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82. Suffolk Coast and Heaths
• Geologically different from the rest of East Anglia; Crag deposits form deep free-draining acidic sands and gravels, easily worked, giving rise to distinctive topography and landcover.
• Largely unspoilt mosaic of estuaries, saltmarsh, grazing marsh, reedbed, river valleys, arable, heath and woodland, with strong coastal influence, eg shingle spits and ridges resulting from longshore drift.
• Large commercial ports of Harwich and Felixstowe and seasonal influx of yachts to the rivers and harbours provide interest and variety of scale along the estuaries, with influence of seabirds, wind and intertidal mud flats.
• Large conifer plantations, closely associated with heathland and birch scrub.
• Sparsely settled, with small nucleated villages and isolated farmhouses. Brick buildings with colour-washed walls and pantiles as typical features.
• Coastal towns and villages form the focus of tourist activity, especially where combined with sailing.
• A string of landscaped parkland along the A12 in the west, and along the Stour and Orwell estuaries.
• Impact of major development: Felixstowe docks, Sizewell nuclear power stations and the associated infrastructure, and military bases.
For further details on this character area and for an introduction to the region, please see the PDF documents in the box at the top right hand side of this page.
