Redgrave and Lopham Fen NNR, on the Norfolk/Suffolk border, is the largest valley fen in England and is best known for its population of Fen Raft Spiders Dolomedes plantarius. My family and I moved to the area around a decade ago and, although I don’t remember exactly when my first visit to the fen was, I have a strong memory from that day of approaching the scrape and seeing a huge, white bird there. The challenge of trying to identify it – it was a Great White Egret Ardea alba – got me hooked on birding. Since then, the variety of birds and other wildlife at the fen, and the constant changing of the species composition through the seasons, has drawn me back to the site time and time again.