View source for Knettishall Heath

{{Short description|Nature reserve in Suffolk, England}}
{{use British English|date=April 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox SSSI
|image=  Knettishall Heath Country Park - geograph.org.uk - 32235.jpg
|image_caption =  
|name=  Knettishall Heath
|aos=  Suffolk
|interest=Biological
|gridref={{gbmappingsmall| TL 951 804  }}<ref name=dsv/>
|area=          91.7 hectares<ref name=dsv/>
|notifydate=       1984<ref name=dsv/>
|map=[http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271002559%27  ''Magic Map''] 
}}
'''Knettishall Heath''' is a {{convert|91.7|hectare|acre|adj=on}} biological [[Site of Special Scientific Interest]] west of [[Knettishall]] in [[Suffolk]], [[England]].<ref name=dsv>{{cite web|url=  https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteDetail.aspx?SiteCode=S1002559&SiteName=knett&countyCode=&responsiblePerson=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title=Designated Sites View: Knettishall Heath  | series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|access-date =  25 May 2017}}</ref><ref name=map>{{cite web|url= http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271002559%27|title=Map of Knettishall Heath|series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|access-date=   25 May 2017}}</ref> A larger area of 176 hectares is the Knettishall Heath Nature Reserve, which is managed by the [[Suffolk Wildlife Trust]].<ref name=SWT>{{cite web|url=  http://www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/knettishallheath |title= Knettishall Heath   |publisher= Suffolk Wildlife Trust |access-date=   25 May 2017}}</ref>

Despite its name, Knettishall Heath is in fact a diverse mosaic of habitats with [[woodland]] and [[River-meadow|riverside meadows]], as well as large areas of [[heath]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Knettishall Heath Nature Reserve |url=https://www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/knettishallheath |website=Suffolk Wildlife Trust}}</ref>

==Ecology==
The site is heath and grassland, mainly on acidic soils, with areas of secondary woodland and wet hollows. There are heathland plants, such as [[Rumex acetosella|sheep's sorrel]], [[Potentilla erecta|tormentil]], [[Campanula rotundifolia|harebell]], [[Calluna vulgaris|ling]] and [[heath bedstraw]], while wet areas have fen vegetation, including [[water mint]] and [[yellow iris]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1002559.pdf|title=Knettishall Heath citation|series=Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|access-date=25 May 2017|archive-date=4 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150504231942/http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1002559.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Rare species===
Of the more than 12,500 species living in the [[Brecks]], 30% are nationally rare. The heath is home to the rare [[grey carpet moth]] which is only found in [[Breckland]], and the lunar yellow underwing moth. Seven [[bat]] species are found at Knettishall, including the nationally scarce [[barbastelle bat]]. 

===Exmoor ponies===

In 2013, a five-year funded project to restore [[lowland heath]] at the nature reserve began. As part of this project, 19 wild [[Exmoor ponies]] have roamed and grazed the land, helping other species to thrive. The 'Vision for the Future' project was funded by the [[Heritage Lottery Fund]] and WREN - a not-for-profit organisation that offers grants for heritage and biodiversity schemes.

[[File:Exmoor pony at Šlovický vrch, Dobřany, 2019-02-23, 01.jpg|thumb|Exmoor pony grazing heath]]

The shrinkage of heathland has been caused partially by a decline in [[rabbits]] grazing; rabbit populations have been decimated by [[myxomatosis]] and more recently [[rabbit haemorrhagic disease]] (RHD). The addition of ponies grazing the heathland looks to reverse this shrinkage.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ponies and people work in unison to establish a wildlife legacy at Knettishall Heath |url=https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/knettishall-heath-heathland-restoration-suffolk-wildlife-trust-exmoor-ponies-1-5707479 |publisher=East Anglian Daily Times}}</ref>

==Archaeology==
An 18th century [[rabbit warren]] and a [[Bronze Age]] [[burial mound]] at Hut Hill are evidence of thousands of years of human occupation in the area. 

At the western end of the heath, ‘patterned ground’ shows evidence of the last [[ice age]]. Repeated freezing and thawing of ground created a unique mix of the sandy soil and the underlying [[chalk]]. Unusual vegetation stripes reflect the two soil types, and the different plants that grow in each.<ref>{{cite web |title=Knettishall Heath Nature Reserve |url=https://www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/knettishallheath |website=Suffolk Wildlife Trust}}</ref>

==Footpaths==
It is the site where four [[Long distance trail|long-distance footpaths]] meet: [[Angles Way]], [[Icknield Way Path|Icknield Way]], [[Iceni Way]] and [[Peddars Way]] (part of the [[Norfolk Coast Path]], a [[National Trail]]). The Icknield Way joins with the Peddars Way at the end of its {{convert|110|mile}} journey from [[Ivinghoe Beacon]] in Buckinghamshire. The Icknield Way trail, a multi-user route for walkers, horse riders and off-road cyclists also joins with the Peddars Way riders route.<ref>{{cite web|title=Icknield Way Trail|url=http://www.IcknieldWayTrail.org.uk|website=www.IcknieldWayTrail.org.uk|access-date=5 April 2016}}</ref>

The [[Hereward Way]] ends nearby in [[East Harling]], and it linked to Knettishall Heath by path. 

==Access==
There are several access points to the heathland, most found off the road between [[Knettishall]] and Rushford villages. The main car park for the area can be found on an unnamed road (informally known as Heath Road) off Spalding's Chair Hill. 

The A1066 passes within a mile or two of the heathland, where it runs from [[Thetford]] to [[Garboldisham]].

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Peddars Way - Knettishall Heath.jpg|[[Peddars Way]] on the heath
File:Icknield Way, near Euston - geograph.org.uk - 1599671.jpg|[[Icknield Way]] nearby
File:Standing In Norfolk - geograph.org.uk - 1619239.jpg|Bridge over [[River Little Ouse]]
File:Footpath, Knettishall Heath - geograph.org.uk - 1458843.jpg|Footpath on the heath
File:Dew Pond on Knettishall Heath - geograph.org.uk - 911519.jpg|Dew Pond on Knettishall Heath
File:River Little Ouse at Knettishall - geograph.org.uk - 338087.jpg|[[River Little Ouse]]
File:Two footpaths meet road - geograph.org.uk - 1458840.jpg|Meeting point of Icknield Way (left) and Peddars Way (right)
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Coord|52.388|0.867|type:landmark_dim:3000_region:GB-SFK|display=title}}
{{commons category|Knettishall Heath}}

{{SSSIs Suffolk }}
{{Suffolk Wildlife Trust }}

[[Category:Suffolk Wildlife Trust]]
[[Category:Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Suffolk]]