Reserves and species

Posted by suffolk
2011-05-03 14:20

Snape Marshes

Nestled in the ship-like shadow of the famous Maltings on the north bank of the River Alde, Snape Marshes is a place of wildlife wonder and true diversity.

Reserve details
Trust: 
Suffolk Wildlife Trust
Trust Website: 
http://www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org
Size: 
30.00
Short Description: 
It is not hard to see why Benjamin Britten drew inspiration from this landscape of vast skies, golden reeds and sparkling water.
Smartphone Description: 
It is not hard to see why Benjamin Britten drew inspiration from this landscape of vast skies, golden reeds and sparkling water.
Location
Address: 
Priory Road, Snape - off A1094 Aldeburgh Road
Town: 
Saxmundham
County: 
Suffolk
Postcode: 
IP17 1SE
Grid ref: 
TM395576
Facilities
Visitor centre: 
No
Shop: 
No shop
Picnic Area: 
No
Opening hours: 
Open at all times
Toilets: 
No toilets
Disabled toilet: 
No disabled toilet
Baby changing facilities: 
No baby changing facilities
Dogs: 
Dogs must be on lead
Access: 
No
Parking: 
Yes
Parking info: 
In Snape village - car park at Foxes Corner on the end of Priory Road, or at Snape Maltings
Walking information: 
Level stone-surfaced pedestrian path around perimeter of reserve. Dry year round. No gates or stiles to negotiate. Can be very muddy
Grazing animals: 
Cattle grazing
Contact details
Reserve manager: 
Andrew Excell
Reserve phone number: 
01394 411019
Reserver deep link: 
http://www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/reserves/snape-marshes
Photos
Photo: 
Best time to visit
Start: 
April
End: 
September
Admission
Admission fee?: 
No
Admission amount: 
no
Location type: 
Wildlife or nature reserve
Posted by suffolk
2011-05-03 14:20

Sizewell Belts

The rare and haunting bittern and flighty bearded tit are found here.

Reserve details
Trust: 
Suffolk Wildlife Trust
Trust Website: 
http://www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org
Size: 
144.00
Short Description: 
Marsh, reedbed and wet woodland with adjacent heathland and beach - Sizewell Belts has just about everything!
Smartphone Description: 
Marsh, reedbed and wet woodland with adjacent heathland and beach - Sizewell Belts has just about everything! This diverse site is one of the best wetlands in East Anglia for wildflowers; it is a stronghold for otter, water vole and kingfisher, whilst water rail and barn owl can often be seen. The rare and haunting bittern and flighty bearded tit are also found here
Location
Address: 
Lovers Lane off B1069 near Leiston
Town: 
Saxmundham
County: 
Suffolk
Postcode: 
IP16 4UP
Grid ref: 
TM453639
Facilities
Visitor centre: 
No
Shop: 
No shop
Picnic Area: 
No
Opening hours: 
Open at all times
Toilets: 
No toilets
Disabled toilet: 
No disabled toilet
Baby changing facilities: 
No baby changing facilities
Dogs: 
Guide Dogs only
Access: 
Yes
Parking: 
Yes
Parking info: 
Kenton Hills car park off Lovers Lane
Walking information: 
Marsh wet in winter. Wheelchair/pushchair Access to woodlands
Contact details
Reserve manager: 
Suffolk Wildlife Trust
Reserve phone number: 
01473 890089
Reserver deep link: 
http://www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/reserves/sizewell-belts
Photos
Photo: 
Species: 
Kingfisher
Otter
Water Vole
Bittern
Bearded Tit
Water Rail
Migrant hawker
Hairy dragonfly
Best time to visit
Start: 
April
End: 
September
Admission
Admission fee?: 
No
Admission amount: 
no
Location type: 
Wildlife or nature reserve
Posted by suffolk
2011-05-03 14:20

Simpson's Saltings

A wonderfully lonely and isolated spot with an aura of timelessness.

