The Ted Ellis Trust
Ted Ellis (Edward Augustine Ellis DSc FLS 1909-1986) the well-known writer and broadcaster died in 1986
after a lifetime devoted to natural history. Born in Guernsey of Norfolk
parents who returned to Great Yarmouth in 1920, he was Keeper of Natural
History at the Castle Museum, Norwich from 1928-1956. For forty years
he lived with his family at Wheatfen Broad, Surlingham in a remote cottage
amongst 130 acres of woodland and fen. He was one of the great characters
of East Anglia. Although he was a naturalist with a national reputation
and his research work was meticulous and highly respected by the academic
world, he was a man who had the ability to communicate his enthusiasm
to everyone.
Such a man deserves to be remembered and the Ted Ellis Trust
was founded to do just that - by preserving Wheatfen. This is a strange
primitive area recognised as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and
is one of the last tidal marshes of the Yare Valley. The Trust wants
to preserve its rich and fragile ecology, but above all, it wants to
keep this land and its wildlife accessible for the enjoyment and education
of children, students and everyone interested in Nature. That is what
Ted would have wanted too.
About Wheatfen: Wheatfen Broad is one of the few remaining areas
of the once extensive Yare Valley swamp. It is, undoubtedly, one of
the most important sites of its kind in Britain. As the patron of the
Trust, David Bellamy said, "Wheatfen Broad is, in its way, as important
as Mount Everest or the giant redwood forests of North America. It is
probably the best bit of fenland we have because we know so much about
it. That is purely because one man gave his life trying to understand
it - Ted Ellis".
Wheatfen is now managed as a nature reserve and consists largely of
open fen, reed beds, sallow carr and the small broads Wheatfen and Deep
Waters. The house and adjacent land are still owned by the family who
permit The Trust to extend the nature trails into Surlingham Wood and
The Carr.
There is no charge for entry but contributions towards the upkeep of
the reserve are always very welcome.
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