Blaxhall Common
“The hypnotic hum of insects on a summer’s day gives way to the strange churring of one of our most enigmatic summer visiting birds, the nightjar, as the sun sinks.”
The calming, insular feel of this heathland is hard to describe. It holds an attraction for wildlife too and birds like woodlark, nightjar, dartford warbler, goldcrest, nightingale and stonechat can be found alongside common lizard, adder and plants like heath milkwort, speedwell, heath bedstraw and sheep’s sorrel.
In summer small copper, silver-studded blue, common blue and small heath butterflies dance in the clearings while the bold red and white fly agaric, a poisonous mushroom so often portrayed in children’s fairytales, is among the many fungi that appear, as if by magic, in autumn.
The peaceful common is small but full of surprises like winter visiting crossbill and colonies of ant-lion. The site is looked after by seasonal cutting which controls invasive scrub and maintains the medley of habitats.
Part of the Suffolk Sandlings, Blaxhall Common is cared for by Suffolk Wildlife Trust on behalf of Blaxhall Parish Council. The Trust also manages the adjacent Blaxhall-Tunstall Link on behalf of the Forestry Commission which is grazed by the Sandlings flock of Hebridean sheep and Exmoor ponies.
Read a BBC Suffolk article about our work for the silver studded blue butterfly
Other Trust reserves nearby: Alde Mudflats; Captain's Wood; Snape Marshes
Special dates for your diaries
Best time to visit
May – Sept
Events & Courses at Blaxhall Common
Tel: 01394 388431
Directions (Google Maps)
- Address
B1069, Blaxhall Road, Near Snape - Grid reference
TM382566 (car park/reserve entrance) - Parking
Small car parks off the B1069 and Iken road - Size
44 hectares (110 acres) - Local Facilities
Blaxhall, Tunstall, Snape - Walking conditions
Dry & firm - Dogs
On short fixed leads between 1st March- 31st July. - STAR SPECIES
Woodlark, Nightjar, Silver-studded blue butterfly, Antlion. - Status
SSSI - Site of Special Scientific InterestA site of national importance identified by Natural England for its ecological or geological value.
Natura 2000 siteSites of European importance which host priority habitat types or priority species which are particularly at risk.
