Wildlife
The East of England is renowned as a nature lovers paradise
(especially for birdwatching). Come and visit our unique habitats,
home to some of the country's most rarest and endangered wildlife
Coastline
Covering 250 miles (402 kilometres), much of our
coastline is designated an 'Area of Outstanding
Natural Beauty'. Crumbling cliffs, estuaries, shingle
spits and Britain's best mudflats and saltmarshes
provide a home for a unique range of fauna and flora.
Start at The Wash (Norfolk) - England's largest
tidal estuary. This outstanding coastal wetland is one
of the country's most important winter feeding areas
for waders and wildfowl. Explore on the 10 mile
(17 kilometre) 'Peter Scott Walk', which follows the
top of the outer sea defence bank. Travelling north,
the high tide at RSPB Snettisham (nr. Hunstanton)
creates a great wildlife spectacle, as thousands of
birds are forced off the mudflats onto the reserve's
lagoons. Holme Bird Observatory at Holme-next-
the-Sea (nr. Hunstanton) has recorded over
300 species of our feathered friends since 1962.
Further east, the reedbeds and shallow lagoons at
RSPB Titchwell Marsh (nr. Hunstanton) are home to
wetland birds and marsh harriers. One of the most
diverse and dramatic nature reserves can be found
at Holkham (nr. Wells-next-the-Sea) - dunes, marshes and pinewoods. Look
out for hoardes of wintering wildfowl. Whilst at nearby Stiffkey, the
saltmarshes are turned a vivid purple by the sea lavender in summer. Take
a boat trip from Morston or Blakeney to see around 500 common and grey
seals on the 3½ mile (6 kilometre) long sand and shingle spit of Blakeney
Point - also internationally important for seabirds and overwintering wildfowl.
Alternatively, enjoy the views over the pools, reedbeds and wet grassland at
NWT Cley Marshes in Cley-next-the-Sea - with its bitterns and avocets.
Heading into Suffolk, the peace and tranquility of the River Blyth can be explored
on a cruise aboard the Coastal Voyager at Southwold in search of herons.
Dunwich Heath (nr. Saxmundham) is a unique remnant of the once extensive
'Sandlings' - great between June and September, when the heather and gorse is in
bloom. Seek out ant-lions and dartford warblers. The adjacent RSPB Minsmere is
famous for its rich habitat of reedbeds, heath and woodland - home of the ‘boomin'
bittern. Stretching 10 miles (16 kilometres) south from Aldeburgh is Orford Ness,
Europe's largest vegetated shingle spit - noted for its breeding/passage birds and
shingle flora. Take a boat trip also from Orford to see RSPB Havergate Island,
an important site for avocets and terns. Trimley Marshes (nr. Felixstowe) is an
exciting wetland reserve, home of the Emperor - Britain's largest hawker dragonfly.
The wildlife-rich river estuaries of Essex can be explored at RSPB Stour Estuary
(nr. Harwich) or Fingringhoe Wick (nr. Colchester), where over 200 species of birds
have been recorded, such as the chorus of the nightingale in spring. Take a walk at
the large estuarine basin of Hamford Water (nr. Walton-on-the-Naze) to see the
rare sea hog's fennel. Whilst the grassy paths at Copt Hall Marshes (nr. Maldon)
offers views over the open water and mudflats of the Blackwater Estuary, home to
wintering birds and seals. End your journey at RSPB Rainham Marshes
(nr. Purfleet) beside the River Thames - look out for birds of prey and water voles.
Click here for our Coastline page.
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Inland Waters
Stretching out from The Wash across
Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, the vast expanse of
The Fens are one of the country's most important
wildlife areas. Cattle graze upon the lush meadows,
and it is home to an enormous array of resident and
visiting birds, insects and rare flora species. At
Wicken Fen (nr. Ely), you can see how the landscape
looked before extensive drainage by man. This
internationally renowned wetland site is home to
more than 7,000 species including otters, water
voles and tree sparrows. Two other ‘watery treats' not
to miss are RSPB Ouse Washes (nr. March) and the
WWT Welney Wetland Centre (nr. Wisbech), both
noted for their large flocks of wintering bewick and
whooper swans. Don't miss the famous floodlit wild
swan feeds at Welney.
The Broads (Norfolk/Suffolk) are Britain's largest
nationally protected wetland - its rivers, broads
(shallow lakes), marshes and fens - a haven for
some of the country's rarest flora and fauna. Look
out for the fen orchid, the Norfolk hawker dragonfly,
water lilies and the ‘boomin' bittern. Start your tour at
the floating wildlife centre of NWT Ranworth Broad (nr. Wroxham), then take a
trip through the marshes at How Hill in Ludham aboard the ‘Electric Eel'. NWT
Hickling Broad (nr. Stalham) is the biggest expanse of open water in the
Broads - a good place to seek out Britain's largest butterfly - the swallowtail.
Whilst tens of thousands of wildfowl make RSPB Berney Marshes and
Breydon Water (nr. Great Yarmouth) their winter home. Also, don't miss: a walk
along the boardwalk at Cockshoot Broad (nr. Wroxham) to see the water lily
beds, or amongst the fens and peat pools of Carlton Marshes (nr. Lowestoft).
