)
TL990796
YESSSSI[83]This reed-dominated fen has diverse flora, including devil's bit scabious, black bog-rush, bogbean and early marsh orchid. The Trust is improving the site by excavating new pools, and introducing grazing to restore the open landscape.[82][83]
Hutchison's Meadow[84] 1 hectare (2.5 acres)Woodbridge
52°06′11″N 1°19′41″E / 52.103°N 1.328°E / 52.103; 1.328 (Hutchison's Meadow)
TM280502
NOThis is mixture of wet and dry grassland. It has diverse flowering plants such as southern marsh orchid, common fleabane and ragged robin in wet areas, and yellow rattle and bulbous buttercup in drier ones.[84]
Knettishall Heath[85] 176 hectares (430 acres)Diss
52°23′N 0°53′E / 52.39°N 0.89°E / 52.39; 0.89 (Knettishall Heath)
TL966806
YESSSSI[86]The site is heath and grassland, mainly on acidic soils, with areas of secondary woodland and wet hollows. There are heathland plants such as sheep's sorrel, tormentil, harebell and heath bedstraw, while wet areas have fen vegetation including water mint and yellow iris.[87]
Lackford Lakes[88] 131 hectares (320 acres)Bury St Edmunds
52°18′N 0°38′E / 52.3°N 0.64°E / 52.3; 0.64 (Lackford Lakes)
TL800706
YESSSSI[89]The lakes are disused sand and gravel pits in the valley of the River Lark. There are diverse dragonfly species, and many breeding and overwintering birds, including nationally important numbers of gadwalls and shovellers. Skylarks breed on dry grassland, and lapwings in marshy meadows.[90]
Levington Lagoon[91] 5 hectares (12 acres)Ipswich
52°00′11″N 1°15′32″E / 52.003°N 1.259°E / 52.003; 1.259 (Levington Lagoon)
TM238389
NOThis area of open water and saltmarsh on the bank of the River Orwell was formed when the sea wall was breached during the North Sea flood of 1953. The birds are diverse, including greenshanks, dunlins, spotted redshanks, pipits and dunlins. There are plants such as sea lavender.[91]
Lound Lakes[92] 113 hectares (280 acres)Great Yarmouth
52°33′N 1°42′E / 52.55°N 1.7°E / 52.55; 1.7 (Lound Lakes)
TG511007
YESHabitats in this site include open water, woodland, grassland, rush pasture and fen meadow. More than 140 bird species have been recorded there, including hobbies, geese, ducks, reed warblers, gadwalls and oystercatchers. Brown long-eared and noctule bats are also present.[92]
Market Weston Fen[93] 37 hectares (91 acres)Diss
52°22′19″N 0°54′43″E / 52.372°N 0.912°E / 52.372; 0.912 (Market Weston Fen)
TL983789
YESSAC,[94][95] SSSI[96]This spring-fed valley fen has a high and stable water table, and as a result it has a rich and varied flora. The dominant plants in the central fen area are saw sedge, the reed Phragmites australis and blunt-flowered rush. Other habitats include tall fen grassland, heath and a stream. There are many dragonflies and damselflies.[96]
Martins' Meadows[97] 4 hectares (9.9 acres)Woodbridge
52°10′05″N 1°15′14″E / 52.168°N 1.254°E / 52.168; 1.254 (Martins' Meadows)
TM226572
YESNCR,[98] SSSI[99]This site has rich flora, and it is described by Natural England as probably the best example in the county of unimproved calcareous clay and neutral grassland. The herb species are especially diverse, including meadow saffron and green-winged orchid, and there are ancient fruit trees.[100]
Mellis Common[101] 59 hectares (150 acres)Eye
52°20′N 1°05′E / 52.33°N 1.08°E / 52.33; 1.08 (Mellis Common)
TM100746
YESThe common has changed little over hundreds of years, and is still managed by traditional methods of grazing and hay cutting. Flora include green-winged orchid, sulphur clover and adder's tongue fern, and owls hunt small mammals.[101]
Mickfield Meadow[102] 1.7 hectares (4.2 acres)Stowmarket
52°13′34″N 1°08′10″E / 52.226°N 1.136°E / 52.226; 1.136 (Mickfield Meadow)
TM143633
