82 - Suffolk Coast and Heaths : Analysis: Landscape Attributes & Opportunities

Analysis supporting Statements of Environmental Opportunity

The following analysis section focuses on the landscape attributes and opportunities for this NCA.

Further analysis on ecosytem services for this NCA is contained in the Analysis: Ecosytem Services section.

Landscape attributes

The dynamic coastal environment including, coastal sand dunes, shingle structures and eroding soft cliff lines.

• Coastal landform is intimately linked with coastal processes and geological makeup with the cliffs (for example between Covehithe and Southwold) being constantly attacked by the sea, resulting in erosion and deposition caused by extensive longshore drift. These processes contribute to a sense of fragility and vulnerability. They also provide an important sediment supply for downdrift beaches, facilitating coastal flood alleviation.
• Cliffs display internationally important geological exposures of Pliocene-Pleistocene Crag formations, with sands and glacial tills and are often associated with Palaeolithic and Mesolithic artefacts. They are important educational resources that help to explain coastal change. Also these deposits allow us to reconstruct past environmental and climate change that may help us understand the landscape impacts of future climate change. The cliff section at Bawdsey is notified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
• Stabilised areas of shingle (for example at Shingle Street, Orford Ness, Thorpness and Kessingland), support a wide range of rare plant communities (for example sea pea, sea kale, sea vetch and yellow horned poppy). ‘Shingle heath’ has formed in some areas, supporting sea campion and plants more often found on inland acid grassland. Where human disturbance is low these features are used by nesting birds (for example little tern and ringed plover). The NCA’s coastal vegetated shingle makes up 21 per cent of national and 7 per cent of European resource.
• Orford Ness is a geological and geomorphological feature of national and international significance, being one of the three major shingle landforms in the UK and the only one which combines a shingle spit with a cuspate foreland. It is notified as a Special Area of Conservation along with Shingle Street (Orford Ness-Shingle Street SAC) and also forms the Orford Ness-Havergate National Nature Reserve.
• Saline lagoons formed within and behind the shingle, are of internationally importance for their distinct and rare wildlife including, the starlet sea anemone, breeding waders and wildfowl such as avocet. They are also important in winter for migrant waterfowl.

The estuaries with areas of semi-natural habitat (saltmarsh, intertidal flats).

• The estuarine areas are subject to varying periods of saline inundation each day. Where inundation is infrequent, specialist salt marsh plants thrive (for example samphire, spartina grass, sea couch, sea purslane, sea aster, sea lavender). Where inundation is more frequent, and especially where the tidal action is erosive, few plants survive and open mudflats predominate. The seasonally varied carpet of salt marsh foliage and reflective qualities of water and mud provide landscape interest and texture. The Deben Estuary supports 40 per cent of Suffolk’s remaining salt marsh.
• Saltmarsh and intertidal flats are important for migratory wildfowl and wading birds. The Stour has the UK’s largest wintering population of blacktailed godwit and the Alde-Ore supports half the country’s breeding avocets. The importance of the estuary habitats for wildlife is recognised by the Alde-Ore; Stour and Orwell and Deben Estuary Ramsar and SPA designations and the Alde-Ore and Butley Estuaries SAC. Intertidal areas are also important nursery areas for fish (herring, cod, sole, sea trout, sea bass and shore crab).
• Salt marsh makes an important contribution to wave dissipation, lowering the cost/specification for backing flood defence structures.
• The intertidal flats are a well used recreational resource. In places, they are much valued as a wildfowling location. The open waters provide navigation opportunities and are popular for sailing/ boating, especially the Orwell and Deben estuaries. Extensive moorings and boatyards contribute to the sense of place and local economy.
• Cultural heritage is supported by abandoned craft on mudflats, wrecks, former fish traps and causeways. Passing sailing boats or craft on swinging moorings give a feeling of activity.
• The ports of Felixstowe, Harwich and Ipswich located on the Stour and Orwell estuaries, provide a dramatic contrast to the areas of semi-natural estuarine habitats. Their huge cargo ships add popular dimension to visitor sightseeing.
• The flat and open estuarine landscape provides extensive views and high levels of tranquillity.

