Arger Fen

Arger Fen
Site of Special Scientific Interest
	Arger Fen within Suffolk
Location	Suffolk
Grid reference	TL933356
Coordinates	51°59′10″N 0°49′05″E / 51.986°N 0.818°E
Interest	Biological
Area	49.7 hectares (0.50 km2; 0.19 sq mi)
Notification	1986
Location map	Magic Map

Arger Fen is a 49.7-hectare (123-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) south-east of Sudbury in Suffolk, England.^[1]^[2] The site occupies two separate areas. The 17.6-hectare (43-acre) Arger Fen Local Nature Reserve is part of the larger eastern block,^[3]^[4] and contains part of the 21-hectare (52-acre) Tiger Hill Local Nature Reserve,^[5]^[6] along with part of the 110-hectare (270-acre) Arger Fen and Spouse's Vale, a nature reserve managed by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust.^[7] The site lies in the Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty,^[8]

The site is made up of a mix of woodland and meadow habitats with much of the woodland believed to be ancient in origin.^[9] 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.^[9] It is one of only two known areas of ancient woodland in Eastern England which feature wild cherry (Prunus avium).^[7]^[9]

Badgers are found on the reserve in a number of active setts.^[7]^[9] Other rare fauna include the hazel dormouse and barbastelle bat.^[7] In 2012 the reserve, which has ash trees at least 300 years old, was identified as a site of ash dieback^[7]^[10] and in 2013 it became a research site for Forestry Commission scientists studying genetic resistance to the Chalara fungus which causes the disease.^[11]

There are onsite car parking facilities as well as two-way marked trails, including areas of board walk.^[7] The trust has attempted to encourage the growth of the dormouse population, partly by expanding the area of land it owns at Arger Fen.^[12]

References

^ "Designated Sites View: Arger Fen". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
^ "Map of Arger Fen". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
^ "Arger Fen". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. 16 March 2013. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
^ "Map of Arger Fen". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
^ "Tiger Hill". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. 28 March 2017. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
^ "Map of Tiger Hill". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "Arger Fen & Spouse's Vale". Suffolk Wildlife Trust. Archived from the original on 26 April 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
^ "Wildlife at Arger Fen & Spouse's Vale". Suffolk Wildlife Trust. Archived from the original on 2 August 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Arger Fen" (PDF). SSSI citation. Natural England. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 December 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
^ "Ash dieback: Fears realised for ancient Arger Fen wood". BBC News website. 8 November 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
^ "Ash dieback disease to be studied at Suffolk Wildlife Trust nature reserve". BBC News website. 12 May 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
^ "Suffolk Wildlife Trust appeal to buy land for dormice". BBC Suffolk news website. 20 October 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2013.