The heaths of south-west Suffolk

THE HEATHS OF SOUTH-WEST SUFFOLK C. CHATTERS

In 1783, J. Hodskinson published a map of Suffolk. The map was of high quality and illustrated the distribution of woods and roughlands as well as the road system and areas of habitation. It is from this map that we can see the quantity of heathlands and roughlands in Suffolk 200 years ago.

The area chosen for study was a triangle of land bounded by Long Melford, Hadleigh and Nayland. Geographically, the area lies between the River Stour and the River Brett. Geologically, the area is dominated by boulder clay with alluvium in the Valley bottoms, together with occasional outcrops of London clay and post glacial sand and gravel.

The agricultural land Classification categorised the quality of land as principally grade 2 and 3, 'average' to 'above average' for cultivation. The dominant crops are cereals but several horticultural enterprises may be found growing top fruit. The landscape is one of large scale arable production. The primary restraint on agriculture is the tendency of the soil to have a low water retention capacity. The land is therefore rather susceptible to drought. With the sandy nature of some of the soils, there is an inclination for the land to become acid if it is not regularly limed. From the nature of the soil, it is possible that conditions suitable for the establishment of heathland can develop. The potentially dry, acid nature of some areas are perfect for the survival of plants such as heather (Calluna vulgaris).

To develop a heathland, not only must suitable soil types be available but there must also be appropriate species available to colonise afitsite.

Heathland plants generally require low nutrient levels in acid soils under relatively open conditions. These requirements will be met if an area is cleared of its woodland cover and then continually grazed. Nutrients leave the ecosystem as fattened livestock and wood products but are not replaced by fertilisation. Such soil impoverishment would have occurred on the Common Lands.

Arthur Young complained of such practices in 1804: A custom is also prevalent among farmers of skinning the turf from the commons for foundations of their manure heaps; and amongst the poor, for gathering the manure of stock partly for fuel and partly for sale, and thus the commons decline every year.

From the Will of Stephen King in 1660, we can see impoverishing practices were being carried out on the heaths around Polstead: And all those parts of land, Pasture, wood and of the Common or waste called Eunyd Heath on the East and South. And to feed cattle on the Common and waste of the Parish of Polstead and Layham Eunyd heath . . . and graze horse and cut reasonable furze bushed upon the said heath from time to time . . .

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Practices such as these gradually depauperated the soils making them fit for heathland plants. Precisely when the heathlands developed it is impossible to say. It is highly probable the common lands were being exploited as far back as the 12th Century. The Kalender of Abbott Samson (Davis, 1954) contains a Charter for Groton and Semer which appears to specify areas that may not be ploughed but may be grazed as common.

It is interesting to speculate on the distribution of heathland ecosystems in the area before the Intervention of man. The plant Community is essentially a 'plagio climax' (Green, 1981), a temporarily stable ecosystem which is part of the transition from open land to the climax Vegetation, which on the soils of SW Suffolk would be deciduous high forest. Man's activities had interfered with the natural colonisation and the heaths were maintained as open land.

Without man's Intervention the plagio climax's stability would be lost and the transition to high forest could continue. It is possible that before man's intervention certain areas were maintained in an open State by wild grazing animals such as Bison and Aurochs. Unfortunately no evidence is available to substantiate such speculation.

Heathland ecosystems can survive in a much degraded form in the ground flora of native deciduous woodlands. In some of the least altered woodlands of the Weald, heather may be found associated with small leaved lime (Tilia cordata). Such associations are found on river sands lying above slightly calcareous clays. It is possible such conditions existed in the climax boulder clay woods of Suffolk. It would be interesting to thoroughly survey the surviving ancient woods looking for such associations.

With suitable soils, suitable management and the availability of suitable species, the heaths of South-west Suffolk developed. There is insufficient evidence to prove their use or distribution in the medieval period or before.

It is highly likely, with the medieval sheep economy and attendant ränge grasslands, that the heaths were relatively extensive.

One of our only clues is the place name 'Tye'. Identified by Raynbird as: an extensive common pasture. There are several Tyes a few miles south of the central part of Suffolk.

The name 'Tye' may be found scattered in the area - see map.

1783 is therefore our baseline in identifying the decline of these heaths.

The distinction between roughland and heath is not made on Hodskinson's map. However, place names help in identification and a reasonable attempt at the distribution of heath is given in the map.