Low-lying open freshwater coastal levels and marshes, protected by sea walls.

• These are sparsely inhabited areas with an undeveloped nature that generates a feeling of wildness, remoteness and tranquillity. The area holds a high amenity value for tourism and leisure based activities, especially ecotourism, which is centred on the extensive network of coastal nature reserves and river wall footpaths that allow long open views towards the sea. 10,508 ha of coast (13 per cent of the NCA) are designated as Heritage Coast.
• Some coastal marshes are of historical significance, as they have been created by 12th- and 19th- century enclosure of former intertidal areas (for example the Minsmere River). Their changing pattern of drainage ditches provides a historic record of their drainage as well as supporting a range of plant communities, including scarce plants such as whorled water-milfoil and soft hornwort.
• Other historic features include, duck decoys (from the mid-17th to mid-19th centuries), remnants of wind pumps and military defence structures dating from the two world wars and earlier.
• Fresh water reedbeds managed by conservation organisations support rare and distinctive wildlife including bittern, marsh harrier, bearded tit, water vole and barn owl. They also provide important feeding, roosting and nesting areas for wetland and coastal birds, particularly in the winter months.
• Valuable agricultural production is possible where the land has been improved as the marine alluvium soils are relatively fertile. Specialist organic beef herds also graze some marshes.
• Many of the freshwater levels contain boreholes which essential supply irrigation water for food production on the dry soils of the inland Sandlings.

Open coastal and wooded fens between Walberswick and Dunwich.

• The deep peat soils of the coastal and wooded fens (for example Dingle, Corporation and Westwood Marshes as well as Covehithe, Benacre and Easton Broads) contrast sharply with the dry mineral soils of the inland Sandlings and the marine alluvium soils of the coastal levels.
• The freshwater and occasionally brackish fens with their large reed beds are important for rare birds including bittern, bearded tit and marsh harrier. They also support rare invertebrates such as the white-mantled wainscot. Their wildlife importance is recognised by the Benacre to Easton Bavents Lagoons SAC designation.
• Their ornithological value attracts many visitors to the area who support the local economy.
• They are an important illustration of the changing coastal landscape of the NCA as historically they would have been inland river marshes. The sea has gradually eroded further inland to meet them.
• The fens support a local economy based on reed cutting, primarily for thatching, which in turn
  supports the local vernacular of the NCA.

Small-scale, intimate twisting alluvial river valley corridors above the tidal influence, supporting traditional valley grasslands.

• Valley grasslands provide a landscape contrast to the heathy Sandlings and have an uninhabited presence with very few buildings and so generate a feeling of remoteness and tranquillity.
• The extent of the valley grasslands, located in the middle reaches of the river valleys, has been diminished due to extensive drainage and reversion to arable farming. Those which remain provide a historic record of a previous landscape. They are also of value for grazing livestock.
• They are important fresh water and occasionally brackish habitats with reedbeds and occasionally wet woodland that support a rich biodiversity including bittern, bearded tit, marsh harrier and otter.
• Most are now managed for their conservation interest, attracting many visitors who help support the local economy.

The Sandlings (inland and north of the River Deben) consisting of a mosaic of farmland, lowland heathland, acid grassland, coniferous forest and ancient woodlands (Forest and ancient woodlands detailed separately below).

