North Warren RSPB reserve
Encyclopedia
North Warren RSPB reserve is a nature reserve
run by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
(RSPB) in Suffolk
, England
. It lies on the Suffolk coast on the north edge of the town of Aldeburgh
and to the south of Thorpeness
and includes the Aldringham Walks area of heathland to the north. It is within the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
(AONB) and the Suffolk Heritage Coast area. Noted for its populations of Eurasian Bittern, European Nightjar
and other bird species, it covers a range of coastal habitats and is protected with SSSI
, SPA
conservation status.
, reed bed
, shingle
, dune
and woodland. Rare shingle flora such as Sea Pea, Sea Kale, Sea Holly and Yellow Horned-poppy can be found at North Warren. Key conservation bird species found at the site include Eurasian Bittern, European Nightjar, Nightingale
and Western Marsh Harrier
.
It is also an important over wintering site for wildfowl including large numbers of Eurasian Wigeon, Common Teal
and a flock of Greater White-fronted Geese. In 2007, three marsh harrier chicks fledged from three nests and seven nitghtjars, 23 pairs of Woodlark
, seven pairs of Dartford Warbler
and three booming bitterns were recorded.
Mammals found at the site include European Otter
, European Water Vole, European Badger and European Rabbit
, and small numbers of Red Deer
and Muntjac
can be seen. The reptiles Adder
, Slow-worm
and Common Lizard
are present in heath
areas, while the amphibians Common Frog
, Common Toad
, Smooth Newt
and Palmate Newt
can be found in wetland
areas.
Many insect species can be found at North Warren, with large numbers of dragonfly
and butterfly
in summer months (northern hemisphere
), including the nationally rare Silver-studded Blue
. In 2007, an invasive
insect pest, the wheat bug Nysius huttoni, was found at North Warren for the first time in the UK. Originally from New Zealand
the insect feeds on weeds and crop plants and has since been found at other sites in the UK.
status as part of the 'Leiston - Aldeburgh' SSSI.
Parts of the reserve are also covered by the 'Sandlings' Special Protection Area
(SPA). It also lies within the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
(AONB) and the Suffolk Heritage Coast area.
. The nearest train station is in Saxmundham 6 miles (9.7 km) aways and the Suffolk Coast Cycle route
passes nearby. The long-distance walks
, the Suffolk Coast Path and Sandlings Walk
cross the reserve.
The reserve is open year round with no fee and provides no additional facilities, there is a nearby pay and display
car park and public toilets in Aldeburgh. The trails within the reserve are unpaved and may be unsuitable for wheelchair and buggy users, however much of the reed beds are viewable from the paved path alongside the road next to the reserve. Dogs, other than assistance dogs are only allowed on the public rights of way.
, pillboxes
and trenches were constructed on the heath and tank traps were placed across the marshes as part of the British coastal defences
.
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
run by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Bird Notes and News was first published in April 1903.The title changed to 'Bird Notes' in 1947. In the 1950s, there were four copies per year . Each volume covered two years, spread over three calendar years...
(RSPB) in Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It lies on the Suffolk coast on the north edge of the town of Aldeburgh
Aldeburgh
Aldeburgh is a coastal town in Suffolk, East Anglia, England. Located on the River Alde, the town is notable for its Blue Flag shingle beach and fisherman huts where freshly caught fish are sold daily, and the Aldeburgh Yacht Club...
and to the south of Thorpeness
Thorpeness
Thorpeness is a village in the county of Suffolk, England. It is part of the parish of Aldringham cum Thorpe and is within the Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB.- Development of the community :...
and includes the Aldringham Walks area of heathland to the north. It is within the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is an area of countryside considered to have significant landscape value in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, that has been specially designated by the Countryside Agency on behalf of the United Kingdom government; the Countryside Council for Wales on...
(AONB) and the Suffolk Heritage Coast area. Noted for its populations of Eurasian Bittern, European Nightjar
European Nightjar
The European Nightjar, or just Nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus, is the only representative of the nightjar family of birds in most of Europe and temperate Asia.- Habitat and distribution :...
and other bird species, it covers a range of coastal habitats and is protected with SSSI
Site of Special Scientific Interest
A Site of Special Scientific Interest is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom. SSSIs are the basic building block of site-based nature conservation legislation and most other legal nature/geological conservation designations in Great Britain are based upon...
, SPA
Special Protection Area
A Special Protection Area or SPA is a designation under the European Union Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds.Under the Directive, Member States of the European Union have a duty to safeguard the habitats of migratory birds and certain particularly threatened birds.Together with Special...
conservation status.
Ecology
The 4.43 square kilometres (1.7 sq mi) site covers a mix of coastal habitats, with areas of grassland, lowland heathLowland heath
Lowland Heath is a Biodiversity Action Plan Habitat as it is an ancient wild landscape type. Natural England's Environmental Stewardship scheme describes it as containing dry heath, wet heath and valley mire communities, usually below 250 metres, on acidic soils and shallow peat, typically...
