Belfairs Park and Nature Reserve

Widely regarded as the flagship green space for the area, Belfairs Nature Reserve - also known as Hadleigh Great Wood - has been managed, through coppicing, to create a perfect home for a diverse range of wildlife.

The heath fritillary is a rare butterfly reintroduced to the site ten years ago. Conservation efforts have seen numbers increase from the original 37 to several thousand - in late May to early June roughly 10% of the butterflies you will see across the reserve will be one of these delicate beauties.

Another success story of the wood is the dormouse, which is often used as an indicator species for healthy woodland. This is because dormice need a very diverse environment, with plenty of places to eat and breed - and recent monitoring has shown Belfairs Nature Reserve has a healthy population of young and bright-eyed dormice spread throughout the area.

Belfairs Park and Nature Reserve has facilities for tennis, bowling, golf and horse riding.