Description
This reserve on the River Yare has a mix of wetlands, woodlands and meadows, with great birding all year round. Spring is the best time to see Очеретянка середземноморська, Очеретянка лучна, Кобилочка-цвіркун and Зозуля звичайна, as well as hearing the booming call of the resident Бугай водяний and seeing the display flights of the Лунь очеретяний. During summer, you might spot a hunting Підсоколик великий or Сипуха, and the resident Рибалочка блакитний are most active in the warmer months. In autumn, Скопа are regular on passage and Сутора вусата, або синиця вусата flock together, as do thousands of Шпак звичайний. Winter brings peak wildfowl numbers and more Бугай водяний from the continent, plus large flocks of Чиж лісовий and Чечітка мала, occasionally hosting a rarer finch species. The harrier roost also reaches its peak, sometimes including Лунь польовий. The reserve also has resident Chinese water deer and otters.
Details
Access
By train: Buckenham is the nearest station and Strumpshaw Fen is about a mile away. The other nearby station is Brundall, 1.4 miles (2.3km) from the reserve. From the station walk up the hill (Station Road) towards Brundall village. At the main road turn right and walk through Brundall. Continue under the bridge towards Strumpshaw. Soon after you pass the Strumpshaw sign, turn right into Stone Road, and immediately right again into Low Road. Strumpshaw Fen nature reserve is 500m down Low Road on the right.
By car: The reserve is best approached from the village of Brundall which lies east of Norwich just off the A47. From the A47 roundabout, drive through Brundall and continue on the same road out towards Strumpshaw. Soon after you pass the Strumpshaw sign, turn right into Stone Road, and immediately right again into Low Road. The reserve car park is 500m down Low Road on the right.
By bus: An hourly bus service from Norwich stops 0.7 miles (1.1 km) from the reserve on the Brundall to Strumpshaw Road at the junction of Long Lane and Stone Road (weekdays and Saturdays only). From the bus stop (arriving from the Norwich direction), walk towards Brundall for 40m, then turn left down Stone Road and immediately turn right into Low Road. Strumpshaw Fen nature reserve is 500m down Low Road on the right.
By bike: The Yare Valley cycle route runs close to the reserve.

