Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB
Stretching south from Lowestoft to the river Stour, the AONB protects heathland, reed beds, salt-marsh and mud-flats, a rich mixture of unique and vulnerable lowland landscapes, all of which are under pressure of change.
It is deeply indented by the estuaries of the Blyth, Alde, Deben, Orwell and Stour and bounded by the crumbling cliffs and tidal spits of the low and lonely North Sea coastline, the nearest unspoilt coast to Greater London. This is one of the most important wildlife areas in Britain including three National Nature Reserves (www.english-nature.org.uk/special/nnr/nnr_what.htm), many Sites of Special Scientific Interest (www.english-nature.org.uk/special/sssi/) and the RSPB's Minsmere Reserve (www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/m/minsmere/index.asp). The mud-flats and creeks of the AONB's salt-marsh-fringed estuaries contain wildlife wetland sites of national and international importance, many of which are Ramsar sites and proposed Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas.
The low-lying coastal hinterland contains some of England's few remaining areas of ancient open heathland, including the Sandlings whose wild sandy stretches are a vanishing refuge of the nightjar, woodlark, and rare heath butterflies. Characterised by its flowering lanes and colour-washed Suffolk pink cottages, the area has retained much of its traditional character.
The AONB, with a population of 23,490, has no large towns but includes mediaeval market towns such as Aldeburgh. The rural economy is based on agriculture and tourism. Visitor activity is centred around Aldeburgh with its major summer arts festival and in small towns and coastal hamlets such as Southwold and Walberswick. The booming popularity of watersports has brought considerable leisure usage to the Stour, Deben, Blyth, Ore and Alde estuaries.
For further information, visit the Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB website (www.suffolkcoastandheaths.org/).
Content supplied by the National Association for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (www.aonb.org.uk/)