We are part way through the second challenge in The Steps Series.
The Steps Series is a set of challenges – everyone can help us walk or run the same distance as a migratory route of one of Rainham’s wildlife visitors, or even distances to places - all your steps can count.
At the moment we are walking the black-tailed godwit challenge - we have to get a black-tailed godwit back to Iceland - 1369 miles equating to 3,011,800 steps. So far we've flown from Rainham Marshes to RSPB Stour Estuary (in Essex) 101 miles/222,200 steps (see the blog about it here) , and on to the Dingle Marshes in Suffolk (another 40 miles/88,000 steps). To get to the Dingle Marshes from Rainham Marshes that a whopping 310,200 steps - or 141 miles!
Dingle Marshes nature reserve (Andy Hay rspb-images.com)
Dingle Marshes nature reserve in Suffolk, near Leiston, is an enticing mix of habitats that include freshwater reedbed, shingle, coastal grazing marsh and saline lagoons. They attract a wide variety of wildlife. So listen for booming bitterns. Watch for skydancing marsh harriers. Or marvel at yellow-horned poppy and sea kale under the wide Suffolk skies.
Dingle Marshes is a superb mixture of coastal and freshwater habitats bordered by forest and heathland. The freshwater reedbeds are home to important numbers of breeding bitterns, marsh harriers and bearded tits. In summer they are alive with singing warblers. These are protected from the sea by a vegetated shingle bank, which is important for plants such as sea kale and yellow horned-poppy. Dingle Marshes forms part of one of the largest freshwater reedbeds in the UK. The reeds are cut annually to provide ideal habitat for breeding bitterns, bearded tits and marsh harriers. These reedbeds are increasingly vulnerable to saltwater incursion during winter storms.
Marsh harrier Ben Hall (rspb-images.com)
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The reserve is bounded on the east, and protected from the sea, by a long shingle spit. This is home to rare shingle flora such as sea kale, yellow horned-poppy and sea pea, and a colony of little terns nests on the shingle each spring. The shingle birds and flora are extremely vulnerable to disturbance, and parts of the shingle may be fenced to reduce trampling.There is a small hide overlooking the reedbed, which is accessed along forest tracks within Dunwich Forest. Within the forest you may see crossbills, goldcrests and siskins, hear singing woodlarks in spring, or spot red deer in autumn.
Little tern Chris Gomersall (rspb-images.com)
The circular walk involves more than one mile on shingle. Access is from the Dunwich Beach car park, where there are toilets and a fish and chip shop. Food is also available at the nearby Ship Inn.
For more details about Dingle Marshes nature reserve see the website here.
From Dingle Marshes we will be heading over to RSPB Frampton Marsh - which is 100 miles or 220,000 steps.