Barking, Suffolk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Barking |
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 Barking church |
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 Barking
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| Population | 446 (2011 census) |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Ipswich |
| Postcode district | IP6 |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
Barking is a small and peaceful village located in the Suffolk county of England. It's part of the Mid Suffolk area. You can find Barking about 2 miles (3.2 km) west of Needham Market along the B1078 road. The village stretches out along this road, with its main part, called Barking Tye, a little distance from the large and historic St Mary's Church.
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Exploring Barking Village
Barking is a charming place with a rich history and beautiful natural areas. It's a great example of a traditional English village.
St. Mary's Church
The village is home to the impressive St Mary's Church. This large church has six bells in its tower. The biggest bell weighs about 11 hundredweight (which is over 550 kg!). In 1911, all six bells were melted down and reshaped by a bellmaker named Alfred Bowell. They were then put back in the church tower.
Barking Woods: A Special Place
Just south of Barking village, you'll find an area known as Barking Woods. This isn't just one forest, but several wooded spots. These woods are so important that they are called a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means they are protected because of their special wildlife or geology.
Ancient Trees and Wildlife
Barking Woods are very old, with records showing they have existed since the 1200s! They cover a large area of about 95 hectares (235 acres). Many of the trees here are oak and ash trees. Some of these trees have been managed using old methods called coppicing and pollarding. These methods involve cutting trees in a special way to encourage new growth and provide wood.
The woods are also home to different animals. You might even find active badger homes, called setts, in some parts of the forest.
Bonny Wood Nature Reserve
A part of Barking Woods, called Bonny Wood, is owned by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust. This trust is an organisation that works to protect nature. Bonny Wood is a nature reserve, covering about 20 hectares (50 acres). The trust helps to look after the coppiced woodland, making sure it remains a good home for many different plants and animals.
Barking's History
Barking has been around for a very long time! It was mentioned in the Domesday Book, which was a huge survey of England completed in 1086. In that book, Barking was listed as a settlement with 63 households. This shows that people have lived and worked in Barking for over 900 years!
