Search Natural Areas Foreword Natural Areas & Their Role Natural Area Boundaries Marine Natural Areas East Anglian Plain Introduction Previous Search results Key nature conservation features of National Significance Ancient and/or species-rich hedgerows Earth heritage Fens Lowland meadows Lowland mixed deciduous woodland Lowland wood pasture and parkland Key nature conservation features of Local Significance Lowland heathland Rivers and streams Standing open water and canals Wet woodland

50 East Anglian Plain   The East Anglian Plain is an ancient landscape upon which modern agriculture has been imposed. There is a complex network of old hedgerows, ancient woods, villages, hay meadows and pastures, streams and rivers, and wetlands, set in arable land. Much of the vegetation=s character derives from the widespread chalky clay soils deposited by glaciers over chalk rock. Habitats of particular importance include a small number of fens scattered throughout the East Anglian Plain, most of which are small and isolated from other fens, small lowland meadows which are now very sparsely scattered through the East Anglian Plain, and ancient woodlands that are amongst the richest in the country for flowering plants. River valleys occur widely spaced across the whole East Anglian Plain. Each valley is a mosaic of habitats, including floodplain grazing marsh, fens, eutrophic standing water (e.g. in ditch systems) and wet woodlands. Chalk rivers are not common in the East Anglian Plain, with eutrophic river types being more usual.   Natural Area profile available - Size 957.9 kb     Copyright    Privacy    Freedom of information    Directgov