YESSSSI[103]Fertilisers and herbicides have never been used on this meadow, and as a result it has a rich variety of flora, including fritillary. The dominant grasses are meadow foxtail, cocksfoot, false oat-grass, timothy and Yorkshire fog.[104]
Mickle Mere[105] 17 hectares (42 acres)Bury St Edmunds
52°17′24″N 0°50′20″E / 52.29°N 0.839°E / 52.29; 0.839 (Mickle Mere)
TL937696
YESThis area of open water and wet meadows has diverse bird life such as lapwings, kestrels, little egrets and reed buntings, and mammals include water voles and otters.[105]
Newbourne Springs[106] 19 hectares (47 acres)Woodbridge
52°02′28″N 1°18′50″E / 52.041°N 1.314°E / 52.041; 1.314 (Newbourne Springs)
TM274433
YESSSSI[107]Most of this site is a narrow valley with a fast-flowing stream with alder carr and fen. Drier and more acidic soils have grassland, woodland, scrub and bracken heath. The site is actively managed, producing diverse flora and many breeding and migratory birds such as treecreepers, nuthatches and sedge warblers.[106][108]
Norah Hanbury-Kelk Meadows[109] 8 hectares (20 acres)Bury St Edmunds
52°20′13″N 0°30′47″E / 52.337°N 0.513°E / 52.337; 0.513 (Norah Hanbury-Kelk Meadows)
TL713740
YESThese wet meadows and dykes have diverse flora, such as southern marsh orchids, lady's smock, early marsh orchid and greater bird's foot trefoil. Birds include snipe and ducks.[109]
North Cove[110] 15.5 hectares (38 acres)Beccles
52°27′25″N 1°38′10″E / 52.457°N 1.636°E / 52.457; 1.636 (North Cove)
TM471905
YESRamsar,[42][43] SAC,[44][45] SPA,[46][47] SSSI[50]Since 2020 managed by the owner and Beccles Bird Society, the site has wet woodland, grazing marsh, ponds and dykes. There are birds such as sparrowhawks, woodcocks, redpolls, siskins and the three species of woodpecker. Flora include opposite-leaved golden-saxifrage, bog pimpernel and the nationally scarce marsh fern.[110]
Old Broom[111] 6.5 hectares (16 acres)Bury St Edmunds
52°16′30″N 0°38′24″E / 52.275°N 0.64°E / 52.275; 0.64 (Old Broom)
TL802674
NOThis is a remnant of an ancient wood-pasture landscape with oak pollards between 250 and 500 years old. The dead wood and hollow centres of these trees provide a habitat for fungi and invertebrates, while the bark hosts mosses and lichens.[111]
Papermill Reedbed[112] 6 hectares (15 acres)Ipswich
52°05′31″N 1°06′14″E / 52.092°N 1.104°E / 52.092; 1.104 (Papermill Reedbed)
TM127483
YESThe SWT has restored this area of dry grassland of low ecological value by installing water control measures to create wetland. Several species of dragonfly and damselfly have colonised the water-filled ditches, and they are used by water voles and otters.[112]
Redgrave and Lopham Fens[113] 163 hectares (400 acres)Diss
52°23′N 1°01′E / 52.38°N 1.01°E / 52.38; 1.01 (Redgrave and Lopham Fen)
TM049796
YESNCR,[114] NNR,[33][115] Ramsar,[116] SAC[94][95] SSSI[117]This spring-fed valley at the head of the River Waveney has several different types of fen vegetation. There are aquatic plants such as bladderwort, fen pondweed and Charophytes, all of which are indicators of low levels of pollution. The site has the only British population of fen raft spiders.[117]
Reydon Wood[118] 16 hectares (40 acres)Southwold
52°21′04″N 1°38′24″E / 52.351°N 1.64°E / 52.351; 1.64 (Reydon Wood)
TM480788
YESThis conifer wood has many old ash and hornbeam stools. There are many wildflowers and birds, and butterflies such as ringlet, gatekeeper and orange tip.[118]
Roydon Fen[119] 17.2 hectares (43 acres)Diss
52°22′30″N 1°05′06″E / 52.375°N 1.085°E / 52.375; 1.085 (Roydon Fen)
TM101797
YESLNR[120]This site was taken over by wet woodland in the twentieth century, but the SWT has restored the eastern end to fen by mowing, and it has many typical fen plants such as marsh helleborine, marsh fragrant orchid and sawsedge.[119]
Simpson's Saltings[121] 25 hectares (62 acres)Woodbridge
