kids encyclopedia robot

List of local nature reserves in Suffolk facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Gunton Warren 1
A path down to the sea in Gunton Warren in Lowestoft

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

Local nature reserves (LNRs) are designated by local authorities under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. The local authority must have a legal control over the site, by owning or leasing it or having an agreement with the owner. LNRs are sites which have a special local interest either biologically or geologically, and local authorities have a duty to care for them. They can apply local bye-laws to manage and protect LNRs.

As of August 2017 there are 36 LNRs in the county. Three are in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, seven are Sites of Special Scientific Interest, one is a Nature Conservation Review site and two are managed by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust. The largest LNR is Sudbury Common Lands with 50.3 hectares (124 acres), which has ancient wetlands, and the smallest is Alderman Canal West at 1.0 hectare (2.5 acres), which has rare wetland flora.

Key

Other classifications

Sites

Site Photograph Area Location District Other classifications Map Details Description
Alderman Canal East Alderman Canal East 1.6 hectares (4.0 acres) Ipswich
52°03′25″N 1°08′31″E / 52.057°N 1.142°E / 52.057; 1.142 (Alderman Canal East)
TM 155 445
Ipswich Map Details A path runs a long a canalised part of the River Gipping, and the site also has reedbeds, a ditch and grassland with tall herbs. There are uncommon wetland flora, and birds include spotted flycatchers, kingfishers and reed buntings.
Alderman Canal West Alderman Canal West 1.0 hectare (2.5 acres) Ipswich
52°03′18″N 1°08′24″E / 52.055°N 1.14°E / 52.055; 1.14 (Alderman Canal West)
TM 154 443
Ipswich Map Details Paths run along the canal and through reedbeds. There is also grassland with tall herbs, and the canal bank has rare wetland flora. Birds include kingfishers and reed buntings.
Arger Fen Arger Fen 17.6 hectares (43 acres) Assington
51°58′59″N 0°48′47″E / 51.983°N 0.813°E / 51.983; 0.813 (Arger Fen)
TL 933 354
Babergh DVAONB, SSSI, SWT Map Details This site has ancient woodland and wet meadows. There is a diverse range of tree species, including wild cherry, field maple and crab apple. Uncommon fauna include hazel dormice and barbastelle bats.
Aspal Close Aspal Close 18.9 hectares (47 acres) Beck Row
52°22′08″N 0°29′35″E / 52.369°N 0.493°E / 52.369; 0.493 (Aspall Close)
TL 698 775
Forest Heath Map Details This site has grassland, woodland and scrub. Almost 300 plant and six bat species have been recorded, and there are around 200 ancient oaks, some of which may be 1,000 years old. There are a car park and a football pitch.
Barton Mills Valley Barton Mills Valley 10.7 hectares (26 acres) Mildenhall
52°20′13″N 0°31′30″E / 52.337°N 0.525°E / 52.337; 0.525 (Barton Mills Valley)
TL 721 740
Forest Heath SSSI Map Details This diverse site has reedbeds, alder carr, willow carr and sedge areas. There are picnic benches, a car park and disabled access.
Bixley Heath Bixley Heath 5.1 hectares (13 acres) Ipswich
52°02′31″N 1°12′18″E / 52.042°N 1.205°E / 52.042; 1.205 (Bixley Heath)
TM 199 430
Ipswich SSSI Map Details This site has areas of dry heath on high ground and swamp in a valley bottom. The heath is dominated by common heather, and other plants include bell heather and sheep's fescue. There is a dense stand of lesser pond-sedge in the swamp.
Bobbits Lane Bobbits Lane 16.1 hectares (40 acres) Ipswich
52°01′48″N 1°07′41″E / 52.03°N 1.128°E / 52.03; 1.128 (Bobbits Lane)
TM 147 415
