Holiday in Norfolk: Amid the Broads

A visit to the Broads would not have seemed
complete without calling in on Ranworth church.
It is described as "the Cathedral of the Broads"
and it offers a chance to get a great view of nearby
Ranworth Broad....

Ranworth View
Video sent by agracarter2

Inside the church, however, is also interesting for
its 15th Century rood screen complete with original
medieval paintwork

Beyond, however lie the Broads themselves,
historic haunt of Norfolk wherries

and now all kinds of boating tourists

As well as Ranworth I visited Hickling Broad,
where beautiful tawny coloured Konick ponies
(orginally from Poland)
graze areas of pasture as part of the
(Norfolk Wildlife Trust) reserve management strategy,
and Strumpshaw Fen (managed by the RSPB)

A Marsh Orchid

Not sure what this is yet...

Purple loosestrife?

...this I do know! It's a comma butterfly.
Not as rare as the Swallowtail I saw at Hickling
(A great view of a spledid beast!) but attractive
nonetheless..

A yellow flag

As for bird life, well, amongst others,
marsh harriers drifted over the marshes,
a hobby chased dragonflies and (a first for me)
a bittern (secretive brown type of heron)
flew up, over a stretch of open water, and
then dropped down into reeds at the far side.
I enjoyed that!
Whilst waiting in vain to see some cranes
I just gazed out over the peaceful scenery,
soaking up the calm swish of the wind in the reeds.
Lovely.