Broadland. 05/01/76; England; 4,623 ha; 52°44'N 001°36'E. National Nature Reserve, Special Protection Area, SSSI. A low-lying wetland complex composed of the Bure, Yare, Thurne, and Waveney river systems of the Norfolk Broads. The mosaic of wetland habitats includes open water, reedbeds, carr woodland, grazing marsh, and fen meadow, with an extensive complex of flooded medieval peat diggings. Outstanding assemblages of rare plants and invertebrates occur at the site -- amongst a rich insect fauna are nationally rare dragonflies, spiders, moths, and butterflies, and the area is a stronghold for the butterfly Papilio machaon brittanica as well as a number of nationally rare breeding birds, including Botaurus stellaris and Circus aeruginosus.Several species of waterbirds winter there and include internationally important numbers of Bewick's swan, Cygnus columbianus bewickii. The region is important for recreation, tourism, agriculture, and wildlife, and there is a large conservation education centre. Extended on 21/09/94 from the former Ramsar Sites known as Bure Marshes and Hickling Broad & Horsey Mere. Ramsar site no. 68. Most recent RIS information: 1999.