Orford Wildlife Walks
In the heart of the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty this is an area ideal
for birdwatching; mudflats, saltings and lowland heaths create a wonderful habitats for some fascinating flora and fauna.
Havergate Island, Orford
Reached by boat from Orford Quay on the Ore estuary, Havergate Island is a RSPB reserve and Suffolk's only island.
Just two miles long and half a mile across at its widest point the island is sheltered from the North Sea by the long
shingle spit of Orford Ness.
In 1947 eight avocets (look out for their spectacular black-and-white plumage
long, blue-grey legs and delicate up-turned bills) were reared on Havergate
Island, an historic event, since no avocets had bred in Britain for around
a hundred years. Since then avocet numbers have increased dramatically and
they are now
quite a common sight along the Suffolk coast.
Havergate Island is home to
a good variety of wading birds, including oystercatchers, redshank, ringed
plover, golden plover, dunlin and greenshank as well as knot and turnstone.
But even without the birds the trip would be worthwhile as you get spectacular
views inland of Orford's Castle
and Church set amidst gentle Suffolk countryside.Visits to Havergate Island
are available from April to August on Thursdays and on the first and third
weekends of each month. From September to March Havergate Island is
open to visitors on the first Saturday of each month.
Boats leave Orford
Quay at 10am and return from the Island at 3pm. Advance booking is essential.
Contact
the RSPB's Minsmere nature reserve on 01728 648281. The cost is £3.00 for RSPB members or
£5.00 for non-members, children under 16 £1.50 or £2.50 respectively.
Simpson's Saltings, Hollesley (between Woodbridge and Orford)
From the A12 passing Woodbridge, take the A1153 towards Bawdsey and Orford. After crossing the Wilford Bridge
you will come to a roundabout, take the second road (signposted Bawdsey). You will soon see a road on the left
(signposted Hollesley) follow the road all the way through Hollesley and out the otherside. There is a car park
from where you can walk down to the Ore estuary and the Sandlings.
A really open stretch of water with wide views over the Ore estuary where thereis a wealth of uncommon coastal and
saltmarsh plants –sea campion, thrift and birds-foot trefoil, sea pea and sea heath. Well loved
by wading birds, such as the plover and oystercatcher, the little and common terms and meadow pipet.
As it is rather boggy waterproof footwear is recommended and do keep to the river wall as the plants are very vulnerable.
Alde Mudflats, Iken, Nr Snape
From Orford follow the road to Snape. About a mile from Snape you will reach a crossroad with a sign to Iken on your right.
Follow the road to Iken for about a quarter of mile and you will see Iken Cliff car park on your left. From here you can walk down
to the estuary and view mud flats. There is a lovely beach walk around to the church at Iken, or you might just want to stand on the sand and admire.
While the Alde estuary is most beautiful at high tide you will see far more wildlife when the mudflats are more exposed (from mid to low tide).
Dunlin, curlew, black-tailed godwit, oystercatcher, grey plover, wigeon, pintail and teal are but a sample of the overwintering birds.
In the summer there are redshank, avocet and oystercatcher and amongst the reedbeds the marsh harrier. A tranquil and beautiful spot.
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