Visiting
Volunteering
Managing
Welcome to the Dedham Vale National Landscape
Welcome to National Landscapes – the new name for the UK’s designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The Dedham Vale National Landscape sits along the Suffolk-Essex border and was designated in 1970 with the purpose of conserving and enhancing the habitats and biodiversity.
National Landscapes are the places where our stories come to life. The places that make us who we are. A living patchwork where outstanding beauty isn’t only found in nature, but in communities working together to grow and change and thrive.
Our mission is to protect and regenerate these special landscapes and to make sure everyone can enjoy them. Because there’s space for so many more stories to be told. The Dedham Vale National Landscape is cared for by a Partnership, a team, and the thousands of people who live in, work in and visit it.
2025 National Landscape Newspaper
Our brand new, free newspaper for 2025 is now available to read online, or pick up a copy from 100s of locations around the area!
Discover lots of useful information, including:
- Walking guides & maps
- Visitor highlights
- Volunteering opportunities
- Birds and wildlife
- Farming projects
- Nature recovery work
If you would like to request hard copies, please get in touch at dedhamvale@suffolkandessex-NL.org.uk.
2025 National Landscape Award
Nominations are open now for the Robert Erith National Landscape Award, which is presented to an individual, organisation or community group that has made an outstanding contribution to the Dedham Vale National Landscape.
Please note only those nominees whose achievements and actions have taken place within the Dedham Vale National Landscape boundary will be considered.
Nominations for the 2025 award are open until 31st May 2025 and the winner will be announced in the summer.
Go Wild in the Stour Valley 2025
Go Wild in the Stour Valley is a free nature-based fun day on Friday 30th May for children and families at Friars Meadow, Sudbury
Activities include arts & crafts, mini beast hunts, quiz trail, camera obscurer, pond dipping and canoeing & boat trips.
Parking available nearby – charges apply. For more information email emma.black@suffolkandessex-NL.org.uk.
Wilder Together is a partnership project that has been created between the Suffolk and Essex Wildlife Trusts, RSPB Flatford Wildlife Garden and the National Landscape and Stour Valley team.
The partnership has been established to support parish and town councils to work with their communities to create wildlife friendly villages and towns in the Dedham Vale and Stour Valley.