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Address Dunwich Heath and Beach, Dunwich, Saxmundham IP17 3DJ, United Kingdom Hours Open today · 8AM–8PMWednesday8AM–8PMThursday8AM–8PMFriday8AM–8PMSaturday8AM–8PMSunday8AM–8PMMonday8AM–8PMTuesday8AM–8PM Similar Dunwich Forest, Orford Ness, Framlingham Castle, Snape Maltings, Havergate Island Profiles | ||
Dunwich heath gorse walk
Dunwich Heath is an area of coastal lowland heath just south of the village of Dunwich, in the Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB. It is adjacent to the RSPB reserve at Minsmere. It lies within the area of the Minsmere-Walberswick Heaths and Marshes Site of Special Scientific Interest, Special Area of Conservation and Special Protection Area.
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It has been owned by the National Trust since 1968, when it was bought with the help of a donation from the Heinz company as part of Enterprise Neptune.
Dunwich Heath is a rare survival of coastal lowland heath; the Suffolk Sandlings used to form a lot of the Suffolk coast, but have mostly been developed for agriculture or built upon. The heath is mostly covered with heather, both Common Heather and Bell Heather, and European and Western Gorse but there is also some woodland and grassland included in the reserve. The heather and gorse flower from June until September; the heather is purple and pink while the gorse is yellow.
A variety of birds, animals and reptiles live on the heath; red deer, muntjacs, Dartford warblers, stonechats, and nightjars, as well as adders, slow-worms, grass snakes and common lizards. It supports many unusual invertebrates as well, such as ant lions, digger wasps, mining bees, as well as the true lover's knot moth, and the emperor moth.