To preserve this beautiful woodland sign the petition here:

Aims

Our aim is to keep Sutton Heath (previously known as Sutton Common) as an accessible amenity area for local people and visitors. We do not seek conflict with anyone but we believe that there is a need to find a fairer balance between habitat conservation and the amenity rights of a substantial and increasing number of local people and visitors. Sutton Heath is the most popular and well used amenity resource in the Suffolk Coastal region, primarily by local people. The achievement of this aim will specifically deliver:

  1. Maintenance of the current mixed landscape of woodland and heath with: no more felling of trees other than for routine woodland management; no more land clearance for the creation of new heathland; no more fencing; and, whilst fenced enclosures will need to be rotated for grazing purposes the total enclosed area never to exceed the current % coverage of the site.
  2. Freedom of access for all current users – including walkers, dogs, horses, cyclists and runners – with no constraints on the walking of dogs off the lead other than at appropriate times in enclosed areas .

 

Is this really what we want?

Why do we exist – what is the threat?

The reasons for the threat are complicated and will be covered in detail in a separate document. But the threat itself is simple to explain. If we are not successful:

  1. The Sutton Heath (or Sutton Common) that we have known for decades will be under threat. Tree felling has already started. Eventually most of the woodlands will be gone, along with the beauty, shade and shelter that attract so many people to come here.
  2. The joy of walking freely across Sutton Heath with dogs off the lead will also be gone. The land will be managed as heathland. There will be regular chemical spraying of bracken and/ or the introduction of livestock to keep the bracken down. As a result more fences will be installed, restricting the access of local people, and there will be even more severe restrictions on where and when dogs can be walked off leads.


The requirements of these plans appear to be driven by (i) the overall project to restore the Suffolk Sandlings as heathland; (ii) the Sutton and Hollesley Heath’s designation as a site of special scientific interest; and (iii) SCDC’s access to grants to fund the plans.


The Sandlings heathland amounts to around 1,600 hectares and the SSI area accounts for some 461 hectares of the Sandlings. Sutton Heath is just 60 hectares, of which about 40% is already cleared and the rest is beautiful mixed woodland. Sutton Heath is just 2% of the South Sandlings but accounts for 40% of total visitors to this area, with 80% of those being local people walking their dogs off the lead.


The impact of keeping Sutton Heath as it is – a public amenity area with limited restrictions on users and their dogs – cannot have a material impact on the heathland project. But these plans will have dramatic negative impact on 40% of all visitors to the Sandlings. With most of the other SSSI areas already imposing tight restrictions on walking and dogs running off leads, there will be nowhere for these people to go. The balance between conservation and the needs of people seems wrong – indeed by leaving Sutton Heath as it is, it could be argued that the pressure of dogs is taken off the other SSSI sites with restrictions.


It seems inconceivable that the Sandlings plan or the establishment of the SSSI was ever intended to destroy this publicly owned amenity area – the SSSI citation recognised Sutton Heath as public amenity. But so far there is no sign of Sutton Heath being excluded from this plan.


These are not our claims – this is what the instigators of this plan actually say they want to do and the initial effect is visible today! So that is why we exist.


Our Strategy


There is a large number of conservation organisations involved in different aspects of the Sandlings project. The key decision makers are: (i) Suffolk Coastal District Council (SCDC) who own the land; (ii) Natural England; (iii) Suffolk Coasts and Heaths (iv) Suffolk Wildlife Trust and (v) Parish Councils. Between them they have the capability of determining a sensible balance.


Our activity must be focused on these key decision makers, albeit this does not preclude winning the support of many other opinion leaders, politicians and experts.


Our initial strategy is:

  1. To engage with SCDC, Natural England and others in a calm and constructive manner and seek their support for our aims. It is our intention to avoid conflict and ideally work with them to find a fairer balance between habitat conservation and the amenity rights of a substantial and increasing number of local people and visitors – we believe that there must be a fair solution that respects the rights of people as well as habitat. Our preference would be to work with SCDC, Natural England and others in a proper partnership once agreement on the basic principle has been reached.
  2. To support that engagement with well researched, factual and accurate information in support of our aims, presented in a professional manner. In broad terms the presentation needs to include the reasons why Sutton Heath should be preserved; the insignificance of Sutton Heath in the overall Sandlings project; and the weaknesses in the claimed benefits of the plans in the context of Sutton Heath.
  3. To demonstrate the level and passion of support for our aims amongst the community.
  4. To acknowledge that the preservation of Sutton Heath may present SCDC and Natural England with some legal and administrative issues and - once the principle of preservation has been agreed - to play a constructive role in the resolution of those issues.
  5. To focus on Sutton Heath. We are not seeking to become involved in the wider issues of heathland restoration or conservationism in Suffolk. For us the only relevance of the Sandlings project and is that: (i) without it there would not be this plan for Sutton Heath; (ii) the size of the Sandlings just emphasises how insignificant Sutton Heath is to the overall success of that project.


Key Arguments:


There are many reasons why Sutton Heath should be preserved in line with our aims. Our arguments will be based on the following four broad themes:


a. The balance between habitat and the rights of people to amenity areas.
b. The reality of landscape and habitat.
c. The financial and legal implications.
d. The environmental impact.

We will share the detail of these arguments and the supportive facts in a separate document. But we believe that the main thrust is clear in this document.

If you wish to support our aims please contact us at:
info@suttonheathusersgroup.co.uk