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  • North Warren

North Warren

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Address
RSPB North Warren, Thorpe Rd, Aldeburgh IP15 5BH
Grid ref
TM467576
What3Words
bottled.political.repaid

The North Warren reserve lies on the Suffolk coast on the north edge of the town of Aldeburgh and to the south of Thorpeness. Thousands of ducks, swans and geese use the marshes in winter, while spring hosts breeding bitterns, marsh harriers, woodlarks and nightingales.

Plan your visit

Opening times

Open at all times.

Entrance charges

Free entrance to RSPB members
Yes
Adults
Free, but donations very welcome
Children
Free, but donations very welcome
Car park cost

Off-site pay and display car parks in Aldeburgh and Thorpeness.

Facilities

  • Car park
  • Viewing point
  • Nature trails

Accessibility

  • Full accessibility information (external website)

How to get here

By train

The nearest station is Saxmundham, 6 miles (9.6 km) away. If cycling from the station, follow signs for Leiston, then take the Aldeburgh road.

A demand-response bus service can be requested (with at least 24 hours notice) to provide access to the reserve from the railway station. Details of the service can be obtained by calling 0845 6041802.

By bus

The First Buses service 64 runs regularly between Saxmundham and Aldeburgh.

By bike

National Cycle Route 1 links with Regional Route 42 (Suffolk Coast Cycle route).

By road

Follow directions into Aldeburgh. After leaving the town towards Thorpeness, and shortly before the 40 mph speed limit ends, there is a large pay-and-display car park on the right.

Sat nav POI file: If you have a satellite navigation system that can accept POI files, please see our POI page for a download link and instructions.

Other ways to get there

The reserve is easily reached on foot from Aldeburgh and Thorpeness.

Get directions from Google Maps
View on What3Words
RSPB reserves on Google Earth

Group booking information

Group bookings are accepted.

Downloads

Helping you find your way around. PDF, 1.2Mb

North Warren trail guide

Contact North Warren

  • RSPB North Warren, Thorpe Rd, Aldeburgh IP15 5BH
  • minsmere@rspb.org.uk
  • 01728 648281
  • @RSPBSuffolk
  • Find us on facebook

What will you see?

Our star species

    Standing Lapwing illustration

    Lapwing

    Watch the nesting lapwings here chasing predators that may come too close.

    Marsh Harrier male in flight

    Marsh harrier

    Look for marsh harriers gliding over the reed beds.

    Nightingale illustration

    Nightingale

    Nightingales breed in the hedgerows and scrub.

    Greenland white fronted goose

    White-fronted goose

    A flock of the European race of white-fronted geese is usually present between October and April.

    Male wigeon

    Wigeon

    During winter, flocks of wigeons are a daily sight.

Seasonal highlights

  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter

In spring reeding lapwings and redshanks on the wet grassland. Scan the reedbed for marsh harriers and hobbies. In the scrub and woodland areas, many warblers and nightingales can be seen.

In summer look for male marsh harriers bringing prey. Look for swifts, swallows and martins over the reedbed. Many species of dragonflies and butterflies can be seen. Along the shingle beach, both sea pea and yellow-horned poppies should be in flower.

In early autumn mornings, many passerine migrants may be present, including warblers, whinchats and wheatears. In favourable conditions, gannets, shearwaters and skuas can be seen offshore.

 

In winter this is one of the few regular wintering sites for tundra bean geese in the UK. At high-tide, up to 2,000 dunlins and lapwings may be present. Offshore, views of red-throated divers are likely as internationally important numbers winter off the Suffolk coast.

About North Warren

Habitat

This delightful reserve contains grazing marshes, reedbeds, heathland and woodland. Thousands of ducks, swans and geese use the marshes in winter, while spring brings breeding bitterns, marsh harriers, woodlarks and nightingales. Look out for the many species of butterflies and dragonflies.

Conservation

In the long-term the reserve will join a chain of protected sites along the Suffolk coast. Meanwhile, we are closely monitoring water quality, vegetation and key species.

  • We manage the reedbed and fen to boost breeding bitterns, aiming for at least two regular nests. We will keep the reedbed flooded from April to July, maintain the open water, control scrub and increase fish numbers.
  • We are managing lowland wet grassland for breeding waders and wintering lapwings, redshanks, gadwalls and shovelers. Mowing, topping and summer grazing with cattle help us create the right grassland structure.
  • We are managing heathland and acid grassland for breeding woodlarks and nightjars. We are also extending this habitat to encourage stone-curlews to recolonise.
  • We are grazing with sheep, mowing, removing scrub, burning heather, controlling bracken and excavating areas of bare ground. We are managing the shingle ridge and dune grassland in order to maintain the range of the rare sea pea. We maintain a discreet network of paths for visitors, which complements the more developed facilities at nearby Minsmere.

Site information

Entry is free, but donations to help us continue our work here are welcome. The main car parks in Aldeburgh and Thorpeness are pay-and-display in summer.
Dogs are only allowed on public footpaths and bridleways.

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