Documentary evidence is sparse as land use changes, unless contemporarily controversial, are seldom recorded. Tithe maps are available for the majority of the sites. A report of the Enclosure Commissioners of Leavenheath is also available. As the evidence is so piecemeal, we will probably never know to any great accuracy when many of the events leading to the decline of the heaths occurred. From contemporary accounts, it does seem as if there was little acrimony over the enclosure and ploughing up of the Commons. This was probably a function of the agricultural climate of the early 19th Century. Grain was in demand and good prices were being paid for Trans. Suffolk Nat. Soc. 21

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it. Work was relatively easy to come by so few people relied on the common lands for a livelihood. As the need for the Commons declined, thus they were taken into cultivation. Had there been a strong sector dependent on the common lands, we would probably have seen their retention in some modified form. From travellers' accounts, it seems the heaths were the domain of rogues, footpads and vagabonds, fellows whose protestations would almost certainly be treated with the contempt they deserved.

Leavenheath Leavenheath was the largest of the heaths, being about 170 acres. The northern end of Leavenheath (Leadenheath, Levenheath) is on relatively level land bisected by a small river Valley. The area to the south and east was called Honey Tye. As the heath was continuous, it is impossible to divide the two. From the place name, we can envisage that the area was used to keep bees, but apart from this no other information is available.

The heath was enclosed by the Enclosure Commissioners in 1817. The enclosure landscape, with its straight roads with fields cutting off at right angles, can still be made out. Unfortunately the majority of the enclosure hedges have now been removed. They appear to have been planted with a combination of Hawthorn and Holly. After enclosure, the land was turned over to arable production.

To the west, two blocks of woodland have been removed since the Tithe Map was drawn up in 1843. They are Leadenhall Wood (about 20 acres) and a wood south of Red Barn Farm (about 50 acres). They were both adjacent to the heath.

A wide road verge at the northern end of the heath may contain some last vestiges of the ecosystem.

Evan's - Hadleigh - Polstead Heaths These three heaths formed a unit of about 180 acres. Evans and Hadleigh Heath were continuous, whereas Polstead lay somewhat to the south.

Together with a multitude of small woods, they made up an interesting complex of land.

Hadleigh Heath was owned by the Dean and Chapter of Christchurch, Canterbury. It was a small heath, being about 16 acres. On the 1839 Tithe map, the area is shown as under the plough. The enclosed land was divided in strip allotments under different tenants. Possibly a provision for the poor of the parish. White's 'Directory of Suffolk' 1844, mentions the enclosure of 20 acres of Hadleigh Heath 'about 30 years ago'.

Evans and Polstead Heath were enclosed in 1817 under the same treaty as Leavenheath. Apart from the Will of Stephen King, little remains. Now the majority of the surrounding woods have been cleared, it is almost impossible to imagine what this area used to be like. One clue is the name Potash Lane, leading to Potash Farm. Bracken was commonly burnt to provide this important constituent to glass and glaze manufacturer. The Suffolk Trust's

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HEATHS IN SOUTH-WEST SUFFOLK

Heath: after Hodski nson 'Heath' field onTithe map Yards Miles

10P0

20.00

1

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hedge nature reserve runs along Potash Lane, its southern end forming the western boundary of Polstead Heath.

After enclosure, the land was turned to arable.

Castling's and Parliament Heath (Groton) These two heaths seemed to have survived the enclosure movement that swept away Leavenheath and the Polstead heaths. However, neither of these two blocks survive today.

In 1838, the Tithe Map shows both heaths intact. Parliament Heath (9 acres) is bordered by a large wood to the north (about 60 acres) and a small wood running continuous with Bulls Cross Wood to the west (about 25 acres). Both of these woods are now felled and under arable.

On the OS 1926 maps, Castling's Heath is shown as intact whereas Parliament Heath appears to have been put under the plough. The condition of Castling's Heath is shown as rough grazing with some trees to the north and east. From local accounts, it seems the heath was a grazed heather heath which remained intact until the 1939-45 War. The origin of the name Parliament Heath is interesting. In a Will of 1632 it is referred to as Palhams Heath. The Tithe refers to Parliament Heath, but in 1883 a local side sale of adjacent land refers to Pallamarsh Heath. The 1926 map returns to the name Parliament.

The last few remnants of a heathy flora may be seen in the scrub oak that lies between Castling's Hall and Groton Manor. At the entrance to Groton Manor, the semi-parasite Red Bartsia (Odonites verna) flourishes in the poor, disturbed soils. It is interesting to note that the ground flora of Groton Wood, an STNC reserve, has no hint of a heath nature. The wood is almost adjacent to Castling's Heath.

Cornard - Babergh - Cuckoo Tye Cornard and Babergh Heaths were substantial tracts. White's Directory of 1844 states that the commons were enclosed in 1813. By 1838 both areas were under arable cultivation.

Cornard Heath was enclosed with an interesting tessellated pattern of fields running Square of converging roads. This pattern is now all but lost due to hedgerow removal. Two fields adjacent to the heath give some indication as to the economy of the area. The tithe map names them as Rabbit Pasture and Warren Ground.

