Strumpshaw Fen

We are working hard to make our nature reserves safe and ready for our staff, visitors and wildlife. Although most of our sites with visitor facilities are currently closed, we have started opening those where is it safe and practical to do so in England and Northern Ireland. Please see our COVID-19 updates page for the latest information (link below).

Address: RSPB Strumpshaw Fen, Low Road, Strumpshaw, Norwich NR13 4HS

Grid ref: TG341065

See our updates page to see which reserves are open.

You'll find Strumpshaw Fen on the River Yare in Norfolk, around six miles east of Norwich. The reserve itself has a full range of broadland habitats and wildlife. Why not visit us and take a pleasant walk round the reedbeds, woodlands and orchid-rich meadows?

Plan your visit

The reserve is open from dawn until dusk every day, except Christmas Day.

Reception is open from 9.30am - 5.00pm between April and September, and from 10.00am - 4.00pm between October and March.

Free entrance to RSPB members: Yes

Adults: £4.50

Children: £2.50 (5-17 years)
Free entrance for first child
Free entrance for under 5s

Student: £3.00

Free entrance for carers: Yes

Facilities

Visitor centre
Car park
Toilets
Accessible toilets off-site
Refreshments
Picnic area
Binocular hire
Guided walks
Viewing point
Nature trails
Shop off-site

Accessibility

Full accessibility information (external website)

How to get here

By train

A number of trains on the Norwich to Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft (Wherry Lines) services call at Buckenham station by request at the weekend. Four trains each way call on Sundays and Public Holidays, one on Saturdays. Strumpshaw Fen is about a mile away, via quiet lanes.

The other nearby station is Brundall, 1.4 miles (2.3km) from the reserve. From the station walk up the hill (Station Road) towards Brundall village. At the main road turn right and walk through Brundall. Continue under the bridge towards Strumpshaw. Soon after you pass the Strumpshaw sign, turn right into Stone Road, and immediately right again into Low Road. Strumpshaw Fen nature reserve is 500m down Low Road on the right.

By bus

An hourly bus service from Norwich stops 0.7 miles (1.1 km) from the reserve on the Brundall to Strumpshaw Road at the junction of Long Lane and Stone Road (weekdays and Saturdays only). From the bus stop (arriving from the Norwich direction), walk towards Brundall for 40m, then turn left down Stone Road and immediately turn right into Low Road. Strumpshaw Fen nature reserve is 500m down Low Road on the right.

By bike

The Yare Valley cycle route runs close to the reserve. The proposed future route of National Cycle Network Route 1 also runs close to the reserve, while its current route passes on the other side of the River Yare.

By road

The reserve is best approached from the village of Brundall which lies east of Norwich just off the A47. From the A47 roundabout, drive through Brundall and continue on the same road out towards Strumpshaw. Soon after you pass the Strumpshaw sign, turn right into Stone Road, and immediately right again into Low Road. The reserve car park is 500m down Low Road 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

From Brundall (1.4 miles / 2.3 km), walk east along the High Street and continue under the bridge towards Strumpshaw. Soon after you pass the Strumpshaw sign, turn right into Stone Road, and immediately right again into Low Road. Strumpshaw Fen nature reserve is 500m down Low Road on the right.

Get directions from Google Maps

RSPB reserves on Google Earth

Unfortunately we are unable to accomodate dogs, apart from assistance dogs, at Strumpshaw Fen.

However, dog-owners are welcome to park at Strumpshaw Fen and walk to nearby Buckenham Marshes.

Group bookings are available. You may be able to hire a guide - please phone for more details.

14 degrees, Sunny day

Downloads

Helping you find your way around. PDF, 1.1Mb

Strumpshaw Fen trail guide

Contact Strumpshaw Fen

RSPB Strumpshaw Fen, Low Road, Strumpshaw, Norwich NR13 4HS
strumpshaw@rspb.org.uk
01603 715191
@RSPBNorfolkLinc
Find us on facebook

What will you see?

Our star species

Barn owl

When the barn owls have young to feed, you could see them at any time of day.

Bittern

Bitterns are perfectly adapted for life in the reedbeds at Strumpshaw.

Cetti's warbler

Cetti's warblers are recent colonists of the UK that are very often hard to see.

Kingfisher

Kingfishers are a year-round attraction at Strumpshaw Fen, especially active in spring and summer.

