Babergh

Babergh is a local government district in the county of Suffolk, England. Named after the historic Babergh hundred, the district lies in the south and east of Suffolk and includes market towns such as Sudbury and Hadleigh and a network of villages set among farmland and river valleys along the Stour. The district borders Essex along the Stour and also meets other Suffolk districts to the north and west.

Created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, Babergh was formed by the merger of several rural districts and urban districts in the area. It is governed by Babergh District Council, which is responsible for local planning, housing, waste collection, environmental health, licensing, and council tax collections within the district.

Geography and places: The district is known for its historic towns and timber-framed villages, including Lavenham, Long Melford, Clare, and Hadleigh. It contains parts of the Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Stour valley, which attract walkers, cyclists, and visitors seeking rural scenery and heritage sites.

Economy and culture: The economy is primarily rural, with agriculture, tourism, and small local businesses playing major roles. The district has a number of heritage properties, country houses, and annual events that celebrate its medieval and wool-town history, contributing to its identity as part of the Suffolk Wool Towns.