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Church Farm was left to Suffolk Wildlife Trust as a nature reserve by Philip Elsey who farmed here for over 40 years. Thanks to his stewardship, the farm is a wildlife haven with flower-rich marshes that were left un-drained, grassland areas that support an abundance of insects and copses of wet and dry woodland.

The marshes are quite peaty with a wide range of plants including southern marsh orchid, marsh marigold and ragged robin. The dykes are also important for wetland plants and dragonflies.

The marshes and grassland are maintained in the traditional way by grazing to safeguard the rich mix of plants and provide a good supply of insects for skylark, linnet, yellowhammer and other farmland birds. In the drier areas, grazing creates a mosaic of short turf, longer grass and patches of scrub. This is particularly valuable for grass snake and provides good hunting for barn owl.

Pockets of woodland across the farm add to the variety of wildlife habitat. Down in the valley, alders thrive alongside the stream (a tributary of the River Blyth). Sedges and shade tolerant plants grow in the dark damp conditions beneath the trees.

The large amount of dead wood on the woodland floor is characteristic of wet woodland and supports a wide variety of invertebrates. Wet woodlands were once widespread in East Anglia but it is now a rare and fragmented habitat.

A small sand and gravel pit brings yet more wildlife interest and the exposed south-facing sandy sides of the pit are used by burrowing bees, solitary wasps and other insects.

Other reserves nearby: Winks Meadow, Dunwich Forest.

Hazel nuttery

A small traditional hazel nuttery is another unusual feature with carpets of snowdrops amongst the fallen autumn leaves.

Special dates for your diaries

Creating a Living Landscape for Suffolk

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