Wildlife reserves · East of England
East Wretham Heath
In or near Thompson.
East Wretham Heath — nature reserve near Thetford.
Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 2 h–4 h
- Best time of year
- Autumn & winter (migration & wildfowl)
- Nearest railway station
- Thetford · 6.1 km
- Free entry
- Family-friendly
- Dog-friendly
- Limited wheelchair access
Getting there & planning your visit
To visit East Wretham Heath, the nearest railway station is Thetford, which is 6.1 km away. Entry to the reserve is free, and wheelchair accessibility is limited. The postcode for sat-nav is IP24 1RU.
About
East Wretham Heath is a wildlife reserve in the United Kingdom. It covers approximately 143 km². Heritage designation: Site of Special Scientific Interest. Owned by Norfolk Wildlife Trust. Managed by Norfolk Wildlife Trust. Address: IP24 1RU. Wikidata describes it as: "nature reserve near Thetford". Coordinates: 52.4580°, 0.8080°.
Photo gallery
Summary from the official site
East Wretham Heath is a large heathland reserve featuring small lakes and a pine forest, providing a habitat for various wildlife. Visitors can explore different habitats, including grasslands and old Scots pine plantations, and may encounter grazing animals such as cattle and ponies.
Read more on the official property page.
Protected designations
- Site of Special Scientific Interest: East Wretham Heath SSSI
- Site of Special Scientific Interest: Breckland Forest SSSI
- Site of Special Scientific Interest: Breckland Farmland SSSI
Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.
From the Wikipedia article
East Wretham Heath is a 141.1-hectare (349-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest south-east of Thetford in Norfolk, England. It is a Nature Conservation Review site, Grade I, and it is managed by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust. it is part of the Breckland Special Area of Conservation and Special Protection Area. The principal ecological interest of this site lies in areas of Breckland grassland and two meres, which are supplied by ground water, and fluctuate irregularly. These conditions have led to unusual plants communities which are tolerant of alternate wetting and drying, such as reed canary grass and amphibious bistort. There is public access to the reserve. Part of the land within East Wretham Heath SSSI is owned by the Ministry of Defence.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
- Coordinates
- 52.4580, 0.8080
- County
- Norfolk
- District
- Breckland
- Parish
- Wretham
- Postcode
- IP24 1RU
- Parliamentary constituency
- Mid Norfolk
- Nearest railway station
- Thetford — 6.1 km
- Opening
- Dawn till dusk, every day, all year round
- Official site
- www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk
Sources
- wikidata: Q5329713 (CC0)
- wikipedia: East Wretham Heath (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: East Wretham Heath - geograph.org.uk - 729252.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Other places nearby
Fenmere Lookout
Viewpoints · 0.1 km
Ringmere Lookout
Viewpoints · 0.2 km
Grove Farm Campsite
Campsites · 1.9 km
East Wretham
Villages · 2.1 km
Wretham Village Sign
Public art & sculpture · 2.4 km
Wretham War Memorial
Memorials & monuments · 2.5 km
Brettenham Heath National Nature Preserve
Wildlife reserves · 2.6 km
Roudham Heath Picnic Area
Natural landmarks · 2.9 km
Ruins of St Lawrence's Church
Historic churches · 3.4 km
Croxton Village Sign
Public art & sculpture · 3.8 km
Croxton
Villages · 4.0 km
Illington
Villages · 4.1 km
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Where to eat & stay near East Wretham Heath
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is East Wretham Heath?
- East Wretham Heath is in Norfolk, East of England, United Kingdom (postcode IP24 1RU), in the parish of Wretham.
- What is East Wretham Heath?
- East Wretham Heath — nature reserve near Thetford.
- How do I get to East Wretham Heath?
- The nearest railway station is Thetford, about 6.1 km away. Drivers can use postcode IP24 1RU.
- Who runs East Wretham Heath?
- East Wretham Heath is operated by Norfolk Wildlife Trust.
- Is East Wretham Heath a listed building?
- East Wretham Heath is officially recognised as Site of Special Scientific Interest listed.
- Is East Wretham Heath a protected site?
- Yes — East Wretham Heath is part of the East Wretham Heath SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest and the Breckland Forest SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest.
- Is East Wretham Heath free to visit?
- Yes, East Wretham Heath is free to enter.
- How do I get to East Wretham Heath?
- The nearest railway station is Thetford, about 6.1 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode IP24 1RU.