We're off to sample the highlights of the far East ( of Anglia, that is) with a  trip to Carlton marshes nature reserve. So all aboard for an   'outside the wire ' experience  way down into sunny Suffolk where the  Suffolk Wildlife Trust  shall give us a master class  in how to preserve and conserve the beautiful habitats and wildlife of the Southern Broads.

It's with a fear and horrible  nervous trepidation that after a lifetime in Norfolk we tentatively  pass the sign 'welcoming' us to the land of the South folk, mentally  checking the petrol and provisions and purposefully snatching a rear view glimpse of the Norfolk sign, backwards and receding  into a speck,  and then gone.  As it turns out the A12's much the same either side of the border, & there was no passport control or anything (must by be something to do with the EU I suppose),  so I'll stop buggering about and get on with the narrative.

Carlton Marshes , an SSSI ( a site of special scientific interest) on the margins of the upper reaches  of Oulton Broad is a wonderful example of the diversity of habitats present in our wonderful wetland, ranging from medieval Broad through reed ronds to unmanaged fen,  carr woodland and grazing marsh;  drained by a web of dykes that simultaneously provide obstacles to wayward cattle and homes for rare and fascinating water plants such as water soldier, frogbit, water mint  and arrowhead.

Wander left over  the first marsh and across to Sprats and Round Water, once more majestic,  they still hold species of fish such as Pike and Tench as well as the (not so common, now)  'freshwater'  eel.

Can anyone really comprehend that these  very eels, grubbing around the bottom mud ,  already half a mile from the river Waveny, will take a one way ticket , (overland in places) to the river, across Oulton Broad and out into the North Sea, across the Atlantic, (maybe they stare through the gloom to the awesome splendour of the Mid Atlantic ridge as they swim by), eventually traversing  5 time zones to end their journey  in the freezing depths of the Sargasso  Sea. There to breed,  and never return. Their own young will end up back in the same area many years later. 

For the less adventurous of us the life cycle of the Eel  is something of legend, we can but enjoy the spectacle of natures wonder in the immediate, so listen up for that summer warbling from our friends the Cettis, Grasshopper ,Reed and Sedge but be sure to  move quietly around , as the warden explained to me that she had experienced a near Otter encounter, just  along here a while ago, maybe it'll be your lucky day.
Wandering away from the Broads and across the grazing marsh, keep your eyes open for Marsh Harrier any time of year as well as wintering Short Eared Owls quartering by day, and the ubiquitous 'Old Frank' gliding the breeze. Walking  the circuit and back down the track towards the visitor centre try something different, forget searching and spotting and just get a feel for those huge skies , and the swishing, swirling, churning reeds;  spun by the wind and grown by the sun and rain.
This is a place where you can really feel the environment in action, so take time to exhale and experience life's forces in slow motion. Allow yourself to tune into natures  rhythms and cadence.
 Feel your pulse slow ? This is what the broads experience is all about, padding  around for long enough to get into a bit of a somnolent reverie..................must be time to wander back for a cup of tea and weighty slab of sticky prune cake. Perfect way to contemplate the end of the day,  not forgetting  a smile and  'thumbs up' to the Suffolk Wildlife Trust for showing us such a good time .

Getting there : Paddle up the A12 towards Lowestoft, and turn off to Olton Broad, over the bridge, take the Beccles Road and turn left down Burnt Hill Lane. Post code is NR33 8HU, maybe easier to look it up on www.streetmap.co.uk

Amenities : Car park, picnic tables, visitor and educational centre, WC.
 

Wilds of Norfolk was set up because of our unquenchable enthusiasm for the Norfolk Broads,  our small part of the natural world. We thought we'd like to try and give something back by helping other people enjoy the countryside and it's wildlife as well as do our own little bit to promote an interest in the natural world and it's conservation , not only for the wildlife but for the sheer exuberance of the precious life we're lucky enough to get the chance to live.

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