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  • Surlingham Church Marsh

Surlingham Church Marsh

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Address
Surlingham Church Marsh, Church Ln, Norwich NR14 7DF
Grid ref
TG304066
What3Words
throwaway.headset.ships

This small nature reserve is a great place for marshland bird watching on a circular walk around reedbeds, fens and pools. In spring and summer, marsh harriers, kingfishers and warblers can be seen, while wildflowers provide a riot of colour. The site floods in winter, attracting bitterns and gadwalls.

Plan your visit

Opening times

Open at all times.

Entrance charges

Free entrance to RSPB members
Yes
Adults
Free
Children
Free

Facilities

  • Viewing point
  • Nature trails

Accessibility

  • Full accessibility information (external website)

How to get here

By train

If you wish to travel by train, it is best to stop at Norwich station and then take the bus, as below.

By bus

The service 001 from Norwich to Surlingham village runs from Monday to Saturday. Operated by Anglian Coaches, from All Saints Green, John Lewis layby.

By bike

The marsh is on the Yare Valley cycle route, Norwich to Reedham, and National Cycle Network interim route 1.

By road

From Surlingham village centre, head west via Walnut Hill for 0.6 mile (1 km), then turn right into Church Lane. A footpath leads directly down to the reserve from the church.

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

There is an alternative route on foot, via riverside public footpath (Wherryman's Way) from Surlingham Ferry or Bramerton. If visiting by boat, there are mooring facilities at Bramerton Common, near Woods End (1.5km) by footpath.

Get directions from Google Maps
View on What3Words
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Contact Surlingham Church Marsh

  • Surlingham Church Marsh, Church Ln, Norwich NR14 7DF
  • strumpshaw@rspb.org.uk
  • 01603 715191
  • @RSPB_Strumpshaw
  • Find us on facebook

What will you see?

Our star species

    Flying Hobby illustration

    Hobby

    Hobbies are falcons which arrive at Surlingham in late April, leaving in September.

    Perched Kingfisher illustration

    Kingfisher

    Kingfishers are a year-round attraction at Surlingham Church Marsh, especially active in spring and summer.

    Marsh Harrier male in flight

    Marsh harrier

    Look for marsh harriers in spring as pairs perform their breathtaking 'skydancing' displays high in the sky.

    Sedge warbler

    Sedge warbler

    Another warbler that returns from Africa in spring, the sedge warbler is easy to see.

    Water rail

    Water rail

    Watch for water rails emerging to feed on the edge of the channels and pool within the reedbed.

Seasonal highlights

  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter

Courting marsh harriers can be seen performing their spectacular 'sky-dancing' displays. The reserve comes alive with the songs of spring migrants including sedge, reed and grasshopper warblers, cuckoos and whitethroats.

In summer, the fen is filled with a rich display of wild flowers. The reserve is host to a wide variety of butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies. Kingfishers may be seen around the pools or along the river. Hobbies can be spotted hunting dragonflies and marsh harriers and barn owls bring food to their young.

In early autumn, wading birds can be seen on the reedbed pools where with luck you may catch a glimpse of a water rail feeding. With the first winter floods, teals and other ducks begin to arrive for the winter.

 

Ducks including teals, gadwalls and shovelers, feed in the reedbed pools. Winter
thrushes such as redwings and fieldfares may be seen feeding on berries in the scrub surrounding the fen as can bullfinches. Flocks of siskins, goldfinch and redpolls can also be seen feeding in the tall alder trees.

About Surlingham Church Marsh

Habitat

Surlingham Church Marsh is made up of habitats including reedbeds, fens and pools which attract marsh harriers, kingfishers, water rails, and reed and sedge warblers in spring and summer. Wetland wild flowers provide a riot of colour. The site floods in winter, attracting bitterns, gadwalls and shovelers.

Conservation

Work on the 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

Small nature reserve for marshland bird watching and a circular walk around reedbeds, fens and pools.

Latest forum posts

  • Swans from Fen hide 18th January 2020

    Posted 16/02/2020 by HizerKite
  • Swan from Fen hide 18th January 2020

    Posted 16/02/2020 by HizerKite
  • Snipe, I missed focus a little. Saw 2 of them. Love Strumpshaw :)

    From Fen Hide at Strumpsh aw. 21st September 2019

    Posted 22/09/2019 by HizerKite
  • Kingfisher from fen hide11th August 2019

    Posted 13/08/2019 by HizerKite
read our forum

Latest blog posts

  • Recent Sightings - June highlights from our guide in the hide Sean Locke

    Spring was fairly warm for the most part this year and with summer now here, it has only gotten hotter and hotter. The birds had been fairly busy feeding their young and we've been overjoyed with species such as our marsh harriers which have had a gr...

    Posted 29/06/2022 by StrumpshawFen
  • Step back in time and take a wander through the rich fen meadow at Strumpshaw Fen by Barry Madden

    The Meadow Trail at RSPB Strumpshaw Fen is always full of interest. It is a real delight to wander along the mown paths surrounded by a colourful community of wetland plants such as ragged robin, meadow buttercup, delicate, pale lilac cuckooflower, s...

    Posted 28/06/2022 by StrumpshawFen
  • Recent Sightings from our Guide in the Hide Sean Locke

    May Sightings SWALLOWTAIL SEASON HAS BEGUN! I'm sure many of you will be happy to hear that and have been making your way to Strumpshaw to see these rare and beautiful butterflies.  Swallowtail on yellow flag iris in front of Reception Hide After a t...

    Posted 31/05/2022 by StrumpshawFen
  • News from the Welcome Hub - a new Welcome back in Reception by Barry Madden

    Photo: Reception building fully open with our volunteers ready to welcome you in. After what seems an interminably long time, the reception hide at the Fen has been fully opened. The makeshift annex served its purpose well, but in my mind was always ...

    Posted 27/05/2022 by StrumpshawFen
read our blog posts

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