The heaths of south-west Suffolk

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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 . . . Trans. Suffolk Nat. Soc. 21


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