Mid-Yare NNR
Although most NNRs are managed by Natural England, 88 are wholly or partly managed by other bodies approved by Council, under Section 35 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
County: Norfolk
Main habitats: Peatland
Area: 779 Ha
Site map: Nature on the Map
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Mid-Yare NNR is part owned/leased and managed by the RSPB.
View an information sheet describing the reserve: (118kb)
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The site comprises strips of floodplain along the River Yare. It shows the full range of Broadland habitats, including broads, dykes, tall fen, fen-meadows and alder-willow woodland.
The fen areas support a range of invertebrates, including the swallowtail butterfly and Norfolk hawker dragonfly.
Many of the UK's Cetti's warblers live in the NNR which is also a breeding site for marsh harriers and bearded tits. During the winter the lowland wet grasslands are host to wigeon, white-fronted geese and bean geese. In the spring and summer the fen-meadows and wet grasslands are breeding grounds for lapwing, redshank and snipe.
Location and access
Mid-Yare is situated 10 km kilometres east of Norwich, and 0.5 km south of Brundall.
The NNR contains four RSPB reserves: Strumpshaw Fen, Buckenham Marshes and Cantley Marshes on the north bank of the Yare, and Surlingham Church Marsh on the south bank.
Strumpshaw Fen and Buckenham Marshes are adjacent reserves near the town of Buckenham. Cantley Marsh is three km further to the south east, close to the town of Cantley.
By car, access is via minor roads from the A47 and A146. The nearest railway stations offering a regular service are Brundall and Cantley, with Buckenham station offering a restricted service.
Local bus services are provided by First Group.
Surlingham is on Route 1 of the Sustrans National Cycle Network.
Facilities
Strumpshaw Fen has a visitor centre with adjacent parking and toilet facilities. There are three nature trails and hides. Facilities for the disabled include toilets and a viewing platform.
Surlingham Church Marsh has hides and a nature trail.
The best times to visit the reserve are between April and June, for birds and butterflies, and November and March, for wintering birds.
