Strumpshaw Fen is maintained and run by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. It is part of the RSPB Mid Yare Reserve which extends over 800ha of wetland on the floodplains of the River Yare.  

The Mid Yare also includes Buckenham and Cantley Marshes, Surlingham Church Marsh, Surlingham Broad and Surlingham and Rockland Marshes and was designated a National Nature Reserve in 1997 to recognise its importance as one of Britain's finest wildlife sites. Autumn and winter wildlife - in autumn and winter flocks of ducks gather on the reedbed pools and bitterns may be seen. 

Towards dusk, marsh and hen harriers come to roost in the reeds and sparrowhawks are often seen. Cetti's warblers are easiest to see in late winter and sing on summer days. At Buckenham Marshes thousands of wigeon can be seen feeding on the wet grassland and peregrines Harriers and barn owls often hunt over the open marshes. White-fronted and bean geese spend the winter in the Yare Valley and are sometimes seen here.

Spring and summer wildlife - cettis, reed and sedge warblers are in song and ducks coots and grebes are busy nesting around the pools. Marsh harriers are best seen during courtship in April or when feeding their young in June. Hobbies hunt over the reeds and kingfisher are often seen. In May the woods are alive with warblers, tits, woodpeckers and bluebells and foxgloves are in flower.  

Rare swallowtail butterflies are on the wing from late May to mid-July and often again in mid-August to September.  Wetland wildflowers including marsh orchids which are at the best in June and July. Many kind of dragonflies can be seen including the rare Norfolk hawker. There are mown nature trails, hides, reed beds, grazing marshes, woodland, information centre and of course the River Yare.  

Open daily 9-9pm (or dusk if earlier). Please note that parts of the nature trail may be muddy or wet at any time of year after rain or river flooding, so suitable footwear is advised..