Have you ever wondered how old Needham Lake is, where the material came from to build the A14, what holds together our houses and schools or where you can find a County Wildlife Site, Local Nature Reserve or Regionally Important Geological Site? Well, read on to find out how aggregates and their extraction can help to answer these questions and many more.

The Aggregates Trail is a walk through the Gipping Valley between Needham Market and Barham (in either direction) and explores not only the aggregates industry, but also the geology, history, wildlife and future of the area. There are five information boards along the trail, which can be read alone, or pick up a leaflet to guide you along the trail to all five.

The Discovery Project has put together the Aggregates Trail, with support from Mid Suffolk District Council’s Countryside Team and staff and volunteers from Suffolk County Council's Countryside Service. This is in addition to a great deal of invaluable input from local individuals and organisations, as well as individuals abroad!

Interpretation boards, leaflets and educational resources have been written for the trail and are now available. Trail leaflets can be found in the Information Rooms at Needham Lake and Barham Picnic Site and are available from Mid Suffolk District Council Offices and local outlets. They are free of charge. Educational resources are available by contacting the Discovery Project Officer or Countryside Officer at Mid Suffolk DC.  

Download Gravel Unravelled (PDF, 1.1Mb) - the trail map and information about the Aggregates Trail.  

This project has been made possible thanks to the support of Natural England (external site), through Defra’s Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund - a levy on aggregate extraction,introduced in 2002. This aims to reduce the demand for primary aggregates, address environmental issues and compensate communities for the impacts of aggregate extraction.