East of England Sense of Place Suffolk
Guided tours of Suffolk's past
Introduction to Suffolk
Shifting Coastline
Because it faces Europe rather than the Atlantic, Suffolk enjoys a dry climate – average annual rainfall is about 580mm a year, compared with a national average of over 1000mm.
Clouds borne by the prevailing west wind shed most of their rain over the higher land in the west of the country. The county's eastern aspect also means that its coastline – formed of soft clay and sand – is exposed 'only' to the battering of the North Sea. That has been enough to transform it.
Whole sections of coast have been eaten away – like the area that once housed the town of Dunwich, which is now just a beautiful village.
The eroded material was then deposited further south, thus creating Orford Ness – a spit of sand and shingle that takes the River Alde on a 12 mile detour before it finally reaches the sea. Orford Ness was the preserve of the military for many years, but it is now a peaceful nature reserve. You can visit http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/coastline/visit/east_anglia.html
and www.nationaltrust.org.uk/orfordness for more information. |
