Sutton Fen RSPB
Sutton Fen in the Norfolk Broads is a timeless and beautiful corner of the English countryside and home to a stunning array of birds, insects and plants. The purchase of Sutton Fen brings the RSPB reserve count to 200!
Sutton Fen is situated in the upper reaches of the River Ant, one of the five principle river systems within The Broads. It occupies the basin of the extinct Sutton Broad, a medieval peat cutting, which evolved from open water to fen at the beginning of the 20th century. Past management of the peat soils combined with natural water flows have resulted in the development here of the most diverse pattern of fen vegetation of all the Broadland valleys. It provides the only known remaining sites for several plants and uncommon species of fauna that were formerly more widespread in the Broads.
SSSI
Sutton Fen is designated as Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Special Protection Area and candidate Special Area of Conservation. It is a mosaic of Biodiversity Action Plan priority habitats: fens, reedbed and wet woodland.
Bird highlights: The site also has a nationally important breeding bird assemblage with breeding bittern, garganey (a small duck), marsh harrier, lesser redpoll, bearded tit, grasshopper and Cetti's warbler.
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Sutton Fen News |
Sutton Fen is nationally important for its fenland invertebrate fauna, and a considerable number of rare and notable species have been recorded here. These include Desmoulin's whorl snail, Norfolk hawker and common hawker dragonflies, and the variable damselfly. It has a large population of swallowtail butterflies, and there are 45 species of moths that are considered rare or notable.
Sedge is currently cut on a four-year rotation with one quarter of the available sedge being removed each year. This sedge-cutting regime is still commercially viable, with the sedge being used for thatching. The restoration and ongoing management of sedge beds will create extra habitat features to support some of the key species at Sutton Fen.
The purcharse of Sutton Few was made possible by a grant of £465300 from the Tubney Charitable Trust, £50000 from Garfield Weston Foundation and a very substantial legacy bequeathed to the RSPB by the late Miss Lucy Frances Leake; their donations have enabled the RSPB to secure this site for nature conservation and for future generations to enjoy.
Sutton Fen is the latest of three recent major land acquisitions, which bring the RSPB's motto, For birds, for people, for ever, powerfully to life.
Sutton Fen image courtesy of Ben Hall (rspb-images.com)
These maps are intended as a guideline only; you must check the exact location of the reserve yourself. Wildlife Extra assumes no responsibility for the accuracy or usefulness of the information on this website.
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