Much has been written about this corner of Suffolk (internal link to Simon Barnes) and as repeated visits by BBC’s ‘Springwatch’ attest, few places can match the array of habitat: from shingle beaches and crumbling cliffs, reedbeds, saltmarsh, to heath and farmland, a mix that encourages an extraordinary variety of flora and fauna:
On the margins of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this is home to rare plants, seals and otters. However, it is primarily a bird-lover’s paradise in that large numbers of wintering birds return each year including bittern, avocet and marsh harrier. Walberswick National Nature Reserve offers one of the most impressive wildlife sights of the winter, with so many birds returning to feed on the intertidal marshes. There are permanent publicly-accessible bird hides around the estuary.
Inland heaths are home to woodlark, nightjar and warbler while skylark, corn bunting and yellowhammer. Nightingales are heard at night. On farmland, brown hare is a common sight.
On the plant front, enjoy snowdrop and bluebell woods and ‘daffodil days’. Villages hold popular ‘Open Gardens’ as well as nationally-recognised wildflower displays and exhibitions.