Map
OS Landranger 144

Grid reference
TM 101746

Directions

Size
64.4 hectares (161 acres)

Status
CWS

Parking
Next to railway line

Local facilities
Local pub

Walking conditions
Soft even in summer

Access
During grazing electric fencing
encloses some areas. Please don’t walk
on the Common when the grass is tall as this will damage the hay crop
.

Dogs
Under control please

Best time to visit
May–July

Contact our reserves team

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Mellis Common


“The largest grazing common in Suffolk and fantastically flower-rich.”

Areas of Mellis Common are literally strewn with wildflowers having been farmed by the common rights-holders for centuries, using traditional hay cutting and grazing. The Trust continues to manage it in the same way today to ensure the blooms and wildlife diversity remain. In summer rare plants such as green-winged orchid, sulphur clover and adder’s tongue fern flourish. The abundance of small mammals also makes the site a favourite hunting ground for barn owl and tawny owl.

In stark contrast, the western end of the Common is botanically poorer due to the fact that it was ploughed and farmed more intensively during World War II. Since medieval times Mellis Common has been used as a source of clay for building, and is renowned for its ponds and wet depressions which add to the variety of plant and animal life.

great crested newt

Some ponds support the nationally rare great-crested newt.

Nurutre a newt!

Management is underway to improve habitats that have declined over the years. Old pollarded trees and overgrown hedges have been cut to prolong their life and silted-up and overgrown ponds have been dredged to boost their wildlife value.

 

Mellis Common was generously donated by Lord Henniker to Suffolk Wildlife Trust in 1989. Part of the Common is privately owned.

Other Trust reserves nearby: Redgrave & Lopham Fen, Thelnetham Fen, Wortham Ling

STAR SPECIES
Adder's toungue fern
Gree-winged orchid

 
 

  

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Creating a Living Landscape for Suffolk