Framlingham Mere

Framlingham Mere (mere means lake) seems to have provoked many different ideas as to its origins.  Ray Harding the mere warden says the archaeological evidence indicates the mere predates the castle and is naturally occurring but other explanations are: the mere was man-made to feed the castle's construction (somewhat refuted by the discovery of what may have been the old quay on the site of the town's supermarket), the mere was dug by peasants to serve as an ornamental garden and status symbol for the Earls and Dukes of Norfolk, and the mere was created as an extra line of defence on the castle's western side.

The tiny river Ore feeds the mere at the northern end.  The Ore was once navigable from the sea at Orford by the small ships of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries and used to ferry stone from Northamptonshire and Caen, Normandy for the castle's construction

In 1988 the Suffolk Wildlife Trust leased the area as a nature reserve and now monitors and maintains the surrounding plants and wildlife.  Some 290 species of plants have been found on the mere.  Many wild flowers are in evidence throughout the year, including marsh marigold, ragged robin, skullcap and flag iris.  Birds are numerous with around 80 species recorded.  The lake itself is home to ducks, swans and herons.  Kingfishers can be seen and if you are lucky you may catch sight of barn owls hunting over the meadows.   The mere is home to the nationally rare water vole and several species of bat.

For more info contact voluntary warden Ray Hardings  01728 724429