Coast & Heaths Explorer Guide

Sutton Heath Highlights of Sutton Heath 1 Sutton Heath is a special place for many people and the miles of paths are very Explorer Guide popular. Lowland heath is rare in Britain and provides a home for numerous animals, insects A and plants. Birds such as stonechat, nightjar and woodlark can be seen, depending on the time of year. Reptiles such as common lizards enjoy the dry, sandy soil. If you visit in the evening, you may see bats above the clearings and deer slipping through the woodland. Ponies and sheep are used to graze the Heath to keep the vegetation under control. The Heath is managed by District Council and . B

The heathland was first created when Stone Age people cleared the wildwood to graze animals. Since then, people have had a huge influence on the landscape. There is evidence of a medieval rabbit warren and a shepherd’s garden. During World War II, anti-glider trenches were dug to prevent enemy gliders landing on the Heath.

A few miles north west is the famous Anglo Saxon ship burial at Sutton Hoo. Sutton Hoo is managed by the National Trust and is accessed from the road Enjoy two beautiful walks to Woodbridge. exploring heathland in the Parish of Sutton. Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Suffolk Coast & Heaths Explorer Guide Sutton Heath is a beautiful area of lowland heath, forest and farmland. Paths criss-cross the Heath and lead through areas of heather and woodland, giving lovely views of the landscape. The Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB The Suffolk Coast & Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is one of Britain’s finest landscapes. It extends from the Stour Estuary in the south to the eastern fringe of and then north to . The AONB covers 403 square kilometres, including wildlife rich Scots Pines are a feature of the Heath and are native to Britain. wetlands, ancient heaths, windswept shingle beaches Key to Map These trees have orange flaky bark and historic towns and villages. and produce lots of small cones. They AONB area Additional project area Kessingland provide a home for many insects and Towns and villages A145 Visiting Sutton Heath A12 birds. Even the wood from dead trees Woodland Lowestoft is important as it provides a home Ordnance Survey Key Heathlandto Map Main roads Beccles for insects and fungi. Explorer Map No. 212 AONB area Railways/stations KessinglaRivernd Additional project area Blyth /Stour (Woodbridge and ) Towns and villages A145A144 and Orwell Walk A12 Woodland or Explorer Map No. 197 4 Heathland Halesworth MoD Woodbridge is the large military (Ipswich, and ) MainSailo roadsrs’ Path A1120 Southwold base to the north of the Heath. It Railways/stationsYou are here River Blyth Suffolk Coast Path/Stour Blythburgh WalberswickMinsmere started life during World War II as an Access via the B1083 and Orwell Walk A144 Sandlings Walk emergency landing strip for damaged SaxmundhamDunwich from the A12. Sailors’ Path A1120 You are here aircraft. During the Cold War it was used by the United States Air Force, Public transport information: Framlingham SaxmundhamSnape www.suffolkonboard.com Wickham along with nearby Bentwaters, as a Leiston Market River or call 0845 606 6171 Alde base for fighter aircraft. Today it is A12 Snape Wickham Aldeburgh home to 23 Engineer Regiment (Air Market River Orford Ore Rendlesham Assault) of the British Army. A12 Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB 5 Woodbridge River 01394 445225 Sutton Orford Ore Hoo Woodbridge Orford Ness www.suffolkcoastandheaths.org Sutton has had a great Ipswich Hoo North Modern agriculture River A14 Ipswich Deben NorthSea impact on the Sandlings landscape. The River A14 Deben Sea Suffolk Coast & Heaths A14 Bawdsey heathland soil is not very fertile, but the use A14 Trimley St Mary/ AONB is a partner of A12 TrimleySt Marti St Mary/n OS Licence info. © Crown copyright A12 River Orwell St Martin of fertilisers and irrigation has allowed farmers Alton Water and database rights 2012 Ordnance Alton Water the BALANCE project, Survey 100023395. A137A137 to grow a variety of crops. Almost 80% of Sandlings part-financed by the FelixstoweFelixstowe River Stour heathland has been ploughed for agriculture. The soil is ideal for ManningtreeRiver Stour through Manningtree Harwich Mistley Harwich growing good quality root vegetables. The remaining heathland is the Interreg IV A 2 Seas Mistley now protected. Cross- Programme.

