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Redgrave and Lopham Fen National Nature Reserve sits squarely on the banks of the River Waveney and therefore also across the county boundary with Norfolk. The reserve is recognised as one of the most important wetlands in Europe, formed thousands of years ago as the glaciers melted after the last Ice Age. It covers 123 hectares and for hundreds of years the fen has been used by local villagers to cut peat for fuel, harvest the reed for thatching and as an area for grazing their livestock. This maintained the fen's open landscape allowing plant and animal life to develop and, fed by spring water from the underlying chalk, provide the conditions for the wildlife of the fen. For nearly 40 years a public water supply has been fed from a borehole in the fen and, together with deep dredging of the river, has contributed towards the drying out of the fen and the loss of many rare species. This threat has now been reversed and Suffolk Wildlife Trust has restored the fen in partnership with English Nature, the Environment Agency and Essex and Suffolk Water, and have built a Visitor Centre and set out four walk trails of varying lengths around the reserve. The fen is now a popular place to visit for a free countryside day out, the easy access trails provide 6 kilometres of footpath to visit the various habitat areas. The shortest trail is the Lopham Loop and this is reckoned to take 20 minutes, whilst the longest route is the Water Trail at 21/2 hours. The Visitor Centre has limited weekend opening hours and offers light refreshments, a shop, exhibition and toilets. The reserve is well known as the home of the Great Raft Spider or Fen Raft Spider, there is a wheelchair accessible trail with viewing points including a viewing platform with access ramp. For my walk I took in a tour around the reserve on parts of various trails to take in sections of all the routes around the fen. From the front of the Visitor Centre follow the trail to the right along the edge of the woodland and fencing passing one or two left turns through the fen that lead to the Great Fen Spider viewing area. Continue straight on along the wood edge to a metal kissing gate and on along the track through the wood. Emerge from the trees and follow the track around to the left and straight on past a turning for the Waveney Trail, heading now along a raised pathway leading to a wooden bridge across the river. This point is close to the recognised source of the river Waveney that forms the natural boundary between Suffolk and Norfolk and flows eastward to Lowestoft and Yarmouth and the North Sea. The fen is also the source of the River Little Ouse that flows westwards from this point to eventually discharge into The Wash. Continue into the mixed woodland at the far side, through a kissing gate and bearing left, now with the reserve boundary on the right. This section of the path is part of the Angles Way a 77 mile route from Great Yarmouth to Knettishall Heath Country Park. Follow the path through the variety of woodland habitats, taking care on the path around the end of the wood where exposed tree roots make the surface of the path alongside a ditch quite uneven and slippery. Cross the River Waveney again at the Waveney Sluice, one of the control points that is used to regulate the level of the water in the fen. It not only keeps the level of the water up to keep the fen wet but can also be lowered to let out the nutrient rich water that flows from the surrounding land. An information board advises that otters have ben seen near the sluice. Turn left and then right at a kissing gate into Middle Fen. Walk along the wide path across the fen, passing the easy access viewing platform on the right to return to the start at the Visitor Centre. If it is a fine day there are picnic tables outside the Visitor Centre for you to rest and take in the view across the fen and, if the refreshment counter is open, have a nice cup of tea or coffee before you leave. InformationLocation: Redgrave and Lopham Fen is 25 miles north of IpswichStart: Redgrave and Lopham Fen Visitor Centre, Ordnance Survey map reference TM 052802 Length: 2 miles (various other routes available) Conditions: Well defined fen and woodland paths - very easy walking, no stiles, muddy in places How to get there: - Public Transport: For details telephone Suffolk County Council's Public Transport Information TraveLine - 08459 583358 By Road: From Ipswich or Bury St. Edmunds on A14 to Stowmarket then north on B1113 through Bacton, Botesdale and Redgrave over the Norfolk border. Turn right on Low Common Road following the brown tourist signs to the fen (in Norfolk) Car Parking: Free at Redgrave and Lopham Fen Visitor Centre Car park, closed at dusk Refreshments: The walks are always open but Redgrave and Lopham Fen Visitor Centre is only open at weekends from April to October 10am to 5pm and November to March from 10am to 4pm Public Toilets: Redgrave and Lopham Fen Visitor Centre when open Map: Ordnance Survey Explorer 230 Diss and Harleston Publications: A walk route map is available from the Visitor Centre when open - 10p Information: Redgrave and Lopham Fen tel. 01379 688333, Suffolk Wildlife Trust tel. 01473 890089 Internet: Suffolk Wildlife Trust: http://www.suffolkwildlife.co.uk/nr/sites/redg.htm Suffolk Country Walks: http://www.anderton.btinternet.co.uk
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