Much of Cavenham Heath NNR is typical Breck heathland with dry, acidic sandy soil supporting acid grass heath, heather heath with patches of bracken and sand sedge. In addition there are riverside meadows, woodland, wet woodland scrub and small areas of fen. Between March and October adders are found in this area. They are quite timid in nature and will not usually bite unless they feel threatened or cornered. You should keep dogs on a lead during this period. If your dog is bitten, seek prompt veterinary attention. Main habitats: lowland heathland Area: 204 hectares Management: Natural England Features of interest There is a good population of Britain’s only poisonous snake, the adder, on the Heath. They’re best seen at the start of the warmer spring weather, often as early as mid-February. This is when they emerge from winter hibernation and come out to bask on sunny days. For details about what to see in different seasons, and more information about how the reserve is managed, see Natural England’s pages on Cavenham Heath in the National Archive. Directions The reserve is 1 kilometre south of the A1101 (between Bury St Edmunds and Mildenhall) near the village of Icklingham. The reserve can be accessed from Icklingham on foot and is near the junction of 2 major trails, the Icknield Way and St Edmund Way. The nearest train stations are in Bury St Edmunds (12 kilometres to the south east), Newmarket (15 kilometres to the south west) and Thetford (13 kilometres to the north east). For details of railway times and bus times, go to the Traveline website. Access to the reserve is along a minor road from Tuddenham village, 2 kilomeres to the south east. There is a car park on the Tuddenham to Icklingham road, adjacent to the reserve. Contact Contact the reserve by email brecklandnnr@naturalengland.org.uk or by calling Chippenham Fen NNR Office on 01638 721329.