Arger Fen & Spouse'S Vale

Arger Fen is a 49. 7 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in south-east of Sudbury in Suffolk. The site is in two separate areas, and part of the larger eastern block is the 17. 6 hectare Arger Fen Local Nature Reserve, Part of the 21 hectare Tiger Hill LNR also lies in Arger Fen SSSI, and so does part of the 110 hectare Arger Fen and Spouse's Vale, a nature reserve managed by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust. The site lies in the Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, The site is made up of a mix of woodland and meadow habitats with much of the woodland believed to be ancient in origin. The underlying geology is a mixture of sand and gravel banks and clay soils, producing a mix of habitat types, including wet fen type habitats at lower levels and dry grasslands on acidic soils on hill tops. It is one of only two known areas of ancient woodland in Eastern England which feature wild cherry. Badgers are found on the reserve with a number of active setts. Other rare fauna include the hazel dormouse and barbastelle bat. In 2012 the reserve, which has ash trees at least 300 years old, was identified as a site of ash dieback and in 2013 it became a research site for Forestry Commission scientists studying genetic resistance to the Chalara fungus which causes the disease.

Arger Fen is a 49. 7 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in south-east of Sudbury in Suffolk. The site is in two separate areas, and part of the larger eastern block is the 17. 6 hectare Arger Fen Local Nature Reserve, Part of the 21 hectare Tiger Hill LNR also lies in Arger Fen SSSI, and so does part of the 110 hectare Arger Fen and Spouse's Vale, a nature reserve managed by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust. The site lies in the Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, The site is made up of a mix of woodland and meadow habitats with much of the woodland believed to be ancient in origin. The underlying geology is a mixture of sand and gravel banks and clay soils, producing a mix of habitat types, including wet fen type habitats at lower levels and dry grasslands on acidic soils on hill tops. It is one of only two known areas of ancient woodland in Eastern England which feature wild cherry. Badgers are found on the reserve with a number of active setts. Other rare fauna include the hazel dormouse and barbastelle bat. In 2012 the reserve, which has ash trees at least 300 years old, was identified as a site of ash dieback and in 2013 it became a research site for Forestry Commission scientists studying genetic resistance to the Chalara fungus which causes the disease.