Our nature reserves

Discover Hazlewood Marshes

Nestled on the edgelands of Suffolk, where sea meets land and salt meets marsh, Hazlewood Marshes encapsulates the changing ebb and flow of the coastline, sometimes gentle – but sometimes bold, dangerous, dramatic. It is here that wildlife thrives.

To stroll around Hazlewood Marshes is to witness the everchanging order and chaos of nature at work. When this extraordinary nature reserve was purchased in 1991, it was one of the last undrained freshwater grazing marshes on the Suffolk coast. Miles of freshwater dykes, lagoons and reedbeds interspersed with species-rich meadows, supporting an array of invertebrates and birds.

All that changed in 2013. As autumn progressed, the high tides and strong winds took their toll, with St Jude’s Storm in October causing the seawall to fail. It was clear that these manmade defences wouldn’t last forever, despite recent repairs. Then, in the dead of night on 5th December 2013, an unprecedented tidal surge significantly overtopped the seawall. Under immense pressure from the volume of water now inside the reserve, the defences gave way, effortlessly blowing out a section of the wall.

Now at the mercy of seawater, the ecology of Hazlewood changed dramatically. How to manage these changes best for wildlife was the key question: to fight the damage or embrace it, letting nature lead the way? In the end, there was only one choice. Species disappeared overnight, including bittern, marsh harrier, water rail, and many plants and flowers. But with careful consideration and help from partners

Redshank.

Thank you Thanks to donations from members and gifts in Wills, we can purchase, restore and look after land for wildlife.

Dunlin.

ADOBE STOCK

The views across Hazlewood Marshes showcase the best of the Suffolk coast: wide skies, wild lands and shimmering waters.

STEVE AYLWARD

like Natural England, it became clear that an intertidal ecosystem could work for wildlife and people, offering an amazing habitat and providing valuable natural saltmarsh defences against further flooding.

Since then, the saltmarsh has spread out, supporting new and burgeoning populations of invertebrates and plants. Every tide brings new seeds, eggs, species. Whilst the skeletons of trees look stark and salt-blasted, marsh

DID YOU KNOW Pioneering

research at Hazlewood is showing the important role that saltmarshes can play in supporting coastal fish populations. Pipefish, bass, grey mullet, sticklebacks, common gobies, flounder and sand spelt have all been recorded, with fry using the pools in the nature reserve as a nursery to shelter from the main estuary.

An intertidal ecosystem offers an amazing habitat and valuable defences

samphire is sprouting up, hopefully to be joined by sea lavender and sea aster. The extensive mudflats are perfect for roosting waders and ducks.

A winter walk here will contrast a vast, flat and shimmering landscape with a cacophony of sound and colour. The site is more popular than ever with wintering wildfowl and waders, including huge flocks of black-tailed godwits and dunlin. Last autumn 33 spoonbills were recorded at once and ospreys use the site on migration.

Later in the spring, listen for nightingales serenading from the scrub around the edges. Newly-built islands support thriving populations of waders, like breeding redshank and avocet, the latter fledging at least 20 chicks from 10-11 pairs in 2021.

Whether you want panoramic views across the Ramsar-designated Alde estuary or an intimate view of thousands of roosting waders, ducks and geese, this mesmerising landscape is constantly shifting and will keep you coming back time and again. Blacktailed godwit.

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1 Hazlewood Marshes

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Location: Marsh Lane, Aldeburgh IP17 1PG. How to get there: The reserve lies to the south west of the A1094 road, approximately halfway between Snape and Aldeburgh. There is a small car park just off the road for up to six cars, five minutes from the reserve. Please do not block the access road. Opening times: Open all year, dawn to dusk. Access: Please use caution if visiting around high tide a day or two either side of a full or new moon, as the path to the hide can be covered for a short period. Sorry, not suitable for wheelchairs. Phone for information: 01473 890089. Email: info@suffolkwildlifetrust.org Website: suffolkwildlifetrust.org/ hazlewoodmarshes

TOP WILDLIFE TO SPOT

Black-tailed godwit: This long-legged, long-billed wader looks greyish-brown in winter, but will glow russet-red in breeding plumage. Teal: Tiny teal are dabbling ducks, often seen feeding along the muddy edges of water. Look for the green mask on the face.

