the brecks santon downham suffolk

navigate by keyword : santon downham united kingdom england brandon mark lane village countryside rural area nature reserve forest river wildlife scenery walking trails outdoor activities peaceful landscape habitat path views birdwatching scenic life recreation greenery retreat natural beauty local historic brecks norfolk suffolk heart east britain thetford kings lowland tranquil trackways paths explore ancient heathland created axes prehistoric farmers nibbling sheep rabbits temporary fields heath soil exhausted sand storms regular 1668 centuries heaths mysterious breckland lakes meres plants animals

Kayaking on the river , Santon Downham Suffolk Royalty Free Stock Photo

Hereward Way, St Edmunds Way , Santon Downham Suffolk Royalty Free Stock Photo

The Brecks spans an area of 393 sq. miles 1019 sq. kilometres across Norfolk and Suffolk, in the heart of The East of England. As one of the driest parts of Britain the large skies are often blue. Thetford Forest and Kings Forest, collectively the largest lowland forest in the UK, have miles of tranquil trackways and paths to explore.Ancient heathland once covered huge areas of the Brecks, created by the axes of prehistoric farmers and the nibbling teeth of sheep and rabbits. 'Brecks' were temporary fields cultivated for a few years and then allowed to revert to heath one the soil became exhausted. Sand storms were once a regular occurrence, such as the one which engulfed the village of Santon Downham in 1668. Through many centuries the heaths, and the mysterious fluctuating Breckland lakes known as meres, became home to a distinctive range of plants and animals.