A real dragonfly experience with a wealth
of flowering aquatic plants and wading birds – what more can you ask for!”

Castle Marshes is a Broadland site with grazing marsh, fen and freshwater dykes. In winter the marshes are flooded to create expanses of open water for wintering wildfowl that swell the resident populations of wigeon, teal, shoveler and gadwall. Birds of prey like marsh harrier and hobby can often be seen quartering the marshes.

In and around the sparkling, unpolluted dykes dividing the marshes, plants like rare water soldier, frogbit and flowering rush hold forth. Norfolk hawker dragonfly – a national rarity which breeds here – can be seen hunting along the river wall between June and September, along with the blue-tailed damselfly and scarce chaser.

Water levels are kept high in spring to accommodate breeding lapwing and redshank. Traditional cattle grazing and dyke management are constantly being used to improve the breeding success of these wading birds. Redshank chicks can be spotted feeding in the damp grassy hollows left by winter flooding, gorging on the variety of insects.

The blue tailed damselfly is one of the most common	Round-headed cone rush

The areas of reed and taller vegetation between the river wall and the marshes are home to breeding birds including reed, sedge and grasshopper warbler.

As access to this reserve is restricted please contact Suffolk Wildlife Trust before visiting. The river wall is a public footpath and is therefore open at all times.

Other Trust reserves nearby: North Cove

STAR SPECIES
Norfolk hawker dragonfly
Frogbit
Water soldier