North Warren

Address: RSPB North Warren, Thorpe Rd, Aldeburgh IP15 5BH

Grid ref: TM467576

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

Open at all times.

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

No visitor centre
Car park
Toilets off-site
Accessible toilets off-site
No Refreshments
Viewing point
Nature trails
Shop off-site

Accessibility

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

RSPB reserves on Google Earth

Group bookings are accepted.

3 degrees, Partly cloudy (day)

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
@RSPB_S_Suffolk
Find us on facebook

What will you see?

Our star species

Lapwing

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

Marsh harrier

Look for marsh harriers gliding over the reed beds.

Nightingale

Nightingales breed in the hedgerows and scrub.

White-fronted goose

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

Wigeon

During winter, flocks of wigeons are a daily sight.

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.