Mid Suffolk District Council manage three small countryside sites around Stowmarket.

Church Meadow

Church Meadow is a small Local Nature Reserve lying close to St Mary’s Church, Combs. Once, part of the grounds of a large manor house the meadows now support a variety of wildlife. The hedgerows are full of small birds in Spring with whitethroat and yellowhammer commonly heard. The meadows support many wild flowers and recently southern marsh orchids have made a welcome reappearance. The pond is being restored and supports many dragonflies whilst grass snakes can sometimes be seen around its edges.

Visitors are welcome to enter the meadows but must keep dogs on a lead as there are often grazing animals present. A small information board is present on site and a leaflet about the site can be downloaded from the following link:

Church Meadow site leaflet (PDF, 520Kb)

Pike’s Meadow

Pikes Meadow is an area of mown grassland alongside the River Rattlesden close to the centre of Stowmarket. The area is used by local people for informal picnics and games whilst young visitors can make use of the football goals and basketball area. There are a number of old riverside willows on site and a variety of other trees throughout the area.

The annual Duck Race in June always attracts a large crowd.

Green’s Meadow

Lying either side of the A14 flyover between the football ground and the recycling site, this site is not high on anyone’s list for a quiet day out! However, the small wet meadow has a surprising wealth of plant life with both adder’s tongue fern and hairy sedge present. The area of willow scrub is largely undisturbed from where warblers sing in the Summer months. Grassy paths are found throughout the site and in Winter the area may be flooded.