Cavenham Heath National Nature Reserve

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Overview

Most of Cavenham Heath NNR is typical Breckland heathland with dry, acidic sandy soil supporting acid grass heath; heather heath with patches of bracken and sand sedge. In addition there are riverside meadows, woodland, wet woodland scrub and small areas of fen. There’s a good population of Britain’s only poisonous snake, the adder, on the heath. And the wide range of habitats supports many uncommon plant species, including mossy stonecrop, annual knawel and suffocated clover. There are good populations of butterflies, including small copper, small heath and grayling. Over 400 species of moth have been recorded, including the rare lunar yellow underwing and forester. Well over 100 bird species are recorded annually, and breeding species include nightjar, woodlark and stonechat on the heath, woodcock in the damp woodland, and grey wagtail, kingfisher and nightingale along the River Lark. There is a regular pre-migration roost of stone curlew in August and September, numbering over 100 birds.

Location

Icklingham

About the area

Suffolk is Constable country, where the county’s crumbling, time-ravaged coastline spreads itself under wide skies to convey a wonderful sense of remoteness and solitude. Highly evocative and atmospheric, this is where rivers wind lazily to the sea and notorious 18th-century smugglers hid from the excise men.

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Cavenham Heath National Nature Reserve

Icklingham

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Cavenham Heath National Nature Reserve

Recommended by

Overview

Most of Cavenham Heath NNR is typical Breckland heathland with dry, acidic sandy soil supporting acid grass heath; heather heath with patches of bracken and sand sedge. In addition there are riverside meadows, woodland, wet woodland scrub and small areas of fen. There’s a good population of Britain’s only poisonous snake, the adder, on the heath. And the wide range of habitats supports many uncommon plant species, including mossy stonecrop, annual knawel and suffocated clover. There are good populations of butterflies, including small copper, small heath and grayling. Over 400 species of moth have been recorded, including the rare lunar yellow underwing and forester. Well over 100 bird species are recorded annually, and breeding species include nightjar, woodlark and stonechat on the heath, woodcock in the damp woodland, and grey wagtail, kingfisher and nightingale along the River Lark. There is a regular pre-migration roost of stone curlew in August and September, numbering over 100 birds.

Location

Icklingham

About the area

Area image

Suffolk is Constable country, where the county’s crumbling, time-ravaged coastline spreads itself under wide skies to convey a wonderful sense of remoteness and solitude. Highly evocative and atmospheric, this is where rivers wind lazily to the sea and notorious 18th-century smugglers hid from the excise men.

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