Open Countryside
Visit our areas of Open Countryside - unique, distinctive and rare.
From the gently rolling chalk hills of The Chilterns, to the fine
lowland landscapes that inspired painter John Constable, and the
fragile heathland of The Brecks
The Brecks (Norfolk/Suffolk)
A unique mix of forest, heath and
farmland - covering around 370 square miles
(940 square kilometres) in both Norfolk and Suffolk.
The landscape was created by prehistoric farmers
as they cut back the trees to make clearings for
crops, and by the constant grazing of sheep and
rabbits. The latter was farmed for its meat and
skins in enclosures called warrens.
‘Brecks' were temporary fields cultivated for a few
years and then allowed to revert to heath once the
soil (a mix of sand, chalk and flint) became
exhausted. Sand storms were once a regular
occurrence. During the 19th C. measures were
taken to protect the topsoil - with farmers planting
lines of Scots pine trees as windbreaks. Then in
the 1920's, with the demand for more timber, the
Forestry Commission purchased large areas to
develop as Britain's largest lowland pine forest.
Today the use of modern farming techniques has
drastically changed the ancient character of the area,
turning the sandy soils into productive agricultural
land. The pockets of remaining heathland are fiercely protected and managed - a
rich haven for many rare species of flora and fauna. Colourful heather, fingered
speedwell, military orchid and Breckland thyme flourish here, alongside many
insects, butterflies and moths, rabbits, stone curlew, nightjar and woodlark.
There are also special features - ‘meres' whose water levels rise
and fall, and ‘pingos', damp shallow craters left by retreating glaciers during the
last Ice Age. The landscape is also dotted with historical sites - burial
mounds, deserted villages and Neolithic flint mines, where the stone was
dug for tools, flints and building material.
Places to Visit
Cavenham Heath - prime example of ancient heath. East Wretham
Heath - heath, woodland and fluctuating 'meres'. Knettishall Heath Country
Park - grassland heath with Ice Age striped ground. NWT Weeting Heath
National Nature Reserve - fine example of rabbit-grazed Breck heath. Home of
stone curlews. Thetford Warren Lodge - rabbit warrener's fortified house.
Thompson Common - famous for its 'pingos'.
Further information: www.brecks.org
Click here for more information on Thetford Forest Park
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The Dedham Vale (Essex/Suffolk)
Designated as an ‘Area of Outstanding Natural
Beauty' - the Dedham Vale sits on the borders of
Essex and Suffolk, and has become famous
worldwide through the paintings of Britain's greatest
landscape artist John Constable (1776-1837).
Many of the scenes which brought him inspiration
can still be seen today, especially at Flatford, and
along the river banks between here and Dedham.
The area is characterised by some of the finest
lowland landscape in England - the River Stour
winding its way past scattered woodland, water
meadows, hedgerows, sunken rural lanes and pretty
villages. Rich in flora and fauna, look out for the rare
black poplar tree, the dormouse, water vole and otter.
The area is best discovered on foot or by bicycle.
Further information:
www.dedhamvalestourvalley.org
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The Greensand Ridge (Bedfordshire)
Formed about 125 million years ago, this narrow ridge of sandstone rises above
the flat clay plains of Bedfordshire - running for about 40 miles (64 kilometres) from
Leighton Buzzard to Gamlingay. It is an area of gently rolling hills and small
valleys, heavily wooded in parts.
Locally quarried sandstone has been used in villages, churches, walls and
bridges. Iron deposits in the stone give it a distinctive rust-brown colour - and in
some areas, glauconite colours the stones an amazing green. Another key feature
are numerous historic estates and parkland, such as Ampthill Park and Woburn.
Look out for muntjac deer, bluebells and woodpeckers.
Further information: www.greensandtrust.org
The Sandlings are an area of lowland
heaths - which once stretched right along
the Suffolk coastline from Ipswich to
Lowestoft. They were created by
prehistoric farmers, as they cut back the
trees to make clearings for crops
The Chilterns (Beds/Herts)
Covering parts of both Bedfordshire and
Hertfordshire, this ‘Area of Outstanding Natural
Beauty' is noted for its unspoilt landscape
and rural character.
The gently rolling hills are swathed in woodland
and chalk downland. Whilst in the valleys
attractive villages with their traditional brick
and flint cottages nestle around medieval churches.
Britain's oldest road The Icknield Way (which
dates back to Neolithic times) follows the ridge
of the hills. This long distance footpath is lined
with remains of burial mounds and Iron Age forts.
The Chilterns are rich in flora and fauna. Woodlands
feature ash, cherry, oak and magnificent beech.
These once used to support a wide range of
industries, such as timber for the local furniture
industry (notably chair-making). Today they are
carpeted with bluebells in spring; whilst in the
autumn, the trees are turned to magnificent golden
colours. On the chalk downland, the pasque flower
and several species of orchid attract many butterflies,
such as the chalkhill blue. Look out also for the red kite (a bird of prey
successfully reintroduced in the 1990's), deer and various species of bats.
Visitors can enjoy walking, cycling and horseriding routes.
Places to Visit
Ashridge Estate - 5,000 acres of woodlands, commons, chalk downland and
farmland. Barton Hills - chalk grassland, beech and ash-maple woodland.
Blow's Down - grassland rich in wildlife (birds and flowers). Dunstable
Downs - one of the highest points in the region. Tring Park - former
estate of Sir Walter Rothschild, now managed by the Woodland Trust.
Further information: www.chilternsaonb.org
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The Sandlings (Suffolk)
An area of lowland heaths - which once stretched
right along the Suffolk coastline from Ipswich to
Lowestoft. They were created by prehistoric farmers,
as they cut back the trees to make clearings for
crops. But the sandy soils were too poor for farming,
and the area was later used for the grazing of sheep.
This prevented the trees from growing back, allowing
heather and gorse to spread. Then in the
1920's - with the need for more timber, the Forestry
Commission purchased large areas to develop as a
forest. Today the use of modern farming techniques
has drastically changed the ancient character of the
area, turning the sandy soils into agricultural land.
The pockets of remaining heathland are a rich
haven for flora and fauna. Colourful gorse and
heather, ant-lion, adder, dartford warbler and
silver-studded blue butterfly. Whilst clearings offer
a valuable home to the woodlark - and from May to
September, the nightjar, whose ‘churring' can be
heard on summer evenings. The landscape is also
dotted with historical sites, such as Sutton Hoo.
Places to Visit
Blaxhall Common - home to nightjar, ant-lions and adder. Dunwich Heath - great
between June and September, when the heather and gorse is in bloom. Sutton
and Hollesley Commons - one of the largest areas of Sandlings heath left.
Further information: www.suffolkcoastandheaths.org
