Suffolk's Priority Habitats
We aim to provide practical and useful information on priority habitats in Suffolk. Species are listed under each of the priority habitats in which they are likely to occur.
Species may also be found in undesignated habitats. At the bottom of the page are brief descriptions of some of the widespread habitats in Suffolk and examples of some characteristic priority species.
Background
All public bodies have a statutory duty to have regard to the conservation of biodiversity, as set out in the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act 2006 s.40. Find out more on the Government's Legislation website. Section 41 of the Act is the list of priority species and habitats (referred to in the Act as ‘living organisms and types of habitat which are of principal importance for the purpose of conserving biodiversity’ (in England')). These are also referred to as ‘UK Biodiversity Action Plan’ or ‘BAP’ species and habitats. There are over 302 priority species and 25 priority habitats in Suffolk. Find out more on the JNCC website.
Priority Species checklist
By clicking on the priority habitat below, you can see which priority species are associated with that habitat.
Please note that the lists provide guidance only. For further information on Suffolk species and habitats contact Suffolk Biodiversity Information Service.
Species marked (Suffolk priority species) are not national priority species, but are special to Suffolk. For example, East Anglia is the UK stronghold for the Little Tern, supporting almost half of the UK population. So Suffolk has an important role to play in protecting this charismatic species.
Priority Habitats
Priority Species in the Wider Countryside and Built Environment
Priority species may be found in other habitats, such as clay farmland, conifer plantations and gardens, which are clearly important in the landscape. The following sections include some of the priority habitats listed above as well as some additional ones. A brief description of the main habitats is provided together with a few examples of characteristic priority Species to watch out for.
Wider Countryside
Farmland
These Priority habitats are often found on farmland: Arable field margins, Coastal and floodplain grazing marshes, Hedgerows, Lowland fens, Lowland meadows, Lowland mixed deciduous woodlands, Ponds, Rivers and Streams, Traditional orchards, Wet woodlands, Wood pastures and parklands
Clayland Farmland
Large plateau area, slightly undulating, on chalky boulder clay with small rivers and streams and the River Waveney. Some small, scattered parkland estates and a mix of ancient small irregular fields with pollard hedgerow oaks and large, modern fields devoid of hedges and trees. Large common grazing grounds and greens. Mostly arable, except for pasture in river valleys and remnant parkland. Boundaries are formed by deep ditches, sometimes with hedges. Many small copses. Further info: Natural England National Character Area 83 >
Hedge Accentor (Dunnock)
Common Starling
House Sparrow
Swift
Hedgehog
Song Thrush
Great Crested Newt
Common Toad
Brown Hare
Shepherd's Needle
Corn Bunting
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (north Suffolk)
Linnet
Skylark
Northern Lapwing
Turtle Dove
Grey Partridge
Yellowhammer
Coastal Sandy Farmland (Sandlings)
Flat or gently rolling landscape, very low rainfall. The soils are generally free-draining, infertile sands and gravels. The proximity of the sea ameliorates the temperature in winter to produce a more oceanic climate than in the Brecks.
Hedge Accentor (Dunnock)
Common Starling
House Sparrow
Swift
Hedgehog
Song Thrush
Great Crested Newt
Common Toad
Brown Hare
Stone Curlew
Woodlark
Nightjar
Linnet
Skylark
Northern Lapwing
Turtle Dove
Grey Partridge
Yellowhammer
Adder
Silver-studded Blue Butterfly
Annual Knawel
Fine-leaved Sandwort
Brecks Farmland
The soils of the Breckland area in north-west Suffolk are free-draining, infertile sands and gravels. The distinctive landscape ranges from flint-strewn fields lined by twisted pines to sandy heath. The term 'breck' refers to open sandy fields that went in and out of cultivation. They support species typical of early successional stages of heaths with lower competitive ability and a preference for well-drained soils and open sites. Further Info: Natural England National Character Area 85 >
Hedge Accentor (Dunnock)
Common Starling
House Sparrow
Swift
Hedgehog
Song Thrush
Great Crested Newt
Common Toad
Brown Hare
Tower Mustard
Red-tipped Cudweed
Annual Knawel
Fine-leaved Sandwort
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Linnet
Skylark
Northern Lapwing
Turtle Dove
Grey Partridge
Yellowhammer
Green Lanes
Green Lanes contain sheltered grassland habitats which may have escaped improvement and retained semi-natural features.
