Aspal Close Local Nature Reserve

Aspal Close is a surviving medieval wood pasture within the Breckland landscape and was home to a working farm up until 1963 in the village of Beck Row just North-west of Mildenhall. Ancient oak pollards sit on hummocks of chalk and/or sand, surrounded by open grassland with significant areas of relatively recent scrub.

The site undulates, with dips and hollows originating from glacial action during the last ice age. The site is designated as a Local Nature Reserve and is home to wide range of important wildlife.

Friends of Aspal Close Nature Reserve Facebook page

Open

Monday to Sunday 8.30am – dusk

Cost

Free to enjoy

Address

St Johns Street
Beck Row
Mildenhall
Suffolk
IP28 8AP

What3words for the main entrance is ///gazette.ivory.etchings

Map

About Aspal Close Local Nature Reserve

The reserve is a treasure of wildlife interest, here is a brief description of what can be seen.

Ancient Oak Pollards

There are almost 200 specimens on the reserve, some of which are over 600 years old. The late Oliver Rackham (International Expert Countryside Historian) has described it as “an internationally important northern outlier of unspoilt savannah”, as “one of the best examples of fields with trees”.

An independent management plan for the veteran trees was produced in 2011 for their long term care.

Breckland Grassland

The soil is a mixture of chalk and sand and this special breckland soil gives rise to a wide variety of flora, look out for Mouse ear and Meadow Saxifrage in the spring, followed by wild Rock Rose and Wild Thyme in the summer.

Activities

There are occasional guided walks around the reserve, check What's on West Suffolk for details.

Facilities

  • Car park
  • Picnic area
  • On site signage and trail
  • Changing rooms and football pitch – used by Beck Row Football Club only contact the club on their Facebook page

Park regulations

The following regulations are in place for your safety and to protect the environment, please abide by them:

  • No golf or hard ball games
  • No unauthorised vehicles
  • Do not pick the flowers
  • Do not disturb wildlife
  • Dogs must be under control at all times
  • No dog fouling
  • No fires
  • No camping
  • Pick up your litter

A full set of bylaws are available on request.