“There is a wonderful sense of seclusion.The changing hues from winter silver to the dark gold of an autumn sunset, add beautiful seasonal subtleties.”

This is a gem of a site for the fen enthusiast. The waterlogged peat allows unique plants and animals to flourish. Bristling stands of saw sedge, reed and rushes dominate with scatterings of rare plants such as black bog rush, southern, marsh fragrant and early marsh orchid, adder’s tongue fern, twayblade and bogbean. Hemp agrimony and the azure blue Devil’s-bit scabious flower later in the season.

Mowing and grazing prevent the fen from being engulfed by woodland and create perfect conditions for the fen plants to thrive.

In spring you will be welcomed by a riot of birdsong including the melody of breeding nightingale. The fen is full of sedge and reed warbler in summer and woodpecker use the older trees throughout the year.

Devil’s-bit scabious

Hopton Fen is leased by Suffolk Wildlife Trust from Hopton Combined Charities.

Other Trust reserves nearby: Market Weston Fen, Redgrave & Lopham Fen, Thelnetham Fen

Reed warbler have a bounding, jerky flight

STAR SPECIES
Marsh fragrant orchid
Reed warbler