Suffolk - Peto's Marsh Walk

Our last morning on Oulton Broad and a nice walk in the opposite direction.

Setting off past Carlton Marshes, which are managed by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust. They are home to Water Voles,many species of birds and insects including 28 recorded species of Dragonfly.   Carlton Marshes lie in the Waveney Valley at the southern tip of the Norfolk Broads and is part of the Suffolk Broads. It comprises a jigsaw of grazing marsh, fens, peat pools, short fen meadow, tall fen (called 'tall litter fen'), dykes, pools and scrub.

This reserve is the Broads in miniature. Flower studded marshes drained by a system of dykes and grazed by cattle in summer, creates a paradise for marsh land birds and birds of prey including Hobby and Marsh Harrier. We were lucky to see a Marsh Harrier fly overhead.
The reserve is also one of the best sites in East Anglia to see Grasshopper Warblers. The reed and sedge beds along the river wall make ideal nesting cover for Reed and Sedge warblers, Bearded Tit and Cetti’s Warbler.

There are a few walkers and joggers out along the trails otherwise it is very quiet. There are a few noises coming from the numerous cows in the marshes.

Semi-aquatic Fen Raft Spiders were released on the site in 2012 to boost the low British population, and underwater insectivorous bladderworts trap water fleas.

Carlton Marshes

We have been on the Angles Way footpath. From Great Yarmouth the route goes by Breydon Water, along and near the River Waveney, passing around Oulton Broad, Beccles and Bungay, and Harleston and Diss, to its source, and then by the Little Ouse from its source very close by through heath-land and marsh to Knettishall Heath in the Suffolk Brecks.A total of 77 miles or 144 km.

We reach the River Waveney and discover the Ternpike Ferry. the ferry provides a welcome link to the pub, shop and other services on offer just across the river in Burgh St Peter.
The River Waveney forms the parish boundary to the south, east and northeast of Burgh St Peter, and also forms the county boundary with Suffolk.

Peto' Marsh is a newly created reed-bed.Creating this vast watery landscape of reed and pools has been a major engineering project.  Named after Sir Samuel Morton Peto I suspect who did much for the fishing industry in Lowestoft.