Sotterley Park facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 |
|
| Area of Search | Suffolk |
|---|---|
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 123.2 hectares |
| Notification | 1985 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Sotterley Park is a very special place in Sotterley, Suffolk, England. It covers a large area of 123.2 hectares, which is about 300 acres! This park is officially known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it's protected because it has important plants, animals, or geological features.
Sotterley Park is also a Grade I site in the Nature Conservation Review. This shows how incredibly important it is for nature. It's a fantastic example of an ancient parkland.
Contents
What Makes Sotterley Park Special?
Sotterley Park is a "biological" SSSI. This means its value comes from its living things, like plants and trees. It's a great place to learn about nature and history all at once.
A Look at Its History
Even though Sotterley Park was designed to look like a grand park in the 1700s, its history goes back much further. People believe parts of it might have been around since the early medieval period. This means some areas could be very old, possibly even having parts of primary forest. Primary forest is a forest that has grown naturally without much human disturbance for a very long time.
Amazing Plants and Trees
The park is home to many huge and very old trees. These ancient trees are super important for nature. They provide a perfect home for many different kinds of plants that grow on them.
Lichens and Bryophytes
Sotterley Park has the richest collection of epiphytic lichens in East Anglia. Epiphytic means these lichens grow on other plants, like trees, without harming them. There are 92 different kinds of lichens recorded here! Lichens are fascinating living things that are actually a mix of a fungus and an alga.
The park also has 14 different kinds of bryophytes. Bryophytes are small, simple plants like mosses and liverworts. They often grow in damp, shady places. Finding so many different types of lichens and bryophytes shows how healthy and old the park's environment is.
Visiting Sotterley Park
Sotterley Park is private land, meaning it's owned by individuals. However, there are special footpaths that people can use to explore parts of the park. These paths allow visitors to enjoy the beautiful scenery and amazing nature while respecting the private property.
