Brought up in Cowes, children’s author Melanie Welsh now lives in Thorington with her husband, Lou, and children Ben and Joe. Mel tells us what makes Suffolk so special to her and why she chose to bring her family up here on the Suffolk Coast.

‘It’s the big open skies that make Suffolk for me. I’m really looking forward to exploring the wilder coast when the boys are older but for the moment we stick to Southwold and Walberswick. Both can be bracing at times, but when there’s a southwesterly wind blowing it’s glorious all day.

I discovered renting beach huts a couple of years ago and have been smitten ever since. There is something inexplicably wonderful about having your own space by the beach. (It obviously taps into some deep-seated nesting instinct because I immediately start to play house and arrange things in there too).

Last year I managed to sneak in a couple of solitary visits with my laptop. It was just so lovely to sit quietly with the sun shining, and sea sparkling in front of me, out of the wind …pretending to write (but probably actually just daydreaming).’