The Paddock Sedge Fen
| Approx. 1 acre of level grassland, opened in 2007, the site has basic facilities for camping and caravan club members. Not a member? Click on the logo to the right to find out more. Hook-ups are available on site.
With mature, thick hedges on the west and
south sides, giving shelter from the prevailing winds, and willows to
the east there is plenty of cover for the 25 varieties of birds, at
least, on site. Hobby and Marsh harrier are frequently visible from the site, and a 3 mile walk will take you to the Golden oriole. Bittern are frequently heard booming from the reed beds near by and Reed warbler can be heard and sometimes seen in the reeds growing in the drain bordering the site. |
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There is opportunity for walking in the area, mostly
using farm tracks
which are not designated public footpaths but which sensible walkers
are welcome to use The nearby public footpath, a few minutes away from the site, takes you either to the village of Lakenheath (about 4 miles) or to a footpath which runs through the RSPB Lakenheath Fen reserve at Botany Bay and onto the Hereward Way long distance walk, which links Oakham to Harling Road Station in Norfolk and passes along the northern edge of Lakenheath Fen reserve. |
| Although there is no age limit, please note that the
site is not child friendly. There are no facilities for games or play,
and there is a typical fenland dyke close by - deep, muddy, steep-sided
and dangerous for the young and inexperienced. The nearby military Air force bases at Lakenheath and Mildenhall provide dramatic, if noisy, entertainment periodically throughout some days. Thankfully night flying is very uncommon and a lot of days there are no flights at all. |
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Cambridge - universities and museums : daily market
Norwich - Castle Museum and Cathedral: daily market
Bury St. Edmunds - Abbey ruins and Moyses Hall Museum : market Wed. and Sat.
Newmarket - The National Stud and The National Horse racing Museum. The Home of Racing
Ely - Cathedral and various museums including Oliver Cromwell's House : market Thurs. and Sat.
National Trust properties such as Felbrigg Hall, Blickling Hall
General interest:
Coastal towns of Hunstanton, Cromer, Gt. Yarmouth, Lowestoft, Frinton, and everything in between, most with wide sandy beaches and safe sea bathing (please take local advice whenever available).Places to go
The area is well known for fishing and day tickets are available on local lakes and rivers. A number of nature reserves are also in the area. The Visitor Centre for Lakenheath Fen RSPB reserve is a must for bird watchers, as the reserve boasts several kinds of rare birds and information is available there as to the best places to spot these birds. Other nature/bird reserves or country parks within easy reach are:Lakenheath Fen (RSPB)
Wicken Fen (National Trust)
Welney Wash (Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust)
Minsmere (RSPB)
Thetford Forest Park (Forestry Commission)
West Stow Country Park and Anglo-Saxon Village
Back
Directions
From
Lakenheath, take the turning signposted
"Sedge Fen", near the Half
Moon Pub (in the High Street). Follow the signs to the Sedge Fen
Baptist Church. At the corner near the church, turn right so that you
pass the church on your left. Follow the single track road
round
a sharp left hand bend (about half a mile) to Flack's Farm. The
entrance to the site is straight in front of you. If travelling from
the A1101 Littleport/Mildenhall road, follow signs to Sedge Fen Baptist
Church - the turning is 1 mile south of Shippea Hill railway station.
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