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.
2026 Dedham Vale Forum
The Dedham Vale National Landscape & Stour Valley team is delighted to invite you to the 2026 Dedham Vale Forum.
Come along to the free event and hear from four fantastic speakers presenting on a range of topics impacting on the Dedham Vale & Stour Valley.
The event will be held on Thursday 17th September 2026 from 9:45am to 1:00pm at Firstsite, Lewis Gardens, High Street, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1JH.
Dark Sky Campaign win National Landscape Award
We're delighted to announce that the winner of the 2026 Robert Erith National Landscape Award is the Dedham Vale Dark Sky Campaign!
For almost a decade, the group and its dedicated volunteers have worked tirelessly to protect one of the most precious natural assets in the Dedham Vale: the night sky
2026 saw the crowning achievement, with Thorington Street being officially designated an International DarkSky Community by DarkSky International, becoming the first such place in England to be recognised.
New free visitor guides
We have six brand new visitor guides available, for free, for popular locations in the Dedham Vale National Landscape & Stour Valley.
Our new Explorer series covers Bures, Constable Country, Dedham, Long Melford, Nayland and Stoke by Nayland. Each guide is packed full of highlights, useful information, and suggested walks.
You can view the guides online and download them for free. Alternatively, if you would like to be sent hard copies, particularly if your shop or business would like to stock some, please get in touch!
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.