Beyond the gates of the Heath Published June 16, 2015 By Senior Airman Erin O'Shea 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England -- Beyond the back perimeter fence of RAF Lakenheath lies a nature reserve ideal for walking pets and viewing aircraft taking off. Home to a large number of nationally rare plants and animals, the Maidscross Hill Local Nature Reserve covers 370 square miles of countryside that stretches around the backside of base with a clear visual of the RAF Lakenheath flightline. On base, there are no designated areas for dog walking. The nature reserve's wide-open territory provides several walking trails suitable for those of any age. There are several characteristics that make the nature reserve unique. Sandy trails throughout the reserve lead to remains of ancient Roman-built roads that followed Boudicca's Revolt, as well as patterned ground features which formed from frozen conditions more than 12,000 years ago. As you walk along the trails, you may notice some artifacts left behind from the Bytham river, which flowed east from the Birmingham area into the North Sea near Lowestoft. The river passed through this area of Lakenheath and left behind deposits of pebbles and river sediments. In some areas of the reserve, you may also come across large mounded pits that are difficult to miss. The reserve was once used for gravel extraction, which in turn, created large pits of bare ground that still remain intact today. Surrounding the pits are various species of rare and native plants which provide food and shelter for many species of wildlife. According to a sign at the reserve, rabbits play an especially vital role in maintaining the open land by grazing, which keeps the grass short. Several threatened plants species like the Spanish Catchfly, Stone Curlew and Marbled Clover find refuge in the reserve. The road leading to the reserve is unpaved, so visitors should park alongside the street on Broom Road, and then continue traveling straight ahead on foot to the reserve entrance. Click the link below to view the area via the provided Google Maps pin point. https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Broom+Rd,+Lakenheath,+Brandon,+Suffolk+IP27+9ES/@52.4177045,0.5453312,15z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x47d83906120959c1:0x18ac8c419d830204