• Running the length of the coast, the Sandlings display a sense of openness and provide a historic record of mans attempts to tame and farm the light, sandy, acidic soils. Fragments of rare lowland heath and dry acid grassland (for example Sutton and Hollesley Commons) are small in comparison to the once extensive resource and so provide a historic record of a previous landscape.
• The strong mosaic of open ground and scrub/woodland cover is a defining characteristic of the NCA. Its wildlife importance is recognised by the Sandlings SPA and Minsmere to Walberswick Heaths and Marshes SAC designations. Key species include; antlion (the only known UK population), nightjar, Dartford warbler, woodlark, adder, natterjack toad and red-tipped cudweed. Historically the area has supported the rare stone curlew, which is now largely restricted to nature reserves.
• The use of the dry soils for high value vegetable cropping is a key distinctive feature of the area as are the increasing numbers of outdoor pig units and vivid green turf fields. Cereal field margins in this area are important for farmland birds and brown hare.
• Field boundaries and heathlands are defined by characteristic pine lines and shelterbelts and ancient hedgerows (for example elm hedges in the Dunwich area).
• The historical scarcity of water means that the Sandlings are sparsely settled, generating feelings of remoteness and tranquillity. Small clusters of villages and estate farms are characteristic.
• The heaths provide a valuable recreational and educational resource. They have been designated as open access areas and are popular with visitors due to free-draining soils and open vistas.

Sandlings Forests (Dunwich, Tunstall and Rendlesham), with some smaller areas of plantation woodland.

• The forests form a major part of the landscape in the southern/central core of the NCA. They frame views, giving a sense of uniformity, enclosure and tranquillity and contribute to the sense of place.
• The forests are important for timber production although management is increasingly focused upon both wildlife conservation and outdoor public recreation. The woodland sites are popular visitor locations for activities including walking, horse riding and cycling.
• The forests form part of the Sandlings SPA. Their mix of coniferous and some broadleaved woodland and open heathland rides and clearings provide a range of habitats. These support internationally important populations of woodlark and nightjar and butterflies including the white admiral and white letter hairstreak. The dense forest provides nesting habitat for raptors including the hobby. Dunwich Forest has one of the most important reptile populations on the Suffolk coast and includes species such as common lizard and adder.
• The high amount of woodland cover provides an important carbon sink within the area.

Mixed deciduous ancient woodlands and wood pasture.

• Few iconic ancient woods exist north of the River Deben, with notable exceptions including Sudbourne Great Wood, Captains Wood and Staverton Park. Staverton Park contains one of the greatest collections of ancient oak (4,700 pollards) and it is particularly renowned for the huge holly trees. It is designated as Staverton Park and The Thicks, Wantisden SAC.
• Historically they are important as they are the remaining parts of a great wooded landscape which was extensively cleared for agriculture in the post-war years. The remaining veteran oak trees, some of which are thought to be over 500 years old, are a direct link with this lost past landscape.
• Substantial numbers of ancient woods exist south of the River Deben (for example around Bentley and Tattingstone and north of Tattingstone and south of the River Stour including the Stour and Copperas Woods). Stour Wood is the oldest recorded sweet chestnut plantation in the UK. These contribute strongly to the wooded character of the southern river valleys.
• The ancient woods are important for wildlife, sustaining rare lichens, fungi (oak polypore and beefsteak fungus), beetles, spiders and other invertebrates, as well as barbastelle and Natterer’s bat.

Estate farmlands south of the River Deben particularly around the Stour and Orwell Estuaries’ and along the Shotley peninsula.

• The area’s light, generally less impoverished soils, were historically considered to be the best in Suffolk and have had a significant impact of the landscape. These first farms and settlements were established on these soils, evidenced by the 5,000 year old Neolithic ritual enclosure at Freston.
• Today its medium sized clusters of farms and large-scale arable blocks, divided into rectilinear fields separated by an enclosed network of winding lanes are distinctive characteristics.
• The Shotley peninsula is notable for its field boundary holly hedges.
• Designed parkland landscapes around large houses built overlooking the Stour and Orwell estuaries include, Orwell Park, Freston Park, Wherstead Park and Woolverstone Park. These quiet and undisturbed landscapes form a key component of the area and include many important ancient trees in a wood pasture setting. They are important for wildlife including hawfinches and barn owl.
• Historically the country houses portray the past importance and wealth of the area.
• Open, wide views from the valley sides across the estuaries are a strong characteristic.
• Tranquillity levels are high and disturbance is low, apart from close to the major transport infrastructure routes of the East Coast Main Line and A14 and A12 roads.
• Recreation opportunities are supported by the dense network of rights of way on the Shotley peninsula, and both land and water based activities at Alton Water Reservoir.

