NWT Sweet Briar Marshes

Situated close to Norwich city centre, Sweet Briar Marshes is a special place, both as a relic of the wet meadows that once ran the entire length of the River Wensum, and as an easily accessible green space abounding with nature.

The reserve sits by the River Wensum and forms a ribbon of green through an otherwise urban environment. It is a fabulous mosaic of wetland habitats, including grassland, tall-herb fen, veteran hedgerows and scrub. This wetland is important for declining plant species such as early marsh orchid, devil's-bit scabious and ragged robin. 

Sweet Briar Marshes is wonderful for wildlife throughout the year. In winter, spot noisy flocks of small birds such as long-tailed tits searching for seeds in the trees. Listen out in spring for the rambling notes of sedge warbler and loud repetitive call of song thrush. Come summer, the meadows brim with flowers, dragonflies and feeding butterflies such as red admiral, meadow brown and skippers. 

NWT's vision is to protect and enhance the site for the city, its wildlife and residents. It is also our ambition to ensure this wonderful green space thrives as a hub for both the education and the wellbeing of the wider community through appreciation of the natural world. 

History: 

This uniquely wild place and its sensitive ecology – including a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) – was in danger of being lost forever. We launched a public appeal in 2022 to save it and thanks to enormous support from funders, the local community and our loyal supporters, were able to take the land into our ownership later that year. 

Long-term NWT supporters, Aviva, generously pledged up to £300,000 in match funding, helping to complete the public appeal to purchase the site just four months after it was launched, making this the fastest appeal success in our history. Aviva continue to support as our project partner at Sweet Briar Marshes, both financially and through staff volunteering.