Sutton Heath and Upper Hollesley Common
Ordnance Survey map
reference: TM310478.
Sutton Heath is a large area of over 150 acres (62 hectares) of
heathland and woodland. It lies within
the Suffolk Coastal and Heaths Area of Outstanding
Natural Beauty (new window) and is some 3 miles to the east of
Woodbridge. The heathland supports many of the typical wildlife
species found on the Sandlings Heaths of coastal Suffolk, including
birds such as the Woodlark and Yellowhammer. Fallow Deer are often
seen and during the spring and summer months Adders are
occasionally seen.
There are car parks,
cycle parking and picnic facilities on the B1083 and the
Hollesley Road and there is a network of way-marked trails for
a leisurely walk of up to 2 miles. Paths may be muddy during
wet weather.
Sutton Heath is on the route of the
Sandlings Walk long-distance footpath (new
window) which links Ipswich to Southwold.
Part of Upper Hollesley Common to the east of Sutton Heath on
the Hollesley Road also has car parking, cycle parking and picnic
facilities. This smaller area of wooded heathland has a circular
way-marked trail. This area too is known for its important
heathland wildlife.
Sutton Heath and Upper Hollesley Common have been included in
the Sandlings Special Protection Area, designated by English
Nature, in recognition of the international importance of its
healthland bird species.
The Council's land at Sutton Heath
is managed under a Countryside Stewardship Agreement in order
to improve and maintain the heathland habitat, which is a UK
Biodiversity Action Plan priority. The management includes the
grazing of part of the site by sheep and occasionally pygmy
goats. These animals form part of the Sandlings flock which is
owned and managed by
Suffolk Wildlife Trust (new window).
The Grove, Felixstowe
Ordnance Survey map reference:
TM303359
Follow the link to
view an online map (new window).
The Grove
is almost 10 acres (4 ha) of deciduous woodland situated on
the outskirts of Felixstowe. It is one of very few publicly
accessible woodlands on the whole peninsula and offers
opportunities for relaxing walking.
The woodland still shows the scars of the Great Storm of 1987
when many mature trees were either toppled or stripped of their
branches. The remaining mature trees are now being joined by a new
generation, which has responded to the increased light following
the storm and the whole woodland is alive with birdsong and
drumming woodpeckers in the spring.
The Woodland Trust (new
window) planted Abbey Grove, a community
woodland, immediately to the west of the Grove in 1989.
There is a car park adjacent to the woodland.
A selection of maps and guides are available from our
Tourist
Information Offices in Woodbridge, Felixstowe and Aldeburgh
which you can purchase in person or by mail
order.