Editing Redgrave and Lopham Fens (section)

===1959-1991===
In 1959 a [[borehole]] was drilled at the fen to provide drinking water for the local population, with a capacity to take 3,600m<sup>3</sup> of water every day from the underlying [[aquifer]]. This diverted water from the springs that fed the fen and the water table began to fall. This led to a change in the fen's [[hydrology]] in the early 1960s as it went from a year-round water supply to alternating summer drought and winter floods. With a net loss of water this caused the fen to begin to dry out.

[[Image:Redgrave Fen path.jpg|thumb|250px|The Waveney Trail. A raised footpath that separates areas of fenland within the reserve.]]

The loss of water and lack of management led to the degradation of the fen, and scrub began to invade large areas. In 1961 the Suffolk Wildlife Trust gained control of the site but insufficient resources meant the large scale work they wished to carry out to return it to its previous state could not be achieved; the condition of the overall fen continued to decline.<ref name=SWT2/>