Upton Fen

A Norfolk Wildlife Trust reserve, this is the leading site for dragonflies in Norfolk, as well as being home to Swallowtail butterflies, orchids and Hobbies.

Directions

Upton Broad is not the easiest site to find. Take the A47 Norwich to Yarmouth road as far as Acle. From Acle take the B1140 road to South Walsham and take the third right turn towards Pilson Green. Drive down till you see Low Road on your left (There's a road sign - no through road - which is your best clue as you approach) You'll find the car park 200m on your right - free parking.

Tour

From the car park you pass through a wooden gate and across a bridge. The guide to dragonflies sign here shows how seriously this reserve takes its dragonflies. The area immediately in front of you is dotted with tiny ponds, no more than two feet across. Amazingly they support the wide diversity of dragonflies you'll see here. Common Blue, Azure, Blue-tailed and Variable Damselflies, Emperors and Common Darters are all to be seen here. Turning right, take the board walk (black-tailed skimmers, darters) to the look out platform. This looks out over the marshes. Check here for red-eyed damselflies (and Hobbies and Marsh Harriers over the marshes). Continuing along the grass paths will give more opportunities for Hairy, Norfolk, Southern, Brown and Migrant Hawkers before you reach the hide - good for four-spotted chasers and ruddy darters. The paths will then return you to the start.

These species have been recorded at this site.

Clicking on the English name will take you to the specific page

English Name	Scientific Name	Status
Banded Demoiselle	Calopteryx splendens	Rare
Emerald Damselfly	Lestes sponsa	Frequent
Large Red Damselfly	Pyrrhosoma nymphula	Frequent
Common Blue Damselfly	Enallagma cyathigerum	Frequent
Azure Blue Damselfly	Coenagrion puella	Frequent
Variable Blue Damselfly	Coenagrion pulchellum	Frequent
Blue-tailed Damselfly	Ischnura elegans	Frequent
Red-eyed Damselfly	Erythromma najas	Frequent
Emperor Dragonfly	Anax Imperator	Frequent
Common Hawker	Aeschna juncea	Frequent
Southern Hawker	Aeschna cyanea	Frequent
Brown Hawker	Aeschna grandis	Frequent
Migrant Hawker	Aeschna mixta	Frequent
Norfolk Hawker	Aeschna isosceles	Frequent
Hairy Dragonfly	Brachytron pratense	Frequent
Broad-bodied Chaser	Libellula depressa	Frequent
Four-spotted Chaser	Libellula quadrimaculata	Frequent
Black-tailed Skimmer	Orthetrum cancellatum	Frequent
Common Darter	Sympetrum striolatum	Frequent
Ruddy Darter	Sympetrum sanguineum	Frequent
Black Darter	Sympetrum danae	Migrant