With the brighter weather appearing, my wife and I headed out with two aims. A visit to the resting place of her much loved and missed Mum, my mother-in-law Pam, and a walk round Carlton Marshes.
Celebratory days are a challenge for those who’ve lost loved ones
With Mother’s Day approaching, it’s a difficult time for those that have lost their Mum, like my wife and her family.
The promos and media frenzy around these commercially-driven annual events are no fun for those in that position. However, it is also a time to remember fun times and recall lots of lovely memories.
It’s great to see that some companies are being more sensitive and giving the options to people to unsubscribe from emails which promote such events but there’s no hiding from it in the shops and elsewhere.
Pam
My mother-in-law Pam was a very special woman. Strong-willed, hard working, caring and had an infectious sense of fun. She was one of those people who gave so much to others and also left memories that will never be forgotten.
Life dealt her a bad hand in her last few years but she did the best she could. We visit her resting place whenever we head Eastwards.
Carlton Marshes
Part of the Suffolk Wildlife Trust, Carlton Marshes is a nature reserve 405 hectares in size. It’s an amazing place and the recent developments have provided a great day out, or just a place to rock up and enjoy a stroll in the fresh air.
The marshes are in the Waveney Valley South of the Norfolk Broads but part of the Suffolk Broads. Their website (here) describes a jigsaw of grazing marsh, fens, peat pools, short fen meadow, tall fen, dykes, pools and scrub.
Mostly man-made and with the benefit of lottery money investment driving a big expansion in recent years, it’s an awesome place to call in and have a lovely walk. Have I mentioned that already?
There are defined paths around the area and lots to explore.
There is a diverse amount of wildlife around the place with plenty of birds from marsh harriers, bearded tits, and barn owls. One of the staff members said there are some red kites around right now.
There are also dragonflies, butterflies, Chinese water deer, and lots more.
More about Chinese water deer
Chinese water deer were first introduced into Great Britain in the 1870s. The animals were kept in the London Zoo until 1896, when the Duke of Bedford oversaw their transfer to Woburn Abbey, Bedfordshire.
More of the animals were imported and added to the herd over the next three decades. In 1929 and 1930, 32 deer were transferred from Woburn to l, also in Bedfordshire, and released into the park.
The current population of Chinese water deer at Whipsnade is currently estimated to be more than 600, while the population at Woburn is probably more than 250.
The majority of the current population of Chinese water deer in Britain derives from escapees, with the remainder being descended from many deliberate releases. Most of these animals still reside close to Woburn Abbey.
It appears that the deer’s strong preference for a particular habitat – tall reed and grass areas in rich alluvial deltas – has restricted its potential to colonize further afield. The main area of distribution is from Woburn east into Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and North ll, and south towards Whipsnade. There have been small colonies reported in other areas
Final thoughts on Carlton Marshes
There’s a really good visitor centre with food and refreshments on offer, and really good information boards outside to read up before you take to the marsh.
There are a few hides en route to sit and look out for the wildlife. They’re a little more compact than some other reserve hides but pick your time well, and you can sit in and just relax and watch “wassa goin’ orn”.
We enjoyed this trip a lot, this time doing the circular walk. Next time, we’ve said we will take in the paths West or East to explore a little more.
Onwards and upwards…