“ Visitors new to the Fen are astounded when they find out about its recent history.
The open landscape gives a rare sense of space and people comment on the primeval feel to the site.”

Redgrave & Lopham Fen is the largest remaining river valley fen in England and the source of the River Waveney. As one of the most important wetlands in Europe, Redgrave and Lopham Fen now has international protection. As well as open fen the reserve includes a mixture of wet heathland, open water, scrub and woodland. The underlying acid and alkaline geology has resulted in characteristic wildlife including many species now rare in Britain.

Historically local people dug peat for fuel, harvested reed and sedge for thatching and grazed the drier margins with cattle. With the demise of these activities, together with post-war drainage and water abstraction, the fen began to dry out and degrade.

The Trust’s restoration project has included the reinstatement of traditional management, grazing with a herd of resilient Polish tarpan ponies, cattle and sheep, peat scraping to expose fresh wet peat and the re-siting of a public water abstraction borehole. This has resulted in rehydration of the fen and the gradual return of its wonderful wildlife. Already wetland species such as butterwort, marsh fragrant orchid and cross-leaved heath have made a comeback as have breeding snipe.

Wildlife at Redgrave & Lopham Fen	Visitor centre and fen product sales	Educational visits at the fen
Wildlife Watch at the fen	Volunteering opportunities	Fen ecology and restoration
Grazing at the fen	Fen trails	Discover species at the fen - flash game