Reserve details
Trust: 
Suffolk Wildlife Trust
Trust Website: 
http://www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org
Size: 
25.00
Short Description: 
Simpson's Saltings is one of the country's most important coastal sites for its wealth of uncommon coastal and saltmarsh plants.
Smartphone Description: 
Simpson's Saltings is one of the country's most important coastal sites for its wealth of uncommon coastal and saltmarsh plants. These plants grow amongst a mosaic of habitats inclduing compacted sand, shingle, saltmarsh, intertidal mud and estuary creeks. Many rare plants flourish here, such as sea kale, sea pea and sea heath. The intertidal mud provides rich pickings for wading birds
Location
Address: 
Behind Hollesley Bay Colony
Town: 
Woodbridge
County: 
Suffolk
Postcode: 
IP12 3JW
Grid ref: 
TM383453 <p>GPS Info<br>Footpath to reserve heads south west through trees from road (TM368451) just before HMP Hollesley Bay/Shingle Street entrance sign.
Facilities
Visitor centre: 
No
Shop: 
No shop
Picnic Area: 
No
Opening hours: 
Open at all times
Toilets: 
No toilets
Disabled toilet: 
No disabled toilet
Baby changing facilities: 
No baby changing facilities
Dogs: 
Dogs must be on lead
Access: 
No
Parking: 
Yes
Parking info: 
Use RSPB car park at HMP Hollesley Bay
Walking information: 
Public footpath follows the river wall. Uneven in places and can be very muddy.
Contact details
Reserve manager: 
Andrew Excell
Reserve phone number: 
01394 411019
Reserver deep link: 
http://www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/reserves/simpsons-saltings
Photos
Photo: 
Simpson Salting's
Species: 
Oystercatcher
Ringed Plover
Meadow Pipit
Little Tern
Best time to visit
Start: 
May
End: 
August
Admission
Admission fee?: 
No
Admission amount: 
no
Location type: 
Wildlife or nature reserve
Posted by suffolk
2011-05-03 14:20

Roydon Fen

Tucked away down a small lane within a mile or so of Diss, this 49 acre reserve offers a sense of the wildness a landscape of extensive wetland once would have offered.

Reserve details
Trust: 
Suffolk Wildlife Trust
Trust Website: 
http://www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org
Size: 
20.00
Short Description: 
Teetering on the edge of the Waveney Valley, Roydon Fen is part of a chain of fens that are strung like jewels along the Suffolk and Norfolk border.
Smartphone Description: 
Well off the beaten track, Roydon Fen is a rich mix of fen and wet woodland habitats with many rare fen plants still flourishing.
Location
Address: 
Roydon, Diss
Town: 
Diss
County: 
Suffolk
Postcode: 
IP22 5SE
Grid ref: 
TM 105 795
Facilities
Visitor centre: 
No
Shop: 
No shop
Picnic Area: 
No
Opening hours: 
Open at all times
Toilets: 
No toilets
Disabled toilet: 
No disabled toilet
Baby changing facilities: 
No baby changing facilities
Dogs: 
Dogs must be on lead
Access: 
No
Parking: 
Yes
Parking info: 
At reserve entrance
Walking information: 
There is no accessibility on this fen, there is a narrow sleeper boardwalk and the remaining paths are uneven and soft in places.
Contact details
Reserve manager: 
Richard Young
Reserve phone number: 
01379 687618
Reserver deep link: 
http://www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/reserves/roydon-fen
Photos
Photo: 
Roydon Fen
Best time to visit
Start: 
May
End: 
September
Admission
Admission fee?: 
No
Admission amount: 
no
Location type: 
Wildlife or nature reserve
Posted by suffolk
2011-05-03 14:20

Reydon Wood

There is a sense of being pulled into Reydon Wood; poured down a tunnel of trees and into a fragment of medieval wood whose roots are sunk deep into history.

