Catfield Fen Reserve

Catfield Fen Reserve is a wetland nature reserve near Ludham in Norfolk. Part of the Ant Broads & Marshes National Nature Reserve, it covers 59 acres managed by Butterfly Conservation. The rest belongs to the Catfield Hall Estate. The site was established by conservationist Keith Arundel McDougall. It is recognised as one of Britain’s most important fens by Broadland ecologists. Rare species thrive here, including many Red Data Book invertebrates. The reserve also supports important plant populations like the fen orchid and milk parsley. The site is especially valued for its aquatic beetle assemblage and rare moths. Notable species include the swallowtail butterfly, lesser water measurer, small dotted footman moth and Fenn’s wainscot moth. Milk parsley, the swallowtail’s food plant, grows here in abundance. Local media highlighted concerns in 2013 and 2014 about water abstraction affecting the fen. The Environment Agency, Broads Authority and Natural England all raised concerns over hydrological modelling. Anglian Water later built a £9 million pipeline to reduce local water extraction. For safety reasons the reserve itself is closed to the public. Visitors can view it from the footpath at the end of Fenside Lane in Catfield. The path offers a clear view of the fen’s plant and insect life. The surrounding landscape is flat and waterlogged, typical of Broadland wetlands. The reserve remains a vital site for conservation despite its inaccessibility. Its ecological importance outweighs the lack of public access.