Ipswich Map Details Grassy paths run through these wet meadows. Fauna include otters, water voles, kingfishers, egrets and toads.
Bourne Park Reed Beds Bourne Park Reed Beds 7.4 hectares (18 acres) Ipswich
52°01′55″N 1°08′20″E / 52.032°N 1.139°E / 52.032; 1.139 (Bourne Park Reed Beds)
TM 154 417
Ipswich Map Details This nature reserve in Bourne Park is a linear area of reed beds, scrub woodland and tall herb fen, along the north bank of Belstead Brook.
Bramford Meadows Bramford Meadows 9.0 hectares (22 acres) Bramford
52°04′34″N 1°06′14″E / 52.076°N 1.104°E / 52.076; 1.104 (Bramford Meadows)
TM 128 465
Mid Suffolk Map Details This site on the east bank of the River Gipping has grassland and scrub, and it is crossed by wet ditches and the former course of the river. Flora in the ditches include water forget me not, water mint, brooklime and water figwort.
Bridge Wood Bridge Wood 31.0 hectares (77 acres) Ipswich
52°01′08″N 1°11′02″E / 52.019°N 1.184°E / 52.019; 1.184 (Bridge Wood)
TM 186 404
Ipswich Map Details This site has been managed as woodland at least since 1600, and it has several ancient oaks. There are also areas of pine, which are being thinned to create a more mixed woodland.
Broom Hill, Hadleigh Broom Hill 3.9 hectares (9.6 acres) Hadleigh
52°02′35″N 0°56′38″E / 52.043°N 0.944°E / 52.043; 0.944 (Broom Hill, Hadleigh)
TM 020 424
Babergh Map Details This former quarry is now covered with woodland, grassland and scrub. There are many ancient trees, together with pollarded oaks and small-leaved limes, which had high branches removed, and coppiced hazel and lime trees, which were cut at ground level.
Church Meadow Church Meadow 3.8 hectares (9.4 acres) Stowmarket
52°10′23″N 0°59′49″E / 52.173°N 0.997°E / 52.173; 0.997 (Church Meadow)
TM 050 570
Mid Suffolk Map Details This was formerly the garden of Combs Hall, which was demolished in 1756. Surviving features include earth banks and a round pond, which has frogs, newts, toads and many dragonflies. The meadow is grazed by sheep.
Dales Open Space, TheThe Dales Open Space The Dales Open Space 5.9 hectares (15 acres) Ipswich
52°04′19″N 1°08′31″E / 52.072°N 1.142°E / 52.072; 1.142 (The Dales Open Space)
TM 154 462
Ipswich Map Details Most of this former quarry is secondary woodland, but there are also areas of scrub, two spring-fed ponds and seasonal pools. In the north the site is a flat valley bottom, and it slopes up steeply in the south.
Fen Alder Carr Fen Alder Carr 1.7 hectares (4.2 acres) Stowmarket
52°10′05″N 1°03′11″E / 52.168°N 1.053°E / 52.168; 1.053 (Fen Alder Carr)
TM 089 566
Mid Suffolk Map Details This site has diverse habitats, including open water, alder carr woodland and tall fen. There is a large rookery high in the trees, and there are other birds such as siskins, chaffinches and redpolls.
Gunton Warren and Corton Woods Gunton Warren 31.9 hectares (79 acres) Lowestoft
52°30′04″N 1°45′04″E / 52.501°N 1.751°E / 52.501; 1.751 (Gunton Warren and Corton Woods)
TM 547 959
Waveney SWT Map Details 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. Corton Woods has mature trees and diverse flora such as lesser celandine, bee orchids and common spotted orchids.
Gunton Wood Gunton Wood 2.8 hectares (6.9 acres) Lowestoft
52°30′07″N 1°44′31″E / 52.502°N 1.742°E / 52.502; 1.742 (Gunton Wood)
TM 541 959
Waveney Map Details This was formerly part of the gardens of Gunton Old Hall, which was demolished in 1963. There are trees such as lime, oak and copper beech, a pond and green winged and bee orchids.
Haven, Aldeburgh, TheThe Haven, Aldeburgh The Haven, Aldeburgh 20.2 hectares (50 acres) Aldeburgh
52°09′50″N 1°36′22″E / 52.164°N 1.606°E / 52.164; 1.606 (The Haven, Aldeburgh)
TM 467 579
