Framlingham Mere
Surrounded by wet meadows and with backdrops of the mighty 12th century castle or redbrick Framlingham College, Framlingham Mere is considered by many to offer some of the most iconic views in the whole of Suffolk. In summer the meadows are grazed by cattle. Seasonal footpaths lead around this nature reserve haven for birds and wildlife managed by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust.
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- Lake fed by: the River Ore
- Size of nature reserve: 31 acres/ 13.8 hectares
- Habitats: Sedge swamps, damp meadows, open water, pollarded willows, scrub and mature trees.
- Managed by : Suffolk Wildlife Trust
- Owned by: Framlingham College and the Church
- Recent restoration by: Local enthusiasts, Suffolk Wildlife Trust, the College, the Environment Agency funded by the Heritage Lottery and other sources
- Access points: Gates to footpaths along New Road, at The Elms car park, from the Castle court
Framlingham Mere is older than you think…
A lake dug to reflect the castle and make it look all the more imposing? A massive fishpond to feed the hungry population of the powerful noblemen who lorded it and entertained royalty at their castle home? Just what is the story behind Framlingham Mere? There are elements of truth in these and all the other stories besides, but its origins go much deeper…
Brimful of history – naturally
A piece of wild wetland amidst an intensively arable area with no other wetland like it for 100 square miles around is quite remarkable. Once thought to have originated during the building of the castle’s defences, evidence from soil cores taken during the restoration of the mere in 1998 suggest that it is a natural feature dating back to the ice age or earlier. The lake mud was more than 13 metres deep, containing the remains of ancient plants and animals: analysis showed that for the first 7,000 years of its life, the lake was unaffected by human activity.
