{"id":15047,"date":"2022-04-01T07:38:59","date_gmt":"2022-04-01T05:38:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.countryfile.com\/?p=110751"},"modified":"2022-04-01T07:58:17","modified_gmt":"2022-04-01T05:58:17","slug":"walk-strumpshaw-fen-norfolk","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/rss_feed\/walk-strumpshaw-fen-norfolk\/","title":{"rendered":"Walk: Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Anthony Toole\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Friday, 01 April 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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You never quite know what to expect when you arrive at Strumpshaw Fen<\/a>. On one occasion, you may be greeted by a jack snipe from the visitor centre hide, and on another day, a small flock of bearded tits<\/a> flying back and forth between reedbeds that bordered the lake inlet in front of the same hide.<\/p>\n

Situated nine miles east of Norwich, this RSPB reserve is reached along a narrow road from Brundall.<\/p>\n

\""Bird\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Visit Strumpshaw in spring when marsh harriers perform their spectacular sky dance\/Credit: Tosh, Alamy<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Strumpshaw Fen walk<\/h2>\n

3.5 miles\/5.6km | 2.5 hours | easy<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a01. B<\/span>rilliant bluebells<\/b><\/p>\n

From the car park, carefully cross the railway line (still in use) to the visitor centre, which is small but provides light refreshments, toilet facilities and binocular hire. Enjoy your coffee and cake from the raised platform, which doubles as a viewing hide from which you can first survey the extensive wetland.<\/p>\n

A trail leads south from here through a bluebell<\/a> wood busy with finches<\/a>, tits<\/a>, robins<\/a> and noisy wrens, to where the path splits.<\/p>\n

\""Woodland\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The route leads through bluebell woods\/Credit: John Morrison, Alamy<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

\u00a02.\u00a0<\/span>Butterfly detour<\/b><\/p>\n

For a diversion of a mile, you can continue on the woodland trail as far as the bank of the River Yare. Return through a flower-rich meadow, in which orchids and other blooms attract peacock and brimstone butterflies<\/a>, with milk parsley providing food for the caterpillars of the rare swallowtail butterfly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\""Big\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Swallowtail butterflies are among several species that can be seen at the fen\/Credit: Cephas Picture Library, Alamy<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

3.\u00a0<\/span>Fen hide<\/b><\/p>\n

Back on the longer Fen Trail (2.5 miles), head south-west, following the southern margin of the reedbeds. Another short detour from the trail brings you to Fen Hide, which again looks out across a pool. This is the best viewpoint from which to obtain a first sighting of marsh harriers circling over the reeds, and Chinese water deer tiptoeing along the pool\u2019s edge. These small deer were introduced into Britain in the 19th century and flourished to the extent that their Norfolk numbers now comprise around 10% of the world\u2019s total population.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You might also hear the booming call of a bittern. These secretive birds nest here, so you could be lucky enough to glimpse one of their clutches in the undergrowth.<\/p>\n

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