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Norfolk
We have many projects for wildlife and communities in Norfolk. Here are two examples of our work and how we are achieving the Big Vision in our county.
Broadland Restoration Project
Project Summary: Norfolk Wildlife Trust is working to restore and manage important wetland habitats at five Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in the Norfolk Broads, creating a vital refuge for the important wildlife on these reserves.
County: Norfolk
Area: The sites, all within the Norfolk Broads area, are Upton Broad and Marshes, Ranworth Broad, Barton Broad, Alderfen Broad and Smallburgh Fen. Habitats: Wetland and grazing marsh and featuring complementary habitats including fen, open water, carr woodland and marsh dyke.
Key Species: A large range of rare species including bittern, Norfolk hawker dragonfly, water vole, marsh harrier, fen orchid and the magnificent swallowtail butterfly.
Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s work at these sites is to restore and maintain the wet habitats and protect the species that live here by controlling the invasion of coarse plants and bushes, called scrub, into the fen and mire communities.
A network of ditches maintains the water levels on the grazing marshes and fen, which are especially rich in plants. Regular ditch restoration takes place to ensure we keep the right conditions for invertebrates, including the endangered shiny ramshorn snail and the Norfolk hawker dragonfly, that are dependent upon these areas of water for food and breeding sites.
A survey that has taken place at Upton Broad and Marshes showed water voles were only present at dykes that were maintained through regular ditch restoration. This demonstrates the success of these management techniques.
In addition to restoration, the Trust works to improve visitor access to these areas. One example of this, are the plans to build a raised viewing platform overlooking Ranworth Broad which will be open throughout the year, enabling visitors to see the spectacle of the wintering birds on the Broad when the Visitor Centre is closed in the Winter.
NWT Cley Marshes Visitor Centre and Marshes
Project Summary: Situated on the stunning North Norfolk coast, Cley Marshes covers over 250 acres and is recognised as one of Britain’s most important areas for birdlife. Norfolk Wildlife Trust are working to make sure that this important area has the best chance of withstanding climate change. The new visitor centre at NWT Cley Marshes opened earlier this year has provided the opportunity to show and educate visitors about climate change, it’s affect on us all now and in the future.
County: Norfolk
Area: North Norfolk Coast
Habitats: The nature reserve is made up of varied habitats include saltwater and freshwater marshes, large areas of reedbed and grazing marshes as well as several scrapes and pools.
Key Species: The nature reserve is positioned on bird migration routes and so attracts a diverse range of species, including internationally important numbers of breeding waders and wintering wildfowl. Bittern, avocet, bearded tit and marsh harrier are just some of the species that breed on the nature reserve.
Bought in 1926, Cley Marshes is the oldest Wildlife Trust nature reserve in Britain. It is recognised as one on Britain's most important areas for birdlife, attracting thousands of visitors each year.
Norfolk Wildlife Trust has built a new visitor centre overlooking the nature reserve and the ever changing coastline of North Norfolk. The centre has enhanced the visitor experience at Cley by adding innovative interpretation, giving a background to the nature reserve and the impact of climate change on the fragile north Norfolk coastline and its future. The visitor centre also uses sustainable energy including a wind turbine, ground source heat pump and solar panels. Through interactive interpretation, and also the unique characteristics of the coastline, the visitor is well placed to appreciate the need for sustainable life styles to meet an ever changing environment.
Meanwhile, on the Cley Marshes nature reserve itself, as well as the flood alleviation work carried out by the Environment Agency, we have also upgraded our own internal water management system allowing much better control of levels in and around the fresh water pools. This ongoing management will give the nature reserve the best possible chance of withstanding the effects of climate change.
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Find out more about The Wildlife Trusts work across the Eastern Region: Our Big Vision
Visit the website of Norfolk Wildlife Trust.
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