Mid-Yare National Nature Reserve facts for kids

The Mid-Yare National Nature Reserve is a special protected area in Norfolk, England. It's located just east of the city of Norwich. This reserve was first set up by English Nature and is now managed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). When you see it mentioned by the RSPB, it's often called Strumpshaw Fen.

This large nature reserve covers about 7.8 square kilometers (that's roughly 3 square miles!). It's mostly made up of flat, wet areas called floodplains, which are found along the River Yare. The heart of the reserve is around the Strumpshaw area.

Amazing Animals and Plants at Mid-Yare

The Mid-Yare National Nature Reserve is home to many different kinds of wildlife. It's a really important place for rare and special species.

Trees and Insects

The reserve has areas with alder and willow trees, which grow in wet, swampy ground. These areas are called "carrs." These wet woodlands are perfect for some incredible insects. You might spot the beautiful swallowtail butterfly flying around. This butterfly is quite rare in the UK! Another amazing insect here is the Norfolk hawker dragonfly, known scientifically as Aeshna isosceles.

Birds of the Wetlands

Mid-Yare is a paradise for birds, especially those that love wetlands.

• You can often see marsh harriers soaring overhead. These are large birds of prey.
• Tiny, colorful bearded tits hide among the reeds.
• The reserve is also home to most of the UK's population of Cetti's warblers, a small bird with a very loud song.

Waterfowl and Waders

The wet grasslands at Mid-Yare are incredibly important for many types of waterfowl (birds that live on water) and waders (birds that feed in shallow water).

• In winter, huge numbers of wigeon gather here. These ducks come from colder places to spend the winter.
• You can also see important numbers of European white-fronted goose.
• Britain's largest group of bean gooses often visits this reserve.
• Other common birds you might spot include northern lapwing, common redshank, and common snipe.

How the RSPB Protects Mid-Yare

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) works hard to keep Mid-Yare a safe and healthy home for its wildlife. They do several important jobs:

• They carefully control the water levels in the reserve. This helps create the perfect wet conditions for different plants and animals.
• They maintain the dykes, which are like small canals or ditches that help manage the water flow.
• They regularly cut the reed beds. This helps keep the habitat healthy and prevents it from becoming overgrown.
• The RSPB also works to keep human disturbance of the wildlife to a minimum. This means making sure visitors don't accidentally scare or harm the animals.