Reserve details
Trust: 
Suffolk Wildlife Trust
Trust Website: 
http://www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org
Size: 
16.00
Short Description: 
Thankfully and unlike in many other woods, the coppice stools were left in situ and had regrown amongst the conifers: the subsequent restoration of Reydon Wood by the Trust has revealed remarkable old stools of ash and hornbeam.
Smartphone Description: 
Thankfully and unlike in many other woods, the coppice stools were left in situ and had regrown amongst the conifers: the subsequent restoration of Reydon Wood by the Trust has revealed remarkable old stools of ash and hornbeam.
Location
Address: 
Wood Lane off B1126 near Wangford
Town: 
Southwold
County: 
Suffolk
Postcode: 
IP18 6SL
Grid ref: 
TM480788 <p>GPS Info<br>Parking at junction of Wood lane, Rissemere lane east and Wood farm lane. Head west along Wood lane for pedestrian entrance.
Facilities
Visitor centre: 
No
Shop: 
No shop
Picnic Area: 
No
Opening hours: 
Open at all times
Toilets: 
No toilets
Disabled toilet: 
No disabled toilet
Baby changing facilities: 
No baby changing facilities
Dogs: 
Dogs must be on lead
Access: 
No
Parking: 
Yes
Parking info: 
At end of track leading to reserve
Walking information: 
Access difficult for those with poor mobility particularly in winter or wet weather as paths can be muddy and uneven. Ground firm but can be wet after rain
Contact details
Reserve manager: 
Alan Miller
Reserve phone number: 
01502 478788
Reserver deep link: 
http://www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/reserves/reydon-wood
Photos
Photo: 
Reydon Wood
Species: 
Early Purple Orchid
Twayblade
Yellow Archangel
Gatekeeper
Ringlet
Orange-tip
Tawny Owl
Treecreeper
Best time to visit
Start: 
April
End: 
July
Admission
Admission fee?: 
No
Admission amount: 
no
Location type: 
Wildlife or nature reserve
Posted by suffolk
2011-05-03 14:20

Redgrave & Lopham Fen

A diversity of plant life to satisfy the keenest of botanists

Reserve details
Trust: 
Suffolk Wildlife Trust
Trust Website: 
http://www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org
Size: 
163.00
Smartphone Description: 
As well as open fen, the reserve includes a mixture of wet heathland, open water, scrub and woodland. At least 86 bird species have been recorded here, including the grasshopper warbler, linnet and great tit for a few examples
Location
Address: 
Low Common Road, South Lopham, Diss
Town: 
Diss
County: 
Suffolk
Postcode: 
IP22 2HX
Grid ref: 
TM 052803 <p>GPS Info<br>Carpark entrance at education centre off low common road.
Facilities
Visitor centre: 
No
Shop: 
No shop
Café / Refreshments: 
No
Picnic Area: 
Picnic area
Toilets: 
Yes Toilets
Disabled toilet: 
Disabled toilet
Baby changing facilities: 
No baby changing facilities
Dogs: 
Dogs must be on lead
Access: 
Yes
Access info: 
Fully accessible education centre with disabled toilet. Picnic area and designated parking. Wheelchairs may be pushed over some paths in dry conditions, but they are rough unmade surfaces. The longer Spider trail can be used by a powered wheelchair in summer.
Parking: 
Yes
Parking info: 
Car park on site
Grazing animals: 
Cattle and Konik ponies graze the reserve
Contact details
Reserve manager: 
Richard Young
Reserve phone number: 
01379 687618
Reserver deep link: 
http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/reserves/redgrave-lopham-fen
Photos
Photo: 
Species: 
Lapwing
Black Poplar
Best time to visit
Start: 
March
End: 
September
Admission
Admission fee?: 
No
Admission amount: 
Charges apply for school visits to the education centre
Location type: 
Wildlife or nature reserve
Posted by suffolk
2011-05-03 14:19

North Cove

Parking on the road, the reserve is a short walk over the railway line and into a quiet world of grazing marsh, wet woodland, pools and dykes that in summer fizz with dragonflies.

