Email:
Countryside@forest-heath.gov.uk
Tel:01638 719214
Covering approximately 380 sq km, Forest Heath contains unique
contrasting landscapes of brecks, fens, chalk downland and clay
downland as well as Britain’s largest lowland pine forest.
Forest Heath is unusual within the county of Suffolk in
having a high percentage of its area designated as Sites of Special
Scientific Interest (SSSI). This reflects the nationally important
breckland habitats which support a wide range of
nationally rare species. The district
is split into four natural areas:
- East Anglian chalk in the south around Newmarket where small
areas of species rich grassland survive amongst horse paddocks and
gallops.
- East Anglian clay downlands in the south east – a rolling
arable landscape supporting the only ancient woodland to be found
in the district.
- The fens to the north west – an intensively farmed, flat
landscape with little room for wildlife outside of the dykes,
drains and narrow verges of the drove roads.
- Breckland in the centre and east with a mixture of arable
farmland and conifer plantation with areas of heath and the long
lines of bent pines left from former wind breaks.
The breckland supports many of the important BAP species and
habitats in the district. Species like Stone Curlew, Nightjar and
Woodlark breed here in sufficient numbers for some areas to warrant
international designations. The farmland also has good numbers of
Brown Hare and Grey Partridge. In the forest plantations there is a
small declining population of Red Squirrel. There are significant
areas of lowland heathland and acid grassland. The light sandy
soils have led to much of the farmland going in and out of
cultivation and these ‘breck’ fields support a unique flora of tiny
annual plants such as fingered speedwell which are not found
elsewhere in Britain. Other BAP species such as Tower Mustard
and Red-tipped Cudweed are also adapted to these disturbed
light soils.
There is relatively little open water in the district, but the
valleys of the Little Ouse, the Lark and the Eriswell cut-off
channel all have Otters. Water Voles can be found alongside many of
the fenland drains. Restoration work at Lakenheath Washes provides
an important area of reedbed designed to support the Bittern. These
inland reedbeds will become increasingly important as sea level
rise continues to threaten the south and east coast.
Where the breckland and fens join there are a few wetland sites
which support an unusual flora and fauna with species like the
rare Leaf Beetle at Pashford Poors Fen (its only UK site) and the
Greater Water Parsnip at Hurst Fen. These sites are all suffering
from drying out due to a general lowering of the water table.
Most of the district is covered by farmland but there is
significant urban development around Brandon and Newmarket as well
as the military airbases at Mildenhall and Lakenheath. These areas
are discussed in greater detail in the district Green Audit
(currently being drafted).
Apart from a few small sites on clayland in the south east
corner, there is little ancient woodland in the district. Parkland
is also scarce, with Aspal Close Local Nature Reserve at Beck
Row near Mildenhall being the only example.
The RSPB is currently developing a major new wetland reserve
at Lakenheath Fen. Funded by a European Life grant, once
established this reserve promises to fulfil several national
Habitat Action Plans (HAPs) and Species Action Plans
(SAPs) and addresses the future loss of coastal wetlands
through sea level rise.
The majority of large scale land owners such as Elveden Estate,
Ministry of Defence and farmers are signed up to Countryside
Stewardship Agreements for sensitive land management.
Forest Enterprise, Suffolk Wildlife Trust and English Nature own
and manage a considerable percentage of the district for nature
conservation.
Since establishing Aspal Close in Beck Row as a Local
Nature Reserve in 2001, we have more recently designated
Maidscross Hill in Lakenheath and Barton Mills Riverside Reserve
near
Mildenhall.