, reed bed
Reed bed
Reed beds are natural habitats found in floodplains, waterlogged depressions andestuaries. Reed beds are part of a succession from young reed colonising open water or wet ground through a gradation of increasingly dry ground...
, shingle
Shingle beach
A shingle beach is a beach which is armoured with pebbles or small- to medium-sized cobbles. Typically, the stone composition may grade from characteristic sizes ranging from two to 200 mm diameter....
, dune
Dune
In physical geography, a dune is a hill of sand built by wind. Dunes occur in different forms and sizes, formed by interaction with the wind. Most kinds of dunes are longer on the windward side where the sand is pushed up the dune and have a shorter "slip face" in the lee of the wind...
and woodland. Rare shingle flora such as Sea Pea, Sea Kale, Sea Holly and Yellow Horned-poppy can be found at North Warren. Key conservation bird species found at the site include Eurasian Bittern, European Nightjar, Nightingale
Nightingale
The Nightingale , also known as Rufous and Common Nightingale, is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but is now more generally considered to be an Old World flycatcher, Muscicapidae...
and Western Marsh Harrier
Western Marsh Harrier
The Western Marsh-harrier is a mid-sized harrier, a bird of prey from temperate and subtropical western Eurasia and adjacent Africa. It is also known as the Eurasian Marsh-harrier....
.
It is also an important over wintering site for wildfowl including large numbers of Eurasian Wigeon, Common Teal
Common Teal
The Eurasian Teal or Common Teal is a common and widespread duck which breeds in temperate Eurasia and migrates south in winter. The Eurasian Teal is often called simply the Teal due to being the only one of these small dabbling ducks in much of its range...
and a flock of Greater White-fronted Geese. In 2007, three marsh harrier chicks fledged from three nests and seven nitghtjars, 23 pairs of Woodlark
Woodlark
The Woodlark is the only lark in the genus Lullula. It breeds across most of Europe, the Middle East Asia and the mountains of north Africa. It is mainly resident in the west of its range, but eastern populations of this passerine bird are more migratory, moving further south in winter...
, seven pairs of Dartford Warbler
Dartford Warbler
The Dartford Warbler, Sylvia undata, is a typical warbler from the warmer parts of western Europe, and northwestern Africa. Its breeding range lies west of a line from southern England to the heel of Italy...
and three booming bitterns were recorded.
Mammals found at the site include European Otter
European Otter
The European Otter , also known as the Eurasian otter, Eurasian river otter, common otter and Old World otter, is a European and Asian member of the Lutrinae or otter subfamily, and is typical of freshwater otters....
, European Water Vole, European Badger and European Rabbit
European Rabbit
The European Rabbit or Common Rabbit is a species of rabbit native to south west Europe and north west Africa . It has been widely introduced elsewhere often with devastating effects on local biodiversity...
, and small numbers of Red Deer
Red Deer
The red deer is one of the largest deer species. Depending on taxonomy, the red deer inhabits most of Europe, the Caucasus Mountains region, Asia Minor, parts of western Asia, and central Asia. It also inhabits the Atlas Mountains region between Morocco and Tunisia in northwestern Africa, being...
and Muntjac
Muntjac
Muntjac, also known as Barking Deer and Mastreani Deer, are small deer of the genus Muntiacus. Muntjac are the oldest known deer, appearing 15–35 million years ago, with remains found in Miocene deposits in France, Germany and Poland....
can be seen. The reptiles Adder
Vipera berus
Vipera berus, the common European adder or common European viper, is a venomous viper species that is extremely widespread and can be found throughout most of Western Europe and all the way to Far East Asia. Known by a host of common names including Common adder and Common viper, adders have been...
, Slow-worm
Anguis fragilis
Anguis fragilis, or slow worm, slow-worm or slowworm, is a limbless reptile native to Eurasia. It is also sometimes referred to as the blindworm or blind worm, though the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds considers this to be incorrect.Slow worms are semi-fossorial lizards spending much...
and Common Lizard
Viviparous lizard
The viviparous lizard or common lizard is a Eurasian lizard. It lives farther north than any other reptile species, and most populations are viviparous , rather than laying eggs as most other lizards do.-Identification:The length of the body is less than...
are present in heath
Heath (habitat)
A heath or heathland is a dwarf-shrub habitat found on mainly low quality acidic soils, characterised by open, low growing woody vegetation, often dominated by plants of the Ericaceae. There are some clear differences between heath and moorland...
areas, while the amphibians Common Frog
Common Frog
The Common Frog, Rana temporaria also known as the European Common Frog or European Common Brown Frog is found throughout much of Europe as far north as well north of the Arctic Circle in Scandinavia and as far east as the Urals, except for most of Iberia, southern Italy, and the southern Balkans...
, Common Toad
Common Toad
The common toad or European toad is an amphibian widespread throughout Europe, with the exception of Iceland, Ireland and some Mediterranean islands...
, Smooth Newt
Smooth Newt
The Smooth Newt, also known as the Common Newt, Lissotriton vulgaris is the most common newt species of the Lissotriton genus of amphibians. L...
and Palmate Newt
Palmate Newt
The Palmate Newt is a species of newt found in most of Western Europe, including Great Britain. It is protected by law in all countries where it occurs, and is thought to be extremely rare to endangered in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg and vulnerable in Spain and Poland but common...
can be found in wetland
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
areas.
