Hintlesham Woods

There is an abundance of wildlife across theses woods from insects to plants and birds. Here are just a few:

Birds, those that sing...
Nightingale, bullfinch and song thrush are some of the most abudant species. The large populations of marsh tit and nuthatch are incredibly important within the Suffolk county.

Moths, the winged kind...
Pauper pug, which mainly eats lime. Mocha is a nationally scarce moth and this one eats field maple.

Plants, simply beautiful ...
Some of the most important tree species in the woods are: wild service and small-leaved lime.

In terms of plants, you can find: herb-Paris, green hellebore, violet helleborine, wood sorrel, wood anemones. There are also bluebells, one of our favourites!

The creepy crawlies ...
A Red Data Book (very important!) beetle called Mesosa nebulosa is found in the woods and its larvae live in dead wood in the canopy.

A flat-backed millipede that goes by the name of Propolydesmus testaceus is also one of our favourites found in the woodland. It was discovered about five years ago in Hintlesham Wood and was the most northerly site in Europe to have such a millipede (the only site in the country where all five species of Polydesmus millipedes were found. Would you believe it!). 

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If we all act together, we can save nature. Lots of small steps can make a big difference. Here are some things you can do to help.

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You might not realise it, but you have the power to influence local decisions to protect the wildlife around you. And we’ve produced a Wildlife Action Pack full of information to help you make a difference.

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Despite our efforts since 2009 to encourage National Grid to avoid a route through the Hintlesham Woods SSSI, they have retained it as an option within their preferred route corridor. However, there is an alternative route possible to the south of the woods, which would avoid the SSSI completely. Undergrounding the southerly route would provide significant biodiversity benefits and provide landscape benefits to the local community if undergrounded. 

There is already one high voltage line passing through the woods. However, National Grid's plans include an option for a second line to run parallel to the existing line, either through the Ramsey Wood or Hintlesham Wood components of the SSSI. Opening up the woods will increase fragmentation, widely considered one of the greatest threats to habitats, potentially reducing the movement of wildlife and plants between the remaining woodland blocks. We should be looking at reconnecting woodland sites, not dividing them further. An overhead line constructed through the woods would result in the loss of at least 1.5 hectares of ancient woodland. 

Damaging a SSSI goes against National Grid's own statement of duty to protect important habitats, especially when an alternative route is available. The route avoiding the SSSI would ensure environmental impacts are minimised.