Walberswick National Nature Reserve (NNR) is one of three NNR's managed by English Nature along the Suffolk coast,the others being Benacre and Westleton Heath.It is made up of some of the best Sandlings heathland,together with reedbeds,inter-tidal mud-flats,grazing marsh,hay meadows,woodland and the tidal estuary of the River Blyth.The NNR is one of the most diverse sites in the UK, with a wide mix of habitats in a small area. The reserrve's Westwood Marsh is probably the largest single block of freshwater reedbed in Britain and extends inland for round two and a half miles.It was reclaimed for grazing in the 18th century but flooded for defence purposes in World War 2 allowing the reeds to spread back over the marsh,returning it to its former glory.
A PDF download about the reserve is available free by clicking here |