Wangford Warren and Carr facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 |
|
| Area of Search | Suffolk |
|---|---|
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 67.8 hectares |
| Notification | 1985 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Wangford Warren and Carr is a very special nature area in Suffolk, England. It covers about 67.8 hectares, which is like 167 football fields! This amazing place is important for its unique plants and sandy habitats. It's officially called a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because of its rare nature.
Contents
Discover Wangford Warren and Carr
Wangford Warren and Carr is located between the towns of Brandon and Lakenheath. It's a key part of the Breckland area, which is known for its special wildlife. This site is so important that it's also part of a Special Area of Conservation and a Special Protection Area. These titles mean it's protected to help keep its unique plants and animals safe.
What Makes Wangford Warren Unique?
This area has the best example of active sand dunes in Breckland. These aren't like beach dunes; they are inland dunes! The sand here is always moving, creating a special home for certain plants. Experts call this habitat "Inland dunes with open Corynephorus and Agrostis grasslands." It's the only place like it in the whole United Kingdom!
About 15 hectares of Wangford Warren and Carr are looked after by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust. They help protect this special part of the site.
Plants and Habitats
Wangford Warren and Carr has many different types of natural areas, called habitats. These include:
- Bare sand areas
- Breckland heath, which is like a wild, open grassland
- Other types of grasslands
- Fen areas, which are wet, marshy lands
- Damp grasslands
- Carr, which is a type of wet woodland
Special Plants of the Warren
Many interesting plants grow here. Some colonising species, which are plants that are among the first to grow in new or disturbed areas, are found at Wangford Warren. For example, the rare grey hair-grass (Corynephorus canescens) grows here. It's found at only three inland places in England! Another special plant is a moss called Polytrichum piliferum.
The heath areas are home to at least nine different types of lichen. Lichens are like a mix of fungi and algae. You can also find many kinds of grass and heather plants. Other plants like gorse and hawthorn add to the variety.
Plants of the Fen and Carr
In the wetter fen and carr areas, you'll find different plants. These include purple moor grass (Molinia cerulean), willow trees, alder trees, and silver birch trees.
How the Landscape Changes
Wangford Warren and Carr is a great example of how nature changes over time. It shows how bare sand can slowly become a heathland as different plants start to grow and change the soil. This process is called "colonisation."
Visiting Wangford Warren
The Suffolk Wildlife Trust part of the site is next to the A1065 road. It's important to know that this special area does not have visitor facilities. Also, to protect the wildlife, visitors are not allowed between March and August each year.