Hedge Accentor (Dunnock)
Common Starling
House Sparrow
Swift
Hedgehog
Song Thrush
Great Crested Newt
Common Toad
Brown Hare
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Crested Cow-wheat
Scrub
Hedge Accentor (Dunnock)
Common Starling
House Sparrow
Swift
Hedgehog
Song Thrush
Great Crested Newt
Common Toad
Brown Hare
Tree Pipit
Bullfinch
Linnet
Turtle Dove
Sloe Carpet
Goat Moth
Dingy Mocha
Grey Carpet (Brecks)
Conifer plantations
Hedge Accentor (Dunnock)
Common Starling
House Sparrow
Swift
Hedgehog
Song Thrush
Great Crested Newt
Common Toad
Brown Hare
Nightjar
Woodlark
Improved grassland
Hedge Accentor (Dunnock)
Common Starling
House Sparrow
Swift
Hedgehog
Song Thrush
Great Crested Newt
Common Toad
Brown Hare
Quarries
Hedge Accentor (Dunnock)
Common Starling
House Sparrow
Swift
Hedgehog
Song Thrush
Great Crested Newt
Common Toad
Brown Hare
Wall butterfly
Chalk Screw moss
Frog orchid
Bordered Gothic moth
Road verges(important for providing linkage between habitats)
Hedge Accentor (Dunnock)
Common Starling
House Sparrow
Swift
Hedgehog
Song Thrush
Great Crested Newt
Common Toad
Brown Hare
Tower Mustard
Spring Speedwell (Brecks)
Wild Grape Hyacinth (Brecks)
Crested Cow-wheat
Spanish Catchfly (Brecks)
Railway embankments (provide important links between habitats)
Hedge Accentor (Dunnock)
Common Starling
House Sparrow
Swift
Hedgehog
Song Thrush
Great Crested Newt
Common Toad
Brown Hare
Wall butterfly
River banks (provide important links between habitats)
Hedge Accentor (Dunnock)
Common Starling
House Sparrow
Swift
Hedgehog
Song Thrush
Great Crested Newt
Common Toad
Brown Hare
Otter
Water Vole
Built Environment - Towns and Villages
The built environment includes managed greenspaces such as school and hospital grounds as well as developments and green infrastructure, churchyards and retail parks. These sites may be home to priority species, for example, old buildings provide roosts for bats.
Priority habitats that may be found in the Built Environment: Hedgerows, Open mosaic Traditional orchards
Gardens and Allotments
Hedge Accentor (Dunnock)
Common Starling
House Sparrow
Swift
Hedgehog
Song Thrush
Common Starling
Stag beetle (Ipswich and Woodbridge areas)
Herring Gull subsp. argenteus
Weevil Hunting Wasp
5-banded Tailed Digger Wasp
Wall butterfly
Goat Moth
Four-spotted Moth
Thatch Moss
Great Crested Newt
Common Toad
Adder
Common Lizard
Slow Worm
Grass Snake
Broad-leaved Cudweed
Annual Knawel
Fine-leaved Sandwort
Large Garden Bumblebee
Marsh tit (rural gardens)
Wall butterfly
Necklace Ground Beetle
Parks, Recreation Sites and playing fields
Hedge Accentor (Dunnock)
Common Starling
House Sparrow
Swift
Hedgehog
Song Thrush
Common Starling
Stag beetle (Ipswich and Woodbridge areas)
Herring Gull subsp. argenteus
Weevil Hunting Wasp
5-banded Tailed Digger Wasp
Wall butterfly
Goat Moth
Four-spotted Moth
Thatch Moss
Great Crested Newt
Common Toad
Adder
Common Lizard
Slow Worm
Grass Snake
Broad-leaved Cudweed
Annual Knawel
Fine-leaved Sandwort
Harvest Mouse (parks)
Common Lizard
Slow Worm
Golf courses
Hedge Accentor (Dunnock)
Common Starling
House Sparrow
Swift
Hedgehog
Song Thrush
Common Starling
Stag beetle (Ipswich and Woodbridge areas)
Herring Gull subsp. argenteus
Weevil Hunting Wasp
5-banded Tailed Digger Wasp
Wall butterfly
Goat Moth
Four-spotted Moth
Thatch Moss
Great Crested Newt
Common Toad
Adder
Common Lizard
Slow Worm
Grass Snake
Broad-leaved Cudweed
Annual Knawel
Fine-leaved Sandwort
Linnet
Skylark
Wood Lark
Corn Bunting
Churches and Churchyards
Hedge Accentor (Dunnock)
Common Starling
House Sparrow
Swift
Hedgehog
Song Thrush
Common Starling
Stag beetle (Ipswich and Woodbridge areas)
Herring Gull subsp. argenteus
Weevil Hunting Wasp
5-banded Tailed Digger Wasp
Wall butterfly
Goat Moth
Four-spotted Moth
Thatch Moss
Great Crested Newt
Common Toad
Adder
Common Lizard
Slow Worm
Grass Snake
Broad-leaved Cudweed
Annual Knawel
Fine-leaved Sandwort
Brown Long-eared Bat
Pipistrelle Bat
Grateful thanks to our partners for their invaluable assistance on this project, in particular, the RSPB, Suffolk Naturalists' Society (Suffolk County Recorders) and Suffolk Amphibian and Reptile Group.