Great Waldingfield has spread over the land of Babergh Heath and has thus filled in its enclosure landscape. It is interesting to note that the tithe map illustrates the enclosed land and shows it ringed by cottages. Dwellings were gathered around the common rather than the church.

Simpson's Flora of Suffolk (1982) notes the Eryngium campestre was found, probably on Babergh Heath c. 1820. The plant is now extinct in Suffolk and is in decline nationally. A casualty of the loss of habitat.

Cuckoo Tye is almost totally without documentation. A sale document of

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1902 suggests that small areas of roadside verge were still classified as 'Green' even if the majority of the Tye was enclosed and under cultivation.

Newton Green Newton Green is the last surviving remnant of the heaths of SW Suffolk. It still supports a herb-rich Community locally dominated by heather. It has a reasonable colony of Common Lizard together with Vipers and Grass Snakes. The boundaries of Newton Green have remained constant throughout its recorded past. What Common rights were held are unrecorded but some aggregate extraction has evidently taken place.

The site is presently a golf course and has apparently been so for at least 40 years. The fertilisation and watering of greens and fairways has destroyed large areas of heath but the high, rotational cutting of 'rough' has perpetuated a healthy juvenile population of heather. With sensitive and appropriate management, the area of botanical high quality could be expanded at no great cost of the golfing fraternity.

The area is about 40 acres but only about one quarter of this could be described as supporting a heathland ecosystem. The Green's status as a SSSI should help to protect what is left and, with goodwil, enhance the biological importance of the site.

Over the last 200 years, we have lost nearly all our lowland heath in the south west of Suffolk. From an area of about 500 acres, we have about 40 acres intact. The heathland ecosystem has suffered from the agricultural revolution, as have the woods and pastures of the county. We have lost the diverse countryside so carefully mapped by Hodskinson in 1783.

References Green, B. (1981). Countryside Conservation. George Allen & Unwin.

Hodskinson, J. (1783). The County of Suffolk. Wm. Faber, London.

Raynbird, W. & H. (1849). Agriculture in Suffolk. Longmans, London.

Davis, R. H. C. (Ed.) (1954). The Kalender of Abbot Samson. Camden Soc. 84.

Simpson, F. W. (1982). Simpsons Flora of Suffolk. SNS Ipswich.

Whites Directory of Suff olk, 1844.

Young, A. (1804). Agriculture in Suffolk. C. Macrae, London.

Suffolk Records Office (Bury St Edmunds): 762/1-2, 4,10. Will of Stephen King; T142/1, 2. Newton Tithe; T154/1, 2.

Polstead Tithe; T127 A/l, 2. Hadleigh Tithe; T92/1, 2. Acton Tithe; T104/1, 2. Chilton Tithe; T113/1, 2. Stoke-by-Nayland Tithe; T145/1, 2.

Long Melford Tithe.

C. Chatters, Woodhouse Farm, Briddlesford Estate, Wootton Bridge, Isle of Wight.

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The Occurrence of the Marsh Moth Athetis Pallustris (Hübner) in Suffolk The Marsh Moth has always been considered a rarity in Britain. H e a t h and E m m e t (1983) record it from Cumbria, Yorkshire, Hampshire, Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. Since 1960 it has only been recorded f r o m the latter four counties.

The most recent Suffolk record is a female taken by Messrs C. W. Pierce and G . J. Burton at Redgrave Fen, on 29th June 1968, and now at the Ipswich Museum. The female of the species has seldom been seen in the wild, and because there was some doubt as to the correct identification of this specimen, it was sent to the British Museum (Natural History). There it was considered to be a colour form of the Marbled Minor Oligia strigilis (L). The author has now examined the genitalia and can confirm this determination.

The only other records of the Marsh Moth in Suffolk are two males taken in 1932, and another in 1936, all from near Worlington (Worms, 1968).

Acknowledgements Thanks are due to Messrs D . S. Fletcher and D. J. Carter of the B M (NH) and Mr H . Mendel, Ipswich Museums.

References H e a t h , J. & E m m e t A . M. (Eds.), (1983). The Moths and Butterflies ofGt. Britain and Ireland. Vol. 10. Noctuidae (Part 2) and Agaristidae, Harley Books, Essex.

Worms, C. G . M. de (1968). The Marsh Moth (Hydrillulapalustris H ü b n ) in East Suffolk with notes on its ränge and occurrence in the British Isles.

Trans. Suffolk Nat. Soc., 14, 217.

R . J. Barnett, 16 Magnet L a n e , Bilton, Rugby, Warwickshire.

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