Visit to Orford Ness, May 2023
I was lucky to have the opportunity of visiting the National Trust Nature Reserve of Orford Ness in May 2023. Visits have to be planned carefully, as access is very restricted, and the only way of getting there is by ferry from Orford, which has to be booked.
The Ness is a ten-mile long shingle spit off the coast of Suffolk, beginning at Aldeburgh, passing Orford and currently finishing at Shingle Street. The isthmus attaching the Ness to the mainland at Aldeburgh is very narrow and in danger of soon collapsing.
Orford Ness has been formed, probably since the 13th century, by longshore drift from further north. It is composed of salt marsh, mud flats and vegetated shingle, which is a very rare habitat. It contains a significant proportion of what remains in Europe.
The Ness is a ten-mile long shingle spit off the coast of Suffolk, beginning at Aldeburgh, passing Orford and currently finishing at Shingle Street. The isthmus attaching the Ness to the mainland at Aldeburgh is very narrow and in danger of soon collapsing.
Orford Ness has been formed, probably since the 13th century, by longshore drift from further north. It is composed of salt marsh, mud flats and vegetated shingle, which is a very rare habitat. It contains a significant proportion of what remains in Europe.
Orford seen from the Ness, with the ancient castle almost in the middle of the picture (slightly to the left - light coloured building). This gives you a good idea of the salt marshes.
The National Trust bought most of the Ness in 1993. Prior to that purchase the Ness had been MoD property, with a significant role in the development and testing of radar, radio, and aerial bombing.
Many of the buildings are derelict, many have been destroyed, but some are being used to house exhibitions explaining what went on during the time the MoD owned it.
Many of the buildings are derelict, many have been destroyed, but some are being used to house exhibitions explaining what went on during the time the MoD owned it.
This is the old Bomb Ballistics buildings, standing lonely on the shingle side of the Ness. Access is only along the paths which are marked, in order to protect the nesting birds and other aspects of this fragile habitat.
Nowadays the National Trust run the "island" as a National Nature Reserve and it is an SSSI - a Site of Special Scientific Interest. We saw a few gulls, geese and ducks, but not a great number.
Here are some of the recent sightings on the day we visited.
One visitor was going "ballistic" about a skylark which she thought she had spotted and was loudly shouting "skylark" and gesticulating to anyone in the vicinity - not an ideal way to leave the birds undisturbed.
Part of the research work that is going on there is the study and research of relatively rare breeds of sheep. Here are some by the side of the track.
Orford Ness is a rare and very interesting habitat. If you're in Suffolk and want to go, it's very well worth the trip. But plan ahead - access is very limited.