Many insect species can be found at North Warren, with large numbers of dragonfly
Dragonfly
A dragonfly is a winged insect belonging to the order Odonata, the suborder Epiprocta or, in the strict sense, the infraorder Anisoptera . It is characterized by large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong transparent wings, and an elongated body...
and butterfly
Butterfly
A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured...
in summer months (northern hemisphere
Northern Hemisphere
The Northern Hemisphere is the half of a planet that is north of its equator—the word hemisphere literally means “half sphere”. It is also that half of the celestial sphere north of the celestial equator...
), including the nationally rare Silver-studded Blue
Silver-studded Blue
The Silver-studded Blue is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae.-Appearance, behavior and distribution:So named due to the silvery blue metallic spots on the underside hind wings. The upperside are a rich, deep iridescent blue in the males with a black border and the characteristic Lycid white...
. In 2007, an invasive
Invasive species
"Invasive species", or invasive exotics, is a nomenclature term and categorization phrase used for flora and fauna, and for specific restoration-preservation processes in native habitats, with several definitions....
insect pest, the wheat bug Nysius huttoni, was found at North Warren for the first time in the UK. Originally from New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
the insect feeds on weeds and crop plants and has since been found at other sites in the UK.
Protected status
It is protected with Site of Special Scientific InterestSite of Special Scientific Interest
A Site of Special Scientific Interest is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom. SSSIs are the basic building block of site-based nature conservation legislation and most other legal nature/geological conservation designations in Great Britain are based upon...
status as part of the 'Leiston - Aldeburgh' SSSI.
Parts of the reserve are also covered by the 'Sandlings' Special Protection Area
Special Protection Area
A Special Protection Area or SPA is a designation under the European Union Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds.Under the Directive, Member States of the European Union have a duty to safeguard the habitats of migratory birds and certain particularly threatened birds.Together with Special...
(SPA). It also lies within the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is an area of countryside considered to have significant landscape value in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, that has been specially designated by the Countryside Agency on behalf of the United Kingdom government; the Countryside Council for Wales on...
(AONB) and the Suffolk Heritage Coast area.
Access and facilities
North Warren can be accessed from the road between Aldeburgh and Thorpness. Bus service 64 travels between Aldeburgh and SaxmundhamSaxmundham
Saxmundham is a small market town in Suffolk, England. It is set in the valley of the River Fromus, a tributary of the River Alde, approximately northeast of Ipswich and west of the coast at Sizewell. The town is bypassed by the A12 and is served by Saxmundham railway station on the East Suffolk...
. The nearest train station is in Saxmundham 6 miles (9.7 km) aways and the Suffolk Coast Cycle route
Regional Cycle Route 42
Regional Cycle Route 42 is a regional bicycling route in Suffolk, England from Snape to Bramfield through the Suffolk Coast and Heaths, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.-Snape to Minsmere:Snape | Friston | Knodishall | Eastbridge | Dunwich | Bramfield...
passes nearby. The long-distance walks
Long-distance trail
Long-distance trails are the longer recreational trails mainly through rural areas, used for non-motorised recreational travelling ....
, the Suffolk Coast Path and Sandlings Walk
Sandlings Walk
The Sandlings Walk is a long-distance path in Suffolk, England. It runs through an area of lowland heath, Britain's rarest wildlife habitat, and the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty....
cross the reserve.
The reserve is open year round with no fee and provides no additional facilities, there is a nearby pay and display
Pay and display
Pay and display machines are a subset of ticket machines used for regulating parking in urban areas or in car parks. It relies on a customer purchasing a ticket from a machine and displaying the ticket on the dashboard, or windscreen or passenger window of the vehicle...
car park and public toilets in Aldeburgh. The trails within the reserve are unpaved and may be unsuitable for wheelchair and buggy users, however much of the reed beds are viewable from the paved path alongside the road next to the reserve. Dogs, other than assistance dogs are only allowed on the public rights of way.
History
The original North Warren reserve comprising 37 hectares (91.4 acre) was purchased by the RSPB in 1939 due to interest in its breeding bird populations. In subsequent years the reserve has expanded as land has become available for purchase and now covers 443 hectares (1,094.7 acre). During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, pillboxes
British hardened field defences of World War II
British hardened field defences of World War II were small fortified structures constructed as a part of British anti-invasion preparations. They were popularly known as pillboxes by reference to their shape.-Design and development:...
and trenches were constructed on the heath and tank traps were placed across the marshes as part of the British coastal defences
British anti-invasion preparations of World War II
British anti-invasion preparations of the Second World War entailed a large-scale division of military and civilian mobilisation in response to the threat of invasion by German armed forces in 1940 and 1941. The British army needed to recover from the defeat of the British Expeditionary Force in...
.
External links
- North Warren RSPB reserve website
- North Warren on the VisitWoods website