It has been described as one of Lowestoft's gems.

Eastern Daily Press: Damage at the Gunton Warren Nature Reserve, which has had the chestnut fencing vandalised with the posts ripped out and burnt on a fire. Pictures: Sonja Crawford.Damage at the Gunton Warren Nature Reserve, which has had the chestnut fencing vandalised with the posts ripped out and burnt on a fire. Pictures: Sonja Crawford. (Image: Archant)

A once-unloved stretch of coastline has been transformed over the past couple of years thanks to the efforts of Suffolk Wildlife Trust staff and a team of volunteers.

But arsonists have targeted the Gunton Warren Nature Reserve.

Fencing, which had been installed to protect rare plants in shingle areas, was vandalised at the site between Links Road and Tramps Alley – with posts ripped out and burnt, to the frustration of volunteers and the reserve's warden, Matt Gooch. With police inquiries continuing, officers are treating the incident as arson.

Mr Gooch said: 'Our Gunton Warren Nature Reserve has had the chestnut fencing vandalised with the posts ripped out and burnt on a fire. These areas are installed to protect rare shingle plants, like sea pea and yellow horned poppy, that are sensitive to trampling and we're holding on in these areas by a thread.'

The 60-acre site was in need of work when the trust took over its management from Waveney District Council in April 2013. After signing a 10-year management agreement, the project is being funded by the Coastal Pathfinder scheme as habitat restoration on the site is carried out.

Anyone with any information should contact PC Stranks at Lowestoft police on 101.

Have you got a Lowestoft story? Email mark.boggis@archant.co.uk

The picture shows damage at the Gunton Warren Nature Reserve. Picture: SONJA CRAWFORD