Ranworth Broad

Ranworth Broad lies in the Norfolk Broads, a network of shallow lakes east of Norwich. The reserve covers 136 hectares and is managed by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust. It forms part of the Bure Broads and Marshes Site of Special Scientific Interest. The site is also a National Nature Reserve and part of the Broadland Ramsar site. It holds Special Protection Area and Special Area of Conservation status. Birdwatchers come to see great crested grebes, wigeons, gadwalls, kingfishers and cormorants from the floating Broads Wildlife Centre. Woodland and reedbeds surround the water, offering varied habitats. The poet Edward Thomas spent a summer holiday here in 1913 on a houseboat with his son and friends. He was invited by the writer Eleanor Farjeon while his wife stayed in Switzerland. Visitors find a floating centre where they can watch waterbirds at close range. Trails wind through woodland and beside reedbeds, leading to quiet viewpoints over the broad. The calm waters reflect the sky and surrounding reeds. A small mooring area allows boats to tie up for a closer look. The scene remains peaceful, with only the calls of birds breaking the silence.