Grey mullet:

Whilst only the osprey-eyed will spot a fish in water, adult grey mullet are found in the deeper pools. Look for a splash!

THINGS TO DO NEARBY

† Enjoy Aldeburgh town centre, a five-minute drive away, including artisan tea shops or fish-and-chips on the beach. † Walk the Sailor’s Path from Aldeburgh to Snape, a three-to-four-hour stroll taking in our Snape Marshes nature reserve. † Admire striking local buildings, including Snape Maltings concert hall and the ancient St Botolph's Church at Iken.

More Suffolk Wildlife Trust nature reserves for a great winter day out

Nature reserves Larger reserves Larger reserves with refreshments & toilets

BROADS NATIONAL PARK

A146

Lowesto

A1065

A11

THE BRECKS Mildenhall

A134

Ixworth

2

Newmarket

A14

Bury St Edmunds

3

A143

A14

Stowmarket

Haverhill

A134

Lavenham

Sudbury Hadleigh Diss

A140

Eye

Needham Market

Woodbridge

Ipswich

DEDHAM VALE AONB

A12 A14

Halesworth Southwold

A12

Saxmundham

1

SUFFOLK COAST & HEATHS AONB Aldeburgh

Felixstowe

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2 Mickle Mere

Why now?

Mickle Mere’s network of islands and scrapes has seen numbers of breeding, wintering and passage birds soar. Teal, wigeon, gadwall and shoveler are frequent winter visitors, whilst the patient might also see Mickle Mere’s reclusive otters. Viewing is from a single hide.

Know before you go

Location: Ixworth IP31 2NB. Park at Pakenham Water Mill. Open: Open all year, dawn to dusk. Wildlife to spot: Otter, teal, wigeon, gadwall, shoveler, lapwing, greenshank. Find out more: suffolkwildlifetrust.org/ micklemere

The lowdown

At 17 hectares (42 acres), this glistening mosaic of wet meadows, open water and sedge fringed ditches boasts a rich variety of birdlife visiting the site all year round. Lying in a valley next to the River Black Bourn, the very existence of Mickle Mere is something of a fluke. When the Ixworth bypass was built in the early 1990s across the north west corner of the site, a new sluice network to connect the ditches to the river failed, resulting in regular floods. What was once improved grazing marsh soon became the wonderful wetland habitat we have today. Mickle Mere has benefited from a gift in the Will of Bill Payn.

The purchase of Mickle Mere was helped by a legacy gift from eminent Suffolk birder Bill Payn.

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3 Bull’s Wood

Why now?

This is the perfect place to usher in the spring as the woodland floor lights up with a carpet of early blooming wildflowers, including the rare oxlip, early purple orchids and wood anemone.

Know before you go

Location: Bury St Edmunds IP30 0HD. There is no parking at the reserve. Please park safely in the village of Cockfield. Open: Open all year, dawn to dusk. Wildlife to spot: Roe deer, marsh tit, treecreeper, oxlip, wood anemone, early purple orchid. Find out more: suffolkwildlifetrust.org/ bullswood

The lowdown

Anyone visiting between March and June will be treated to abundant displays of early purple orchid, spurge laurel, wood anemone and herb-paris. Birds such as marsh tits, long-tailed tits and treecreeper can be regularly seen, with roe deer haunting the trees as well. Look for their white heart-shaped rumps or hoof prints in the mud. The wood is famed for its rare springtime oxlips, which are limited to just 100 sites in East Anglia. Carpeting swathes of the woodland floor in buttery yellow, they were chosen as Suffolk's county flower.

Info & maps for all reserves

suffolkwildlifetrust.org/naturereserves