Hazelwood Marshes
"Surrounded by a haunting, evocative landscape – the place that time forgot"
Hazelwood Marshes are one of the last undrained grazing marshes on the Suffolk coast and among the most important for breeding wading birds including redshank, snipe and lapwing and wintering wildfowl such as white-fronted geese. Marsh harrier, barn owl and avocet also nest here.
Looking out over the Alde estuary from the Eric Hosking hide (built in memory of the late photographer) gives great views of birds taking advantage of the flooding tide. Keep your eyes peeled for pintail, wigeon, black-tailed godwit and avocet. Cattle graze the marshes to maintain the tussocky grass favoured by breeding waders. In other areas grass is grazed shorter to provide winter grazing for wildfowl.
A network of fresh and brackish water dykes dissects the grazing marsh. These act like wet fences to control the cattle and provide a valuable wildlife habitat. In some stretches of fresh water the flowerless stems of stonewort are just visible below the surface. This is not a true plant, but an algae which flourishes in clean, still water. In the brackish areas, look out for soft hornwort and horned pondweed.Reed fringes are home to breeding birds such as sedge and reed warbler and bearded tit, as well as dragonflies like the black-tailed skimmer and broad-bodied Chaser .
Other Trust reserves nearby: Sizewell Belts
Special dates for your diaries
Best time to visit
Nov–Feb
Site Manager:
Mick's blog - follow Mick's work at Trust nature reserves.
- Address
Near Aldeburgh
Map › - Grid reference
TM 435575 - Map
OS Landranger 156 - Parking
Off Aldeburgh Rd, 0.5km from reserve - Size
62.4 hectares (156 acres) - Local Facilities
Snape, Aldeburgh - Walking conditions
Wet in winter - Dogs
No dogs please - Status
SSSI - Site of Special Scientific InterestA site of national importance identified by Natural England for its ecological or geological value.
Natura 2000 siteSites of European importance which host priority habitat types or priority species which are particularly at risk.