52°03′18″N 1°28′26″E / 52.055°N 1.474°E / 52.055; 1.474 (Simpson's Saltings)
TM383453
NONCR,[10] Ramsar,[11][12] SAC,[13][14] SCHAONB,[15] SPA,[16][17] SSSI[18]The Saltings are described by the Trust as "one of the county's most important coastal sites for its wealth of uncommon coastal and saltmarsh plants." There are also rare lichens. Habitats include intertidal mud, estuary creeks, saltmarsh, compacted sand and shingle.[121]
Sizewell Belts[122] 144 hectares (360 acres)Leiston
52°13′N 1°35′E / 52.22°N 1.59°E / 52.22; 1.59 (Sizewell Belts)
TM453639
YESSCHAONB,[15] SSSI[123]These unimproved wet meadows are described by Natural England as important for their outstanding assemblages of invertebrates, with many nationally rare and scarce species, and of national significance for its assemblage of breeding birds typical of wet grassland. The aquatic fauna is diverse, including the nationally scarce soft hornwort and fen pondweed.[124]
Snape Marshes[125] 19.8 hectares (49 acres)Saxmundham
52°09′54″N 1°30′04″E / 52.165°N 1.501°E / 52.165; 1.501 (Snape Marshes)
TM395576
FPThe diverse habitats in this reserve include reed-filled marshes, dry heath and mature oak woodland. It has all four reptiles found in the county, adders, common lizards, grass snakes and slowworms. Birds include barn owls, hobbies and marsh harriers, and freshwater dykes provide a habitat for otters.[125]
Sutton and Hollesley Commons[126] 400 hectares (990 acres)Woodbridge
52°04′N 1°25′E / 52.07°N 1.41°E / 52.07; 1.41 (Sutton and Hollesley Commons)
TM335471
YESSCHAONB,[15] SPA,[26] SSSI[127]These remnants of the Sandlings Heaths[c] consist of dry grass and heather heathland, together with areas of bracken, scrub and pine and birch woodland. Breeding birds include long-eared owls, and hen harriers roost there in the winter.[127]
Thelnetham Fen[129] 8.8 hectares (22 acres)Diss
52°22′05″N 0°57′40″E / 52.368°N 0.961°E / 52.368; 0.961 (Thelnetham Fen)
TM017786
YESNCR,[130] SAC[94][95] SSSI[131]This wet fen site has many wild flowers, including saw sedge, black bog rush and the rare grass-of-parnassus. Other habitats include wet woodland and reed beds along the bank of the River Little Ouse. The reed beds provide nesting sites for migrant birds such as sedge, grasshopper and reed warblers.[129]
Trimley Marshes[132] 77 hectares (190 acres)Felixstowe
51°58′N 1°17′E / 51.97°N 1.29°E / 51.97; 1.29 (Trimley Marshes)
TM 262 355
YESRamsar,[133][134] SCHAONB,[15] SPA,[135][136] SSSI[137]This site has a reservoir, islands, reedbeds and marshes. It has a rich variety and number of birds, such as redshankss, avocets, oystercatchers, little grebes and gadwalls.[132]
Wangford Warren[138] 15 hectares (37 acres)Brandon
52°25′34″N 0°35′10″E / 52.426°N 0.586°E / 52.426; 0.586 (Wangford Warren)
TL759840
PLNCR,[139] SAC,[140] SPA,[141] SSSI[142]This dry site has sand dunes and mounds which are stabilised by sand sedge and grasses. It is one of only two inland sites in Britain which has grey hair-grass, and other rare plants include shepherd's cress, bearded fescue and reindeer moss. Uncommon solitary bees and wasps burrow into sand.[138]
Winks Meadow[143] 1.4 hectares (3.5 acres)Stowmarket
52°22′08″N 1°22′55″E / 52.369°N 1.382°E / 52.369; 1.382 (Winks Meadow)
TM303799
YESSSSI[144]This meadow on a disused airfield is unimproved grassland, with a rich variety of flora on chalky boulder clay. There are many green-winged orchids, cowslips and pepper saxifrages.[144] The meadow is grazed by cattle or cut for hay to maintain the diversity of the wild flowers.[143]

See also

Notes

References

Sources

  • Ratcliffe, Derek, ed. (1977). A Nature Conservation Review. Vol. 2. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-21403-2.

External links

52°10′N 1°00′E / 52.167°N 1.000°E / 52.167; 1.000 (Suffolk)