West Stow Heath

{{Infobox SSSI

|image= West Stow Lake - geograph.org.uk - 639773.jpg

|image_caption = West Stow Lake

|name= West Stow Heath

|aos= Suffolk

|interest=Biological

|gridref={{gbmappingsmall| TL 792 714 }}

|area= 44.3 hectares

|notifydate= 1983

|map=[http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271001970%27 Magic Map]

}}

West Stow Heath is a {{convert|44.3|hectare|acre|adj=on}} biological Site of Special Scientific Interest west of West Stow in Suffolk.{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteDetail.aspx?SiteCode=S1001970&SiteName=west+stow&countyCode=&responsiblePerson=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title=Designated Sites View: West Stow Heath | series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|access-date = 14 June 2017}}{{cite web|url= http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271001970%27|title=Map of West Stow Heath|series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|access-date= 14 June 2017}} It is part of the Breckland Special Protection Area under the European Union Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds.{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteGeneralDetail.aspx?SiteCode=UK9009201&SiteName=breckland&countyCode=&responsiblePerson=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title=Designated Sites View: Breckland | series= Special Protection Area|publisher=Natural England|access-date = 10 May 2017}}{{cite web|url= http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/pdf/SPA/UK9009201.pdf |title=Special Protection Areas under the EC Birds Directive. Breckland. |publisher=Joint Nature Conservation Committee|access-date= 4 May 2017}}

This site has diverse habitats with grassland, heath, wet woodland, scrub, dry woodland and former gravel workings which are now open water. The grassland has three nationally rare plants, glaucous fescue, Thymus serpyllum and spring speedwell.{{cite web|url=http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1001970.pdf |title=West Stow Heath citation|series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|access-date= 14 June 2017}}

There is access by footpaths, including from the adjoining West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village.