Reserve details
Trust: 
Suffolk Wildlife Trust
Trust Website: 
http://www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org
Size: 
15.50
Short Description: 
Tucked away a short distance from the endless horizons of the Suffolk Broads nature reserve, North Cove is Broadland in beautiful miniature.
Smartphone Description: 
Tucked away a short distance from the endless horizons of the Suffolk Broads nature reserve, North Cove is Broadland in beautiful miniature.
Location
Address: 
Wade Hall Lane, Barnby.Between Beccles and Lowestoft
Town: 
Beccles
County: 
Suffolk
Postcode: 
NR34 7QQ
Grid ref: 
TM471905 <p>GPS Info<br>From A146 take Marsh Lane, then take first left in to Marsh Lane. At junction bear right towards Barnby on Wadehall lane for about 1.5km. Park between road and railway. Cross railway line to reach reserve entrance.
Facilities
Visitor centre: 
No
Shop: 
No shop
Picnic Area: 
No
Opening hours: 
Open at all times
Toilets: 
No toilets
Disabled toilet: 
No disabled toilet
Baby changing facilities: 
No baby changing facilities
Dogs: 
Guide Dogs only
Access: 
No
Parking: 
Yes
Parking info: 
At start of footpath to River Waveney
Walking information: 
Soft and wet ground
Grazing animals: 
Cattle graze areas
Contact details
Reserve manager: 
Matt Gooch
Reserve phone number: 
01502 564250
Reserver deep link: 
http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/reserves/north-cove
Photos
Photo: 
North Cove
Species: 
Norfolk hawker
Smooth Newt
Opposite-leaved Golden-Saxifrage
Woodcock
Best time to visit
Start: 
April
End: 
September
Admission
Admission fee?: 
No
Admission amount: 
no
Location type: 
Wildlife or nature reserve
Posted by suffolk
2011-05-03 14:19

Norah Hanbury-Kelk Meadows

Mrs Norah Hanbury-Kelk, from who the reserve takes its name, bought the meadows during the 1930s when this part of west Suffolk was still largely rural. As the countryside around it changed with expanding villages and agriculture, this parcel of land remained unchanged.

Reserve details
Trust: 
Suffolk Wildlife Trust
Trust Website: 
http://www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org
Size: 
8.00
Short Description: 
Lying next to the River Lark this pretty network of flower-rich wet meadows and dykes is a small wildlife oasis for those living in the village of Barton Mills.
Smartphone Description: 
Norah Hanbury-Kelk Meadows are a network of small, flower-rich wet meadows and dykes. In summer the meadows are cut or grazed by cattle to maintain the rich variety of wetland plants such as ragged-robin.
Location
Address: 
Mildenhall Road,
Town: 
Barton Mills
County: 
Suffolk
Postcode: 
IP28 6BD
Grid ref: 
TL 713740 <p>GPS Info<br>From The A11 and Barton Mills head north and west along The Street and Mildenhall Road. Look for entrance to parking off sharp lett hand bend. Reserve can be viewed to the east from footpath heading north.
Facilities
Visitor centre: 
No
Shop: 
No shop
Picnic Area: 
No
Opening hours: 
No Access March to July, view from adjacent footpath
Toilets: 
No toilets
Disabled toilet: 
No disabled toilet
Baby changing facilities: 
No baby changing facilities
Dogs: 
Guide Dogs only
Access: 
No
Parking: 
Yes
Parking info: 
Limited space by entrance
Walking information: 
Damp/wet in winter
Grazing animals: 
yes
Contact details
Reserve manager: 
William Cranstoun
Reserve phone number: 
01284 728541
Reserver deep link: 
http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/reserves/norah-hanbury-kelk-meadows
Photos
Photo: 
Norah Hanbury
Species: 
Ragged-Robin
Water Vole
Otter
Best time to visit
Start: 
April
End: 
July
Admission
Admission fee?: 
No
Admission amount: 
no
Location type: 
Wildlife or nature reserve
Posted by suffolk
2011-05-03 14:19

Newbourne Springs

Together with its small area of marsh, fen and adjacent heathland this reserve is good for flowering plants and a variety of birds including nuthatch, treecreeper, goldcrest and all three kinds of woodpecker. The woodland is like a secret garden where you instinctively tip-toe round corners and talk in hushed tones.

