Martlesham Wilds - Steve Aylward

A blue sky with scattered clouds over looking low tides at martlesham wilds

Jesse Walker

Martlesham Wilds - Steve Aylward

Corn marigolds at Martlesham Wilds - Steve Aylward

Martlesham Wilds - Steve Aylward

Martlesham Wilds Nature Reserve

A space for nature to recover on the banks of the River Deben, Martlesham Wilds is at the very beginning of its transformation from an organic farm to a nature reserve.

Location

Church Lane

Woodbridge

Suffolk

IP12 4PQ

OS Map Reference

TM260469

View on What3Words

tinned.must.cabbage

Get directions

Know before you go

Size

117 hectares

Entry fee

Free

Parking information

There is a small car park off Church Lane, near St Mary’s Church. Please note that the Church uses the car park every 1st and 3rd Sunday morning of the month (10am-1pm) so parking will be limited. Details of alternative parking below.

Walking trails

Public footpaths.

Please note that the grazing marsh can be wet following heavy rain.

Access

Dogs: We ask for all dogs to be kept on a short lead to help the wildlife to remain uninterupted. Find out more about why we ask dogs are kept on a lead.

Footpaths: Please stay to the public footpaths. Tracks can be wet and bumpy so are not currently suitable for wheelchairs or buggies.

Alternative parking: This is limited parking available on the reserve. Alternative parking is available in Martlesham, or we recommend using public transport via bus routes 63 (Framlingham), 65 (Rendlesham), 66 (Ipswich), and 73 (village links).

Drones: No drone flying without express permission. Permission will only be granted in exceptional circumstances.

Group visits: If you'd like to visit this reserve as a group, please contact us in advance at teamwilder@suffolkwildlifetrust.org

Dogs

On a lead

When to visit

Opening times

Open at all times

Best time to visit

Low tide

About the reserve

A space for nature to recover.

From the river and salt marshe, the fields sweep gently upwards, framed by thick hedges and ancient oak, eventually leading to precious woodland.

Situated between Martlesham Heath, Woodbridge and Waldringfield - and across the river from the burial site of Anglo-Saxon royalty at Sutton Hoo - this is a landscape rich in nature and brimming with history. As an internationally important estuary for waders and wildfowl - curlew, shelduck, lapwing and redshank are often seen feeding on the marsh and saltings.

Already home to a wonderful array of plants, animals and invertebrates, under our stewardship, the fields will gradually ‘wild’ into an intrinsic mosaic of natural habitats, maintained by grazing. Our wardens will be enhancing the natural environment by restoring existing ponds, establishing new ponds, and creating shallow wetland scrapes that will all enhance the landscape for wildlife. The emergence of this new pastoral landscape will be thrilling to watch as nature is allowed to recover and restablish.