Local building vernacular.

• Along the coast local character and sense of place and history are supported by the use of ‘soft hued red brick with clay pantiles in traditional buildings. Weatherboarding is also typical. Some buildings show their historical influence of Dutch architecture in their shaped timber gables.
• Seaside resort towns of Southwold, Aldeburgh and Felixstowe are characterised by their impressive brick-build Victorian seafront villas and brightly painted timber beach huts both of which contribute strongly to the sense of place and history.
• Inland, traditional buildings are timber frame with straw thatch and painted render in a variety of colours (often ‘Suffolk pink’). Spit ‘knapped’ flint is also characteristic. These vernacular building styles contribute to the rural setting and are sense of history.

Landscape opportunities

• Manage and expand the mosaics of Sandlings habitats (for example lowland heathland and dry acid grassland), reducing fragmentation. Where appropriate thin, conifer plantations to increase heathland understory, creating open vistas with scattered trees and varied textures, increasing the heathlands contribution to biodiversity, geodiversity and their contribution to retention of greenhouse gases.
• Manage and expand the mosaics of coastal plain wetland habitats (for example reedbeds, fen and grazing marsh), for their contribution to sense of place and biodiversity. Ensure that the important network of ditches and dykes is managed to encourage emergent vegetation and increase habitat connectivity.
• Protect the open character of the coastal landscape, with its long expansive views, as well as the more enclosed and sheltered estuaries and improve understanding of the coastal and seascape character, its associated ecology, geology and history and its forces for change and sensitivities.
• Enhance active management to allow the continuation of dynamic natural coastal processes, to maintain and conserve the range of estuarine, coastal habitats (for example vegetated shingle, shingle heath, saline lagoons and saltmarshes), that contribute to the sense of place, provide natural coastal flood defences and support the wide variety of wildlife species.
• Create new or extend intertidal areas where managed realignment of river walls is possible, provided there are negligible impacts in the context of the wider landscape and where multiple benefits to people and wildlife can be delivered.
• Create new or restore and extend river valley grasslands for their contribution to the historic record of traditional landscapes, their biodiversity value and contribution to the sense of place of the inland river valleys.
• Manage and extend freshwater semi-natural habitats on the coastal levels (for example reedbeds, fen and grazing marsh) to help alleviate coastal flooding, while benefiting wildlife and supporting the local economy by further developing ecotourism opportunities.
• Manage and enhance the mixed deciduous ancient woodlands and wood pasture of designed parkland landscapes and conifer plantations that make up the Sandlings Forests, for their contribution to the sense of place and history, biodiversity, recreational and retention of greenhouse gases.
• Enhance late enclosure windbreak hedgerows, Scot’s pine lines, and holly hedges (in the Shotley peninsula) replanting where they have been lost and positively manage and maintain those which have become neglected, to bring about ecological and landscape benefits.
• Maintain the quality and knowledge of archaeological evidence and historic built features and enhance public awareness of the breadth of historic wealth by conserving in context or, where this is impossible, rescue and record and interpret the historic landscape features.
• Manage development and recreation to protect areas with a strong sense of remoteness, ‘wildness’ and tranquillity, to ensure these valued resources are maintained. Such areas include the Sandlings heathland and woodland mosaics, the coastal levels, dunes and heaths between Walberswi Thorpness and the remote coast between Orford Ness and Bawdsey. Where new development is considered, ensuring that new development enhances and complements the existing built and natural environment.
• Promote the use of traditional, locally sourced building materials and the incorporation of vernacular styles (for example painted render) in new developments.