Marsh harrier

Look for marsh harriers in spring, when pairs perform their breathtaking 'sky-dancing' displays high in the sky.

Courting pairs of marsh harriers can be seen performing their spectacular 'sky-dancing' displays. The reserve comes alive with the songs of spring migrants including sedge and reed warblers, cuckoos, grasshopper warblers and whitethroats. Swallows and swifts dart across the pools where great crested grebes and other waterfowl prepare their nests.

In summer, the fen meadow comes alive with a rich display of wild flowers including six species of orchids. The reserve is host to a wide variety of butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies. This is the best time of year to spot the spectacular swallowtail butterfly (late May to early July and again in mid-August). Up to 20 kinds of dragonfly can be seen, including willow emerald and the rare Norfolk hawker.

In early autumn, ospreys are regularly seen fishing as they linger on their southward migration. Bearded tits flock together, and thousands of starlings often gather to roost. Marsh harriers gather in groups to roost.

Hundreds of ducks, including teals, gadwalls and shovelers, feed in the reedbed pools. The resident bitterns are joined by visitors from the continent, and may be seen flying over the reeds. Towards dusk, marsh and hen harriers gather to roost.

About Strumpshaw Fen

Habitat

This reserve has the full range of broadland habitats and wildlife. Walk round the reedbeds, woodlands and orchid-rich meadows and you could chance upon marsh harriers, bitterns and kingfishers.

Conservation

Work on our reedbeds includes removing scrub and invasive plants, summer mowing and grazing and seasonal flooding. We are also managing our fen meadow for its flora and breeding snipe by maintaining water levels, clearing rushes, grazing and mowing, and trampling with livestock to create boggy ground.

We are managing our wet grassland for the benefit of wintering waterfowl and breeding waders, using grazing and topping to create suitable sward heights. We also cut back encroaching rushes and scrub and control ditch water levels, while retaining boggy areas and pools.

We are managing our wet woodland for key breeding birds, including Cetti's warblers, willow tits and bullfinches. Our intervention here is minimal, except to control alien plants, protect standing dead wood and keep water levels high enough from April to July.

We are managing our pools, ponds and ditches for the benefit of aquatic flora, wildfowl, otters, water voles and bitterns. Work includes maintaining ditch edges, improving water quality, removing vegetation from open pools and increasing the number of fish.

Site information

Strumpshaw Fen is part of the Mid Yare Valley along with Surlingham, Rockland, Buckenham and Cantley in the Norfolk Broads. The valley protects a mosaic of wetland habitats which is home to bitterns and other important species. Strumpshaw Fen has the designations SSSI, SPA, SAC.

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What people are saying about Strumpshaw Fen

What a glorious visit we had today. We saw not one but THREE Kingfishers!! They even showed us their skills at diving!! Magical. There were Marsh harriers and Egrets in flight, as well as Herons. But the real stars were the magnificent Kingfishers. The staff there are most friendly, welcoming and helpful. We will be visiting often as we are only 3/4 hour away. Can't wait for the next time, definitely worth a visit.

M Jones

Had a great day out with my daddy and sister. Everyone was really nice and helpful. We saw a bittern and a kingfisher, also lots of butterflies and dragonflies. Thank you.

Natasha Mullan

We had a fantastic day out at Strumpshaw Fen. The staff were very friendly and helpful. From the visitor center we saw a bittern, which showed itself on a couple of occasions, and a marsh harrier perched in a tree giving us an excellent sighting. As we were leaving, a small flock of goldcrests landed on a tree close to the visitors center. We will certainly visit again next time we visit Norfolk.

Mr and Mrs Paul Welch

Activities and events

Activities for children and families

Children can explore the wildlife of the reserve all year round with a Wildlife Explorer backpack (£3 per pack).
Pond dipping kit is available to use from Easter to October Half-Term (£2 per kit).
Additional seasonal family trails are provided on most school holidays.

Leisure activities

Visit the Yare valley and experience cycling on quiet country lanes with views of open rural landscapes, meandering rivers and some fantastic wildlife along the way. You can join our Nordik walking courses or kayaking adventure events.

At our Strumpshaw Fen nature reserve, you can arrange for a warden to take you on your own unique wildlife safari. Each visit is tailored to suit you and you can even set foot in areas not normally accessible to the public! Prices start from £80 per group - please give us a call to discuss pricing in more detail.