National Landscapes Celebrated at Rail Stations

5 November, 2024

Rail stations in East Suffolk and North Essex are taking part is a new exhibition through December to celebrate the region’s designated nationally significant areas.

The Suffolk & Essex Coast & Heaths National Landscape and the Dedham Vale National Landscape have teamed up with the East Suffolk Lines Community Rail Partnership and the Essex & South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership to display hand drawn posters that highlight everything that makes the area special.

The posters are packed full of fun facts, creative illustrations, information on the local area and photography; they were created by Suffolk-based Steamboat Creative and funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. They’re on display at the following stations:

  • Lowestoft, Wickham Market, Melton, Woodbridge, Trimley, and Felixstowe station in Suffolk
  • Mistley, Wrabness and Manningtree station in Essex.
The posters on display a Trimley (L) and Lowestoft (R)

The exhibition is the culmination of the five-year National Lottery Heritage Fund project that has seen the creation of the Landscape Lens fixed-point photography initiative, as well as a grant-giving programme and a series of outreach events.

The Landscape Lens project aims to help people connect with, learn about and enjoy the many special landscapes that make up the area’s National Landscapes, including rivers, coastline, woodland, farmland and valley scenery.

Twenty-five fixed-point photography posts have been installed in the natural environment at different locations across Suffolk and Essex, stretching from Walberswick in East Suffolk, south to Wrabness and Mistley on the River Stour in North Essex, and inland as far west as Bures.

Members of the public have been capturing spectacular photographs of the landscape, showcasing the changing of the seasons, wildlife and nature in both the Suffolk & Essex Coast & Heaths and Dedham Vale.

The Suffolk & Essex Coast & Heaths National Landscape, which runs from Kessingland to the Stour Estuary, and the Dedham Vale National Landscape, which follows the Stour river valley from Cattawade to Bures, were designated as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in 1970.

More information about Landscape Lens and the National Landscapes is available at coastandheaths-NL.org.uk and dedhamvale-NL.org.uk.