Abstract.Rainfall has become less acid at Rothamsted and Saxmundham over the period 1969–83. The pH of rain at these two sites has increased from 4.4–4.6 to about 4.8–4.9; at Woburn it has remained approximately constant at 4.4–4.6. Amounts of NH4‐N and NO3‐N deposited at present are 10–15 and 5–10 kg ha−1a−1respectively. They have been increasing at Rothamsted and Woburn. Some 50–60 kg ha−1a−1of Cl and 25–35 kg ha−1a−1of SO4‐S are presently deposited. Deposition of non‐sea Cl and SO4‐S has been increasing markedly at all three sites. Non‐sea salts comprise 35% of the total salt deposition near the coast at Saxmundh