New Signs at Oulton Broad South Link the Station with Carlton Marshes Nature Reserve
New signs have been installed on the platform at Oulton Broad South station to help promote the easy access by train to Carlton Marshes.
The East Suffolk Lines Community Rail Partnership (CRP) funded three new signs which say ‘Oulton Broad South – For Carlton Marshes’ in partnership with Greater Anglia and Suffolk Wildlife Trust.
Carlton Marshes and its new visitor centre are a 15-minute walk from the station via the CRP’s East Suffolk Lines waymarked route.
Until the end of August, anyone presenting a rail ticket there will receive a free tea or coffee.
The East Suffolk Lines CRP has been actively working with Suffolk Wildlife Trust to develop the links between the station and the nature reserve, to encourage more people to visit the area sustainably to help protect these vital habitats from pollution.
Recently, Suffolk Wildlife Trust became the official ‘adopter’ of Oulton Broad South station to develop the partnership further.
Carlton Marshes is the southern gateway to the Broads National Park comprising a jigsaw of grazing marsh, fens, peat pools, short fen meadow, tall fen, dykes, pools and scrub.
Mostly man-made, these habitats have developed over hundreds of years of traditional management and now host specialised wildlife, including over 28 species of dragonfly.
Flower studded marshes drained by a system of dykes and grazed by cattle in summer, creates a paradise for marsh land birds and birds of prey including hobby and marsh harrier.
Aaron Taffera, Chair of the East Suffolk Lines Community Rail Partnership, said, “We hope that the new signs will raise awareness of how easy it is to visit this wonderful nature reserve by train, to encourage people to leave the car at home and help cut pollution and congestion in the area.”
Louise Gregory, Visitor Experience and Centre Manager at Carlton Marshes said, “We are delighted to continue working closely with East Suffolk Lines Community Rail Partnership at Oulton Broad South Station to encourage more visitors to travel by train when seeking out the year-round spectacle of wildlife we have on offer at Carlton Marshes Nature Reserve.”