A major milestone has been reached in protecting the landscapes that inspired one of the world’s most famous artists — and it is particularly significant for us here in East Bergholt.

Babergh District Council has unanimously agreed to extend the Constable Heartland Conservation Area to include two hugely significant landmarks at Flatford — Flatford Mill and Willy Lott’s House, famously depicted in John Constable’s iconic painting The Hay Wain.

The extended conservation area stretches north to include parts of East Bergholt — John Constable’s birthplace and the heart of the landscape that inspired so many of his paintings, Importantly the designation also includes a significant area of old Heath, south of the Donkey Track — a landscape of particular importance to John Constable.

This is an area where Constable painted many pictures of the Old Rectory, where his future wife Maria Bicknell was staying. In many ways, this new designation helps us trace part of the love story between John and Maria through the very landscape he painted.

The conservation area extension is the result of an original initiative taken by East Bergholt Parish Council and the Neighbourhood Plan Group more than five years ago. Over the past year, the Parish Council has worked particularly closely with Babergh District Council to help bring this important proposal to adoption.

This year has brought national attention to John Constable and his connection with East Bergholt. But, for our village, this designation provides something much more lasting: enhanced protection for the landscapes that remain so closely connected to our history and heritage.

John Constable created around 130 paintings and sketches around East Bergholt. As we celebrate 250 years since his birth, we can look at many of the views around our village today and see just how closely they still resemble the sights Constable saw 250 years ago. This conservation area extension therefore creates a lasting legacy for East Bergholt — protecting an important part of the landscape connected to one of our most important residents.

We also remember with gratitude the important contribution made by Nigel Roberts to this conservation area extension, and to Jody O’Reilly, who researched and wrote the extremely convincing assessment report which helped make the case for this important designation.

This morning, Sallie Davies — an East Bergholt Parish Councillor and Babergh’s Cabinet Member for Heritage, Planning and Infrastructure — spoke to BBC Radio Suffolk about the importance of this decision and protecting these special places for future generations.

Missed the interview? It’s well worth a listen as Sallie talks about the significance of the Constable landscape, the importance of the conservation area extension and why enhanced protection matters — for Flatford, for East Bergholt and for future generations. – SEE THE LINK IN THE COMMENTS TO LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW

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