Welcome to Oulton Broad South for Carlton Marshes

New signage has been installed at Oulton Broad South station encouraging people to visit Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s nearby Carlton Marshes nature reserve by train.

The new signage displays information about the reserve, photos of wildlife spotted there, and a large map which includes the footpath network that connects Carlton Marshes with the rail station. It was designed, produced and funded by the East Suffolk Lines Community Rail Partnership in partnership with the Suffolk Wildlife Trust and installed by the Greater Anglia asset management team.

Bev Rogers, Engagement Manager at Suffolk Wildlife Trust, said “Carlton Marshes is one of our largest and most spectacular nature reserves, and one of the most accessible by train.”

“The reserve has become to a wonderful array of birds, invertebrates, and rare species, making it one of the most wildlife-rich areas on the Suffolk coast. We also have a fabulous new visitor centre with a cafe, viewing balcony, shop and children’s play area, perfect for a family day out.“

“We also run lots of events and activities throughout the year to help families, schools and local communities to reconnect with nature.”

Aaron Taffera, Chair of the East Suffolk Lines Community Rail Partnership, said, “We’re really pleased to improve our links with the nature reserve and highlight the easy rail connection. We hope it will inspire people to visit the reserve by rail.”

Greater Anglia’s Customer and Community Engagement Manager, Alan Neville, commented, “It’s so easy to get around East Anglia by train and have a day out that, literally, doesn’t cost the earth – as rail travel reduces your carbon footprint and helps to protect the region’s fragile habitats by reducing congestion and pollution.”

“Our new trains are more efficient and produce less particulate pollution than our old ones which is helping to make rail travel in East Anglia an even more environmentally friendly option.”

In 2022 platform signage was added at the station to help promote the easy access by train to Carlton Marshes.

Suffolk Wildlife Trust is also part of a team of volunteer station adopters who are involved in initiatives that will make the station more wildlife-friendly through the planting of bee and insect-friendly plants and shrubs along the platform.