ANGLES WAY JULY 2015 - DAY SEVEN

REDGRAVE AND LOPHAM FEN TO KNETTISHALL HEATH

Summary - A dry day with loads of fens to explore plus a windmill and a school to look at plus fish and chips in Hopton for lunch. Plenty of things to see which made for an enjoyable 10.6 miles.

Jim and I set off from the car park at the Redgrave and Lopham Fen National Nature Reserve. It is the largest valley fen in England and one of the most important Wetlands in Europe. This special place supports a diverse range of plants and animals, but it’s not just a fen. You can also explore the areas of woodland, heath and even follow the river Waveney that rises here. All was quiet as we were early and it was still damp underfoot. Passing some ponds and the Great Fen we made our way back to the Angles Way. The route soon crossed the River Waveney where a sluice mechanism enabled the water levels to be controlled upstream.
  

This is a view from the Way across the Middle Fen,

Next came the Little Fen and the lake that is the source of the River Waveney. In 1995 the reserve introduced a herd of Polish Konik ponies to graze the wetter areas of the fen. They were chosen over native breeds for their hardiness and ability to graze in very wet conditions and as this picture indicates we saw them at this spot. This marked the end of our journey from its confluence with the River Yare. Just across the B1113 is the source of the Little Ouse River which we to follow next.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redgrave_and_Lopham_Fen

After a short section of road walking we were back on footpaths sampling wild raspberries which led to Hinderclay Fen (photo). It comprises areas of wet fen (sedges, reeds and other wetland plants), scrub, woodland, acid grassland and small patches of heathland, on generally poor soils.

Valley fens, such as Hinderclay Fen, were too waterlogged and the soils too poor to cultivate but were once an essential source of basic materials for the poorer people of the parish. Traditionally, commoners cut peat for fuel, fen hay for animal fodder and bedding, and grazed livestock. Extract from http://www.lohp.org.uk/our-sites/hinderclay-fen the Little Ouse Headwaters Project web site.
It was time for a break on a seat and then on through Thelnetham Fen.

The next highlight was Thelnetham Windmill. It was not one of the open days so we were only able to have a look at the outside.

Dating from 1819, it is one of only four preserved tower mills in Suffolk. While working successfully during the 19^th century, its condition deteriorated badly during the early 20^th century and it had become effectively derelict by 1926. It was purchased for restoration by mill enthusiasts in 1979 who managed to complete this work by 1987. Extract from http://thelnethamwindmill.org.uk/

 We continued along a wide track to Kay's Farm and Spring Farm where it sounded as though there was target shooting going on in one of the buildings. Another long field side path plus some wild cherries and we were in Hopton. We made for the pub and found it did not open until 15:00 so resorted to more fish and chips from a wee shop and then went to  a seat in the churchyard to eat them.

 

Stomachs satisfied we ventured into All Saints Church where there was an overpowering smell of flowers from what was left of their flower festival. The roof beams were adorned by crudely carved figures at either end, something I cannot recall seeing elsewhere. http://www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/hopton.html

From Hopton the Angles Way follows the edges of fields around Hopton Fen. This is a gem of a site for the fen enthusiast. The waterlogged peat allows unique plants and animals to flourish. Bristling stands of saw sedge, reed and rushes dominate with scatterings of rare plants such as black bog rush, southern, marsh fragrant and early marsh orchid, adder’s tongue fern, twayblade and bogbean. Hemp agrimony and the azure blue Devil’s-bit scabious flower later in the season. Extract from http://www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/reserves/hopton-fen

We continued west towards Lodge Farm and just before it we made our first crossing of the Little Ouse (photo above|) The course continues through Rushford, Thetford, Brandon, and Hockwold before the river joins the Great Ouse north of Littleport in Cambridgeshire. The total length is about 37 miles (60 km).

Exiting from Lodge Farm along its access road we passed through the hamlet of Gasthorpe and headed along another track that took us to this view of Riddlesworth Hall Preparatory School. http://www.riddlesworthhall.com/ It was built in1792 and was attended by Diana Princess of Wales (1961-1997)

Heading west along tracks with fields full of carrots we arrived at a road which took us over the Little Ouse again now a more substantial watercourse that goes along the side of Knettishall Country Park where we located Jim's car.