The Lee Valley Regional Park (Essex/Hertfordshire) is a wonderful mosaic of
lakes, watercourses and nature reserves. The wetlands are one of the major
inland wintering areas for birds in Britain. At the River Lee Country Park
(Broxbourne/Waltham Abbey area), explore the idyllic dragonfly sanctuary
or go in search of wintering bitterns. Wait patiently in the hides at RSPB
Rye Meads, and you might be lucky to spot electric-blue kingfishers.
Other places to visit: enjoy a cycle ride around the bird-rich wetlands of the Marston
Vale Millennium Country Park at Marston Moretaine (nr. Bedford); Paxton Pits in
Little Paxton (nr. St. Neots) are restored gravel pits, now famous for its nightingales
in spring; whilst Abberton Reservoir (nr. Colchester) is internationally important as
a safe haven for wild duck and swans. See if you can spot the elegant fen raft
spider at Redgrave and Lopham Fen (nr. Diss) - England's largest remaining river
valley fen. Pensthorpe (nr. Fakenham) is a wildlife paradise, allowing you to ‘get up
close and personal' with many species, such as cranes and otters.
Click here for our Inland Waters page.
Spring is the best time for birdwatching
in the region - get up early to hear the
dawn chorus, watch the aerial dance of
the marsh harrier and listen out for
the 'boomin' bittern
Forest and Woodland
Hatfield Forest (nr. Bishop's Stortford) is a rare
surviving example of an ancient royal hunting forest,
noted for its magnificent pollarded trees, wood-loving
insects and grazing deer. At RSPB The Lodge
(nr. Sandy), take a guided walk to spot woodpeckers,
grass snakes and fungi. Thetford Forest Park
(Norfolk/Suffolk) is Britain's largest lowland pine
forest, a patchwork of pines, heathland and
broadleaves. Rich in animal, bird and plant life - look
out for three species of deer, the nightjar and
woodlark, and rare plants such as the
purple-stemmed cat's tail. Head to High Lodge
Forest Centre (nr. Brandon) to start your exploration.
The region has splendid ancient woodlands to
explore: Bradfield (nr. Bury St. Edmunds); Brampton
(nr. Huntingdon); NWT Foxley Wood (nr. Dereham);
Maulden (nr. Ampthill); Norsey (nr. Billericay)
and RSPB Wolves Wood (nr. Hadleigh).
Click here for our Forest and Woodland page.
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Open Countryside
The pockets of remaining heathland in The Brecks
(Norfolk/Suffolk) are fiercely protected - this fragile
landscape created by prehistoric farmers and the
constant grazing of sheep and rabbits. A rich haven
for fauna and flora, such as military orchid, fingered
speedwell, spiders, butterflies, nightjar,
woodlark and rabbits. Visit NWT Weeting Heath
(nr. Brandon), a classic example of open,
rabbit-grazed grass heath, home to the rare and
elusive stone curlew.
Rolling chalk hills and magnficent beechwoods
form The Chilterns (Bedfordshire/Hertfordshire),
noted for its unspoilt landscape and rural character.
Look out for the rare pasque flower, the red kite,
edible dormouse and the chalkhill blue butterfly.
Spot them with a walk on the 5,000 acre Ashridge
Estate (nr. Berkhamsted) or on the Dunstable
Downs - one of the highest points in the region. Both
offer spectacular views over the countryside.
Click here for our Open Countryside page.
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Seasonal Treats
Spring: the best time for birdwatching in the region - get up early to hear the dawn
chorus, watch the aerial dance of the marsh harrier and listen out for the ‘boomin'
bittern. Enjoy carpets of bluebells in our ancient woods.
Summer: explore after dark for bats, moths and glow-worms. Meadows and
grassland come alive with wildflowers, orchids and butterflies. Stroll along our
inland waters for dragon and damselflies. Go pond-dipping or on a mini-beast hunt.
On the coast, saltmarshes are covered with sea lavender, whilst colourful heather
flowers on heathland. Take a magical walk to find the mysterious nightjar.
Autumn: discover our forests and woodlands ablaze with the colours of autumn.
See deer rutting and join a ‘fungi foray'.
Winter: the region's marshes and open water become home to huge numbers of
wildfowl, such as ducks, geese and swans.
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Top 10 Wildlife
1. Bittern: basically a small heron, listen out for its ‘boomin' sound in spring.
2. Emperor Dragonfly: Britain's biggest - takes flight between June and August.
3. Deer: several species live here, either wild or within our country estates.
4. Marsh Harrier: bird of prey, noted for its dramatic aerial dances.
5. Nightjar: nocturnal bird with distinctive 'churring'. Active at dawn and dusk.
6. Red Kite: bird of prey - almost extinct, it has been successfully reintroduced.
7. Seals: grey and common seals - region has the largest UK colony of the latter.
8. Stone Curlew: strange-looking heathland bird, with long legs and yellow eyes.
9. Swallowtail Butterfly: Britain's largest - only seen on The Broads wet fenland.
10. Swans: in winter, thousands descend onto our open water.
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Wildlife Events
Enjoy our range of wildlife-related events - take a guided tour to see rutting deer,
watch a wild swan feed, experience the bird's dawn chorus, or join in a
workshop to learn about fungi, bats or wildflowers.
Click here for our full listing of wildlife-related events
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Click here for our full listing of nature reserves to visit.