Suffolk Coastal SCHAONB, SSSI Map Details The site covers the beach north of Aldeburgh and an area of lagoons and reedbeds which are protected as nature reserves. It has a sculpture called Scallop by Maggi Hambling, designed as a tribute to Benjamin Britten.
Haverhill Railway Walks Haverhill Railway Walks 14.1 hectares (35 acres) Haverhill
52°05′N 0°28′E / 52.08°N 0.46°E / 52.08; 0.46 (Haverhill Railway Walks)
TL 686 448
St Edmundsbury Map Details This is a footpath along a three mile stretch of a defunct section of the Stour Valley Railway. Much of it is covered with scrub and large trees, and it provides a wildlife corridor for a diverse range of fauna and flora through the centre of Haverhill.
Landguard Common Landguard Common 16.3 hectares (40 acres) Felixstowe
51°56′13″N 1°19′23″E / 51.937°N 1.323°E / 51.937; 1.323 (Landguard Common)
TM 285 317
Suffolk Coastal SSSI Map Details This site has a rare vegetated shingle habitat, with plants including sea kale and yellow horned poppy. There are birds such as purple sandpipers, wheatears and snow buntings.
Leathes Ham Leathes Ham 6.0 hectares (15 acres) Lowestoft
52°28′44″N 1°43′34″E / 52.479°N 1.726°E / 52.479; 1.726 (Leathes Ham)
TM 531 933
Waveney Map Details In the medieval period this site was turbary, an area which was dug for peat, and it later flooded and became a lake. It has a reedbed, dykes, and marshes where wildfowl breed. Flora include ragged robin and southern marsh orchid.
Maidscross Hill Maidscross Hill 49.8 hectares (123 acres) Brandon
52°25′N 0°32′E / 52.41°N 0.54°E / 52.41; 0.54 (Maidscross Hill)
TL 728 823
Forest Heath NCR, SSSI Map Details This very dry grassland has four nationally rare plants, Breckland wild thyme, Spanish catchfly, grape hyacinth and sickle medick. The site is not grazed, which has allowed invasion by bracken and scrub, but also increased the nesting sites for birds.
Mill Stream Mill Stream 4.7 hectares (12 acres) Ipswich
52°03′11″N 1°13′19″E / 52.053°N 1.222°E / 52.053; 1.222 (Mill Stream)
TM 210 443
Suffolk Coastal Map Details This linear site along the banks of a stream also has ponds, wet carr, woodland, wildflower grassland and willow scrub. There are ancient oak trees, and fauna include water voles.
Millennium Wood Millennium Wood 3.8 hectares (9.4 acres) Ipswich
52°01′44″N 1°07′26″E / 52.029°N 1.124°E / 52.029; 1.124 (Millennium Wood)
TM 144 413
Ipswich Map Details New saplings have been planted on the edge of this ancient, semi-natural wood of hornbeam and coppiced lime. There are many flowers in the spring such as bluebells, wild garlic and archangel.
Moreton Hall Community Woods Moreton Hall Community Woods 18.5 hectares (46 acres) Bury St Edmunds
52°14′53″N 0°43′59″E / 52.248°N 0.733°E / 52.248; 0.733 (Moreton Hall Community Woods)
TL 867 646
St Edmundsbury Map Details This site in six separate areas has woodland, grassland, a pond, paths and cycleways.
Needham Lake Needham Lake 9.9 hectares (24 acres) Needham Market
52°09′11″N 1°03′36″E / 52.153°N 1.06°E / 52.153; 1.06 (Needham Lake)
TM 094 549
Mid Suffolk Map Details The lake is in former sand and gravel workings. It has diverse fauna and flora in aquatic, marsh and scrub habitats. There are grass and tarmac paths.
Pennings, Eye, TheThe Pennings, Eye The Pennings 2.7 hectares (6.7 acres) Bury St Edmunds
52°19′08″N 1°09′11″E / 52.319°N 1.153°E / 52.319; 1.153 (The Pennings, Eye)
TM 150 736
Mid Suffolk Map Details This site on the east bank of the River Dove is managed as a hay meadow. Fauna on the river bank include kingfishers and water voles.
Pipers Vale Pipers Vale 19.7 hectares (49 acres) Ipswich
52°01′41″N 1°10′23″E / 52.028°N 1.173°E / 52.028; 1.173 (Pipers Vale)
TM 178 414
