XIV. 



The woods and plantations in the County are entirely of modern 

 growth, and although it may be said to be well-wooded, the timber is 

 generally scattered about and is steadily diminishing in quantity. The 

 largest woods are at Fakenham, the locality of Bloomfield's Fakenham 

 Ghost, and at Staverton, and these are of great age ; as are also woods 

 near Needham Market and at Sudbourne. 



Marshy land exists in no great quantity and much fen has quite 

 disappeared. The valley of the Aide, however, is generally marshy, 

 and there are some very extensive tracts, called the Lantern Marshes. 

 Marsh lands extend also up the valleys near the coast, and along 

 some of the rivers, and between Scole and Beccles is another tract of 

 marsh but no fen land. 



The fens once occupied a considerable area near Mildenhall, but 

 they appear to have been drained early in this century, the peat remain- 

 ing in a dry form ; but there still remain patches at Tuddenham and 

 other parishes on the banks of the Lark, at Redgrave, Hopton, Hinder- 

 clay, Coney Weston and Aldeburgh. Some years ago, there was a large 

 district of quaking fen at Worlingham, North Cove and Barnby. which 

 has been drained and converted into valuable pasture. 



The principal heaths are near the sea -coast, situated in part upon 

 the Red-crag area, none of them very large ; but there is a succession 

 of them nearly parallel to the coast, extending from Belton to within 

 a few miles of Ipswich, and a few small ones are to be found in the 

 North-western division. The commons have been mostly enclosed, but 

 a few parishes, amongst which are Mellis and Wortham, have consider- 

 able portions still open. 



