The Sandlings Heaths are a unique habitat along the Suffolk coast. They are classified as 'lowland heath' which is Britain's rarest habitat. The Sandlings are also important on a world scale, as lowland heath is only found in Northwest Europe where the soil and climate conditions are right.

Today these once large areas of land with a mosaic of heather and acid grassland are much reduced in size and fragmented - about 80% of the area has been lost since the turn of the 20th century through land use changes and encroachment of trees and scrub threaten the remaining areas. Through the work of our award-winning Sandlings Project, we have already halted this loss and seen the resurgence of many rare and endangered species such as the silver-studded blue butterfly, antlion, woodlark and nightjar which are rare or absent elsewhere in Britain.

The Dartford warbler, which became extinct on the Suffolk heaths in the 1920s, has recolonised and prospered in recent years due to management work that has been undertaken. Many other species are restricted to or have strongholds on the heaths including adder, common lizard and natterjack toads, the grayling butterfly and red-banded sand wasp.

The heaths are littered with signs of Man's passing, from Neolithic fire sites and Bronze Age burial mounds, through medieval rabbit warrens and marl pits to World War II pill boxes, farm machinery and burnt out cars. These along with written records show how the evolution of society and the heathland landscape and ecosystem have been intimately linked for thousands of years.

Heathlands are a cultural landscape - the past and possible future of heaths are inextricably linked with people. Although the harvesting of heathland products is no longer essential for anyone's survival, a great many people use the heath for recreational and amenity purposes and many more come to appreciate the specialised fauna and flora.

Raising awareness and understanding of the Sandlings is vital to their survival. Heaths can with stand a considerable level of use but a small amount of badly timed or inappropriate abuse can take decades to restore. Many of the important species are associated with the ground, ground nesting birds, burrowing invertebrates, pioneer plant communities establishing on bare ground. These are easily disturbed and eroded and much damage is done through carelessness and ignorance which could easily be avoided.

The future of heathland in Sffolk is far from secure but today they are far better understood and protected than they have been in modern times.

Safeguarding the Sandlings
People created the Sandlings thousands of years ago through farming. Without continued care, the remaining heaths will disappear under trees and bracken and become woodland.

Enjoying the Sandlings

Hollesley Horse Route	Information about key sites	The Sandlings Walks
Volunteering opportunities	The Sandlings Group

Grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the SITA Trust have supported major restoration works on the heaths.