£775,000 raised to secure new Suffolk nature reserve
Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s fundraising, backed by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, has secured the 381 acre site in the Broads National Park.
A £775,000 fundraising effort has paved the way for the creation of a new nature reserve in Suffolk.
The Suffolk Wildlife Trust has now completed the purchase of Worlingham Marshes in the Broads National Park. The reserve covers 381 acres and sits in the ecologically rich Lower Waveney Valley.
The charity launched its fundraising campaign in 2024 as part of a matched funding scheme with the National Lottery Heritage Fund. A legacy donation from the late volunteer warden George Batchelor also supported the purchase.
Worlingham Marshes will help the Trust advance its aim of creating a wildlife corridor along the Waveney Valley. The corridor would connect its existing sites at Castle Marshes, Carlton Marshes, and Oulton Marshes.
The valley is home to species such as water voles, otters, marsh harriers, and cuckoos.
The funding will be used for planned improvements, including visitor viewpoints and footpaths to improve accessibility. Visitors are currently unable to drive to the site and are encouraged to park at Carlton Marshes or Beccles before walking to the reserve.
Businesses, Trust members, and the public contributed to the campaign fund, with significant backing from the Ecological Restoration Fund, The Swire Charitable Trust, and the Essex & Suffolk Water Branch Out Fund.