Reserve details
Trust: 
Suffolk Wildlife Trust
Trust Website: 
http://www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org
Size: 
20.70
Short Description: 
This small wooded valley with its spring-fed stream used to be a source of water for Felixstowe.
Smartphone Description: 
This small wooded valley with its spring-fed stream used to be a source of water for Felixstowe. Together with its small area of marsh, fen and adjacent heathland this reserve is good for flowering plants and a variety of birds including nuthatch, treecreeper, goldcrest and all three kinds of woodpecker. Butterfly include the speckled wood and green hairstreak while the dancing lights of glow worm are sometimes spotted during balmy summer nights
Location
Address: 
Woodbridge Lane, Newbourne
Town: 
Ipswich
County: 
Suffolk
Postcode: 
IP12 4NY
Grid ref: 
TM274433 <p>GPS Info<br>Carpark entrance on Woodbridge road. Look for brown nature reserve signs.
Facilities
Visitor centre: 
No
Shop: 
No shop
Picnic Area: 
No
Opening hours: 
Open at all times
Toilets: 
No toilets
Disabled toilet: 
No disabled toilet
Baby changing facilities: 
No baby changing facilities
Dogs: 
Dogs must be on lead
Access: 
No
Parking: 
Yes
Parking info: 
Small car park at reserve
Walking information: 
A marked trail takes you around the reserve. Walking conditions can be muddy and steep in places. Kissing gates, narrow boardwalk, steep slopes, steps and damp path sections all year round.
Grazing animals: 
Hebridean sheep graze periodically
Contact details
Reserve manager: 
Suffolk Wildlife Trust
Reserve phone number: 
01473 890089
Reserver deep link: 
http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/reserves/newbourne-springs
Photos
Photo: 
Newbourne Springs
Species: 
Treecreeper
Nuthatch
Speckled Wood
Green Hairstreak
Twayblade
Common Spotted orchid
Sedge Warbler
Glow-worm
Best time to visit
Start: 
April
End: 
September
Admission
Admission fee?: 
No
Admission amount: 
no
Location type: 
Wildlife or nature reserve
Posted by suffolk
2011-05-03 14:19

Mickle Mere

At 41 acres, this glistening mosaic of wet meadows, open water and sedge fringed ditches, is by no means as big as reserves such as Lackford Lakes.

But what it lacks in size, it makes up for in interest, with a rich variety of birdlife visiting the site all year round – from geese and waders to the odd white tailed eagle.

Reserve details
Trust: 
Suffolk Wildlife Trust
Trust Website: 
http://www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org
Size: 
17.00
Short Description: 
Sitting in Mickle Mere's single wooden hide, whether alone or with other birdwatchers, it's hard not to feel a quiet sense of anticipation.
Smartphone Description: 
Lying in a valley next to the River Black Bourn, Mickle Mere is part of what was once a corridor of grazing marshes running from Elmswell to Euston. The Ixworth Bypass now cuts across the north west corner of the site and as a result the site regularly floods. This has now resulted in a large area of bare ground that when wet attracts large numbers of wetland birds. Species such as breeding redshank, lapwing as well as migrant waders including green sandpiper and greenshank can be seen
Location
Address: 
Near Ixworth
Town: 
Ixworth
County: 
Suffolk
Postcode: 
IP31 2NB
Grid ref: 
TL937696 <p>GPS Info<br>Follow brown sign to and park at Pakenham watermill. Pedestrian entrance on the left 100m south of carpark.
Facilities
Visitor centre: 
No
Shop: 
No shop
Picnic Area: 
No
Opening hours: 
Open at all times
Toilets: 
No toilets
Disabled toilet: 
No disabled toilet
Baby changing facilities: 
No baby changing facilities
Dogs: 
Guide Dogs only
Access: 
Yes
Access info: 
Good access to hide all year round, wheelchair and pushchair accessible. The hide is wheelchair accessible along a short path from the road
Parking: 
Yes
Parking info: 
Pakenham Watermill 100m from the hide
Grazing animals: 
yes
Contact details
Reserve manager: 
Suffolk Wildlife Trust
Reserve phone number: 
01284 728541
Reserver deep link: 
http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/reserves/micklemere
Photos
Photo: 
Micklemere
Species: 
Lapwing
Kestrel
Little Egret
Reed Bunting
Water Mint
Otter
Water Vole
Best time to visit
Start: 
January
End: 
December
Admission
Admission fee?: 
No
Admission amount: 
no
Location type: 
Wildlife or nature reserve