“A tapestry of different habitats and part of a once extensive Broadland landscape.”

Oulton Marshes is a jigsaw of short fen meadow, 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 fen meadows lie on top of deep layers of waterlogged peat and support many rare plants. 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.

The taller fen contains plants such as marsh pea and marsh sowthistle that are rare outside the Broads. Breeding birds like grasshopper, reed and sedge warbler and the rare Cetti’s warbler have also settled in.

The network of dykes which divide the marshes are full of aquatic wildlife and are noted for dragonfly and damselfly. The margins support a range of wetland plants including brookweed, arrowhead and purple loosestrife.

The sedge warbler can be identified by its pale eye stripe

The reserve is managed through a combination of mowing and grazing. Scrub and dyke clearance is carried out regularly to maintain the open fen habitat and waterways.

Much of the reserve is too wet for public access, but can be comfortably viewed from the Fisher Row footpath which runs alongside. One of the marshes, Robinson’s Marsh, was purchased by the Trust as a result of a legacy by Mrs Ruth Robinson.

Other Trust reserves nearby: Camps Heath, Carlton Marshes, Castle Marshes, Foxburrow Wood, North Cove

STAR SPECIES
Marsh pea
Grasshopper & Cetti’s warbler