Benacre NNR
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Benacre NNR is a National Nature Reserve in Suffolk, England. Although it is called a "Broad", it is not a true Broad in the accepted sense, nor is it within The Broads National Park. It is maintained by English Nature.
Benacre NNR consists of three isolated "broads" near the River Waveney, but not part of the Broads river network:
- Benacre Broad
- Covehithe Broad
- Easton Broad
They are situated between Kessingland, Wrentham and Southwold, close to the Suffolk coast.
There are extensive reedbeds, woodlands and heathlands, also pits created by gravel extraction. Reed is farmed commercially for the thatching industry, whilst enabling the bearded reedling to find a habitat.
There are over 100 species of breeding birds, including marsh harrier, bearded reedling, water rail, and occasionally bittern. The flora includes seakale, sea holly, and yellow-horned poppy.
Some of the ongoing work at the reserve is stopping the encroaching sea by digging new lagoons and establishing moe sea defences, and replacing the woodland lost to the sea.
Whilst the broads in Norfolk came about through peat digging in the Middle Ages, the Benacre broads are lakes formed in shallow valleys when glacial drift blocked off the outflow to the sea.
