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"A fantastic ancient, semi-natural woodland with superb circular walks. During spring it's worth getting here for the dawn chorus alone!"

Bonny Wood is an ancient coppice woodland and part of the Barking Tye woods which are a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for the quality of coppice wood habitats and in particular the ground flora. The best time to visit is from late April to late June when the coppiced areas are brimming with wood anemone, woodruff and herb-paris. Look out for orchids in the wood, you may find early-purple orchids, lesser twayblade, common spotted orchid and if you look carefully you may be lucky enough to spot a greater butterfly orchid.

Birds are plentiful with melodies from summer migrants such as blackcap and willow warbler mingling with the song of resident species. There are frequent sightings of hobby and at dusk you may catch a glimpse of woodcock performing their mating display. Evidence of a healthy badger population is reflected by the number of setts.

Ancient Roots

Bonny wood is steeped in history and records can be traced as far back as 1251. In 1356 the wood was coppiced on a 7-8 year rotation, which was approximately 6-7 acres of the reserve per year. In 1561 Elizabeth I bought the woods from the Bishop of Ely and in 1611 the property was sold by King James I. The woods eventually passed to the Ashburnham Estate, who harvested the wood on a regular basis for hop poles, thatching spars and hazel hurdles. By 1750 the coppice cycle had increased to around 14 years, which continued up until 1900's. It seems coppicing had been abandoned in Bonny Woods a few years before 1940. Since Suffolk Wildlife Trust acquired the wood in 1987 coppicing has been reinstated on a longer 25 year rotation to benefit many woodland species. You may see newly coppiced areas protected by chestnut pailing or hazel tops. This is to reduce the damage caused by deer browsing the regrowing coppice stools. The ride system that is maintained today was completed by 1884 and is now kept open by mowing and raking every year in August. These more open areas create sunny rides which promote the abundance of wildflowers and butterfly's you can see during the summer.

Other Trust reserves nearby: Combs Wood

Badger

Nightingale

Woods

Special dates for your diaries

Creating a Living Landscape for Suffolk

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