Images: Front cover – Many paths lead across the Heath. A. Sutton Heath – a mixture of

heath and woodland. B. Exmoor Ponies – used to control the vegetation. C. Heathland – Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Research, text and some images by Simon Peachey. Printed on Recycled, Carbon FSC, ECF, Balanced paper. first created many centuries ago. D. Scots Pine trees – a distinctive feature of the Heath. E. Dead wood – a great habitat for insects and fungi. Two wonderful walks across open heathland, past Sutton Heath twisted pines trees and through sun dappled woodland. Suffolk Coast & Heaths Explorer Guide

© Crown copyright and database rights 2012 Ordnance Survey 100023395.

4 2 MoD Woodbridge

The Chase Start 1 1

Heath and Forest Hike Sutton Heath Stroll 1 Tangham B Road Sutton Forest C Road 3 Common Un-made road B1083 2 1 ‘Highlights’ Location 5 Parking Public House Frogs Hole Settlements Wooded Areas Ministry of Defence Oak Covert Heathland Ash Covert Cottage Sutton Carr Wood

N 1000ft Woodhall Wood Bussock Wood 200m Sawpit Covert Dogs are welcome, please keep them under Distance 4 miles (6.4 km) control and on ‘Heath and Forest Hike’ lead as advised

Time: 2 hours When you reach corner of heath Terrain: Paths and tracks can beside sewage works, go through be muddy after rain. Because of gate to cross tracks and continue grazing animals and ground nesting straight on path opposite, keeping birds, please keep dogs on leads. field to right. When you reach kissing The route follows Public Rights of gate on left, turn left and follow Way and permissive routes. path beside fence. As woodland on A left thins, turn right and follow path across heath back to car park. Start from the Sutton Heath D Southern Car Park off the B1083 road. Follow track that leads away Distance opposite car park entrance, beside ‘Sutton Heath Stroll’ 2 miles (3.25 km) information boards. Keep straight until cross paths, then turn right. Time: 1 hour Follow track straight over another E cross paths and through woodland. Terrain: Paths and tracks can be B Continue past field on left until muddy after rain. Because of grazing you reach major cross tracks, with animals and ground nesting birds, sewage works opposite. Turn left and follow wide please keep dogs on leads. The route When you reach kissing track. follows Public Rights of Way and gate on right, turn right and permissive routes. enter heath. Follow path across heath, keeping straight at cross tracks. When you reach Start from the Sutton Heath Southern open grassy area, take path Car Park off the B1083 road. Follow left towards distant cottage. At track that leads away opposite car cottage, go through gate and park entrance, beside information take track sharp right. Follow boards. Keep straight until cross paths, track until you come to wooden then turn right. After short distance, Countryside gate on right. turn left at cross paths. Code Go through gate on to heath Follow path, ignoring wide track that The area has a network of footpaths and and follow path parallel with leaves on right. When path splits, bridleways. We have shown suggested fence on left. to reach second car routes on this map. Here are a few simple At cross paths, take middle path suggestions to help you enjoy the area bear left, keeping roughly park. From car park, turn right before safely and assist our work in caring for it. parallel with fence. When information board and follow path Follow the Countryside Code: you reach fence on far side of through forest. Plan ahead and follow any signs heath, turn right and follow When you reach open forest track, Leave things as you find them path along edge of heath. Protect plants and animals, control fires turn right. At T junction, turn left and take your litter home. along path followed earlier. When Dogs are very welcome, but please keep cross paths reached, Follow them under close control at all times and C turn left. path through woodland until kissing Images: A. Birch woodland – beautiful shady on lead as advised. walks. B. Sutton Heath – many paths cross the Thank you. gate on right. Go through gate and Heath. C. Sheep – graze the Heath to keep the Find out more about the Countryside Code: vegetation in check. D. Gorse bushes – the coconut follow winding path across heath until scented flowers provide food for insects - Gary K www.countrysideaccess.gov.uk path junction. Turn right and follow Smith/FLPA. E. Pine cones – crunch underfoot as you walk. F. The Heath under snow – Sutton path back to car park. Heath is a great place to visit all year round.