A vital sanctuary for rare wildlife is celebrating 50 years of conservation.
RSPB Strumpshaw Fen, a 450-hectare reserve in the Norfolk Broads, has spent five decades supporting threatened species including bitterns, cranes, lapwings, and redshanks.
The reserve also plays a crucial role in protecting the swallowtail butterfly, thanks to conservation work encouraging the growth of milk parsley, their caterpillar’s preferred food plant.
Helen Deavin, nature reserve manager, said: "Strumpshaw Fen has transformed and grown into a destination to truly connect with nature in Norfolk.
"It really is a wonderful, even magical place that brings visitors back time and time again to explore nature, learn about wildlife, and find an oasis of calm away from everyday life."
The RSPB began managing the site in the mid-1970s, and it has since become a haven for a rich variety of wildlife including otters, water voles, fen raft spiders, and rare plants such as sharp-leaved pondweed.
Strumpshaw Fen is part of an internationally significant migratory route and could become part of a future UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Share