Ipswich Map Details This site on the bank of the River Orwell is part of Orwell Country Park. Its diverse habitats include heath, reedbeds, scrub and alder carr. Over 100 bird species have been recorded, including redwings, whimbrels and bullfinches.
Railway Walk, Hadleigh Hadleigh Railway Walk 11.6 hectares (29 acres) Hadleigh
52°02′N 0°59′E / 52.03°N 0.98°E / 52.03; 0.98 (Hadleigh Railway Walk)
TM 046 409
Babergh Map Details The walk starts at the original station building in Hadleigh, which is now a private house. The route goes along a flat path, some of it on raised banks and other parts on downward slopes. Most of it is bordered by trees.
Railway Walks, TheThe Railway Walks The Railway Walks 25.3 hectares (63 acres) Sudbury
52°06′N 0°48′E / 52.1°N 0.8°E / 52.1; 0.8 (The Railway Walks)
TL 857 435
Babergh Map Details The walk has diverse fauna and flora in habitats such as water meadows, streams, ditches and ponds. Birds include willow warblers, kingfishers, woodpeckers, mallards, moorhens and swans.
Rede Wood Rede Wood 7.5 hectares (19 acres) Ipswich
52°06′43″N 1°08′35″E / 52.112°N 1.143°E / 52.112; 1.143 (Rede Wood)
TM 153 506
Mid Suffolk Map Details This semi-natural wood on boulder clay is mainly pedunculate oak and ash, with a coppiced understorey mainly of hazel. The flora include 38 species indicative of ancient woodland.
Riverside Walk, Hadleigh Riverside Walk 4.6 hectares (11 acres) Hadleigh
52°02′35″N 0°56′53″E / 52.043°N 0.948°E / 52.043; 0.948 (Riverside Walk, Hadleigh)
TM 023 424
Babergh Map Details This linear site on the west bank of the River Brett comprises two footpaths and the alder woodland and fen between them. Great willowherb and meadowsweet grow in marshy silted up ditches, and birds include warblers and finches.
Sandlings Sandlings 5.7 hectares (14 acres) Ipswich
52°03′22″N 1°12′47″E / 52.056°N 1.213°E / 52.056; 1.213 (Sandlings)
TM 204 445
Suffolk Coastal Map Details This site has acid grassland, a wildflower meadow and areas of scrub. Nearly 70 species of bird have been observed and 22 of butterfly, including the white-letter hairstreak.
Spring Wood, Belstead Spring Wood 5.5 hectares (14 acres) Ipswich
52°01′44″N 1°07′26″E / 52.029°N 1.124°E / 52.029; 1.124 (Spring Wood, Belstead)
TM 144 413
Ipswich Map Details This ancient oak and hornbeam wood has an understorey of hazel. There are small-leaved limes in groups several metres in diameter, which are genetically one tree, as a result of coppicing decades ago.
Stoke Park Wood Stoke Park Wood 2.2 hectares (5.4 acres) Ipswich
52°02′02″N 1°07′59″E / 52.034°N 1.133°E / 52.034; 1.133 (Stoke Park Wood)
TM 150 419
Ipswich Map Details This ancient wood was formerly part of the Stoke Park estate, and it still has the remains of a Victorian drainage system. It was formerly called Fishpond Covert as it had a large fishpond. It is a mixed woodland with grass trails and glades.
Sudbury Common Lands Sudbury Common Lands 50.3 hectares (124 acres) Sudbury
52°02′N 0°43′E / 52.04°N 0.72°E / 52.04; 0.72 (Sudbury Common Lands)
TL 868 417
Babergh Map Details This site has ancient wetland with ponds and ditches, and there are locally uncommon species such as flowering rush, tubular water dropwort and round-fruited rush. There is also grassland which has never been ploughed, and it has diverse grasses and wildflowers.
Tiger Hill Tiger Hill 21.0 hectares (52 acres) Assington
51°59′10″N 0°48′18″E / 51.986°N 0.805°E / 51.986; 0.805 (Tiger Hill)
TL 927 357
Babergh DVAONB, SSSI Map Details This site has woodland, heath and fenland, and fauna include badgers, bats and rare and endangered dormice.

See also

kids search engine
List of local nature reserves in Suffolk Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.