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Suffolk Water Park is a disused gravel pit which has been reclaimed and developed as a leisure facility. Situated to the north-west of Ipswich, it is well used by local people for walking, fishing and bird- watching. The horse-shoe shaped lake has some gently shelving margins which slope down to deeper areas in the centre. A narrow fringe of emergent vegetation provides shelter and nesting habitat for a number of common water birds, for example moorhen. The remainder of the site consists of closely mown grassland with a shelterbelt of alder running the length of the peninsula. The fluctuating water level in the pit gives rise to occasional areas of exposed mud around the lake edge. Passage waders for example green sandpiper and wood sandpiper are attracted to these areas to feed and rest. In winter, the lake supports large numbers of wildfowl particularly pochard and tufted duck, for example goldeneye and smew regularly occur in small numbers. Furthermore the site is noted for roosting gulls. Thousands of black-headed and lesser black- backed gulls move inland from the River Orwell to roost on Suffolk Water Park. In addition to its ornithological importance, the site also provides a valuable habitat for dragonflies. At least eight species have been recorded around the margins of the lake.