Carlton Marshes Nature Reserve

Marsh harrier - Andrew Parkinson/2020VISION

Marsh harrier - Andrew Parkinson/2020VISION

Carlton Marshes nature reserve Suffolk Wildlife Trust

By Steve Aylward

Suffolk Wildlife Trust

Chinese water deer by Brian Block

Suffolk Wildlife Trust

Lapwing by Mark Hamblin

Carlton Marshes nature reserve Suffolk Wildlife Trust

By Steve Aylward

Fen raft spider on dew covered nursery web

Fen raft spider nursery web - Vincent Forte

Carlton Marshes nature reserve Suffolk Wildlife Trust

Carlton Marshes by Steve Aylward

Suffolk Wildlife Trust

Swallows by Alan Price

Suffolk Wildlife Trust Carlton Marshes

Carlton Marshes new visitor centre in construction (photo: Cowper Griffith Architects)

Suffolk Wildlife Trust

Scrape creation at Peto's Marsh, Carlton Marshes - John Lord

With the National Lottery Heritage Fund's investment of over £4 million in our vision for 1000 acres of wildness, the transformation of Carlton Marshes into the southern gateway to the Broads National Park is complete. As water flows back onto the land, nature is taking over once again.

Location

Carlton Marshes, Burnt Hill Lane, Carlton Colville NR33 8HU
Lowestoft
Suffolk

OS Map Reference

TM508920

View on What3Words

A static map of Carlton Marshes Nature Reserve

Know before you go

Size
405 hectares
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Entry fee

Free. Charges apply for school visits to the Visitor Centre.
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Parking information

Car park suggested donation £3

Bicycle parking

Yes

Grazing animals

Seasonal cattle grazing.

Please refer to the link in walking trails below for more information.

Walking trails

Do’s and don’ts when walking with livestock       
Wheelchairs and pushchairs can use a firm path around part of the marsh including easy access gates. 

Oulton Marshes address: Church Lane, Oulton, NR32 3JP

View trail map

Access

Wheelchairs and pushchairs can use a firm path around part of the marsh including easy access gates. Parts of this reserve are accessible by mobility scooter. Fully accessible Visitor Centre.

Carlton Marshes has good public transport links with buses stopping near the end of Burnt Hill Lane on the A146 and Oulton Broad South and North stations being a 20 or 30 minute walk respectively.

The reserve can also be accessed from The Waveney River Centre - which offers overnight accommodation and supports the work of Suffolk Wildlife Trust. 

No drone flying without express permission.
(Permission will only be granted in exceptional circumstances)

Find out why we ask you to keep your dog on a short lead at most of our reserves and why this is important for wildlife conservation. Why we ask dogs are kept on a lead

Dogs

On a lead

A Public Space Protection Order requires dogs to be kept on leads.

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Facilities

Visitor centre
Bird hides
Toilets
Shop
Cafe/refreshments
Picnic area
Accessible toilet
Baby changing facilities
Outdoor play area
Electric car charging point
Wifi
Disabled parking
Accessible trails

When to visit

Opening times

Daily dawn to dusk

Best time to visit

All year round

About the reserve

An astounding 28 species of dragonfly have been spotted here. Carlton Marshes is situated in the Waveney Valley at the southern tip of the Broads National Park, on the Suffolk-Norfolk boarder. It comprises a jigsaw of grazing marsh, fens, peat pools, short fen meadow, tall fen (called 'tall litter fen'), dykes, pools and scrub. Mostly man-made, these habitats have developed over hundreds of years of traditional management and now host specialised wildlife.  

The flower studded marshes drained by a system of dykes and grazed by cattle in summer creates a paradise for marshland birds and birds of prey including hobby and marsh harrier. In early summer there is a fabulous display of southern marsh orchid, marsh marigold and ragged-robin, together with the scarcer bogbean, bog pimpernel and marsh cinquefoil. Water vole may also be seen near the visitor centre and in and around the dykes, along with plants including water soldier and frogbit. These habitats are ideal for the rare fen raft spider which was successfully reintroduced to the reserve in 2012. Carlton & Oulton Marshes are also one of the best places in the UK for a range of freshwater snails which reflects the good water quality in the dykes.

Both Sprat’s and Round Water are the result of peat digging carried out long ago. The open water in both these pools is heaving with life including insectivorous bladderwort. This unusual plant lives off unsuspecting water fleas which it traps and digests in bladder-like sacs under water.

The reserve is also one of the best sites in East Anglia to see grasshopper warblers. The reed and sedge beds along the river wall make ideal nesting cover for reed and sedge warblers, bearded tit, Cetti’s warbler and marsh harrier. The grazing marshes are also ideal for wintering wildfowl and breeding waders with lapwing and redshank displaying through the spring and large numbers of wigeon, teal and snipe in winter.

Group visits

We welcome pre-booked groups or parties to Carlton Marshes. Please let us know at least two weeks in advance of your arrival so we can be sure to accommodate you. If there’s an activity you’d like to take part in, or perhaps take a private tour or function, this can be arranged. Please give us a call on 01502 359480 or send an email to carlton.centre@suffolkwildlifetrust.org

Contact us

Environmental designation

National Park
Natura 2000
Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)

The story of Carlton Marshes

This wonderful animation tells the story of Carlton Marshes past and present – many thanks to Tim Britton and Heritage Fund:

Explore Carlton Marshes from the air

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