The Norfolk Wildlife Trust was founded in 1926 by Dr Sydney Long after he purchased 435 acres of marsh at Cley next the Sea, and it has been protecting and restoring Norfolk’s nature ever since. Now, the trust manages over 60 nature reserves and other wildlife sites across the country, and they protect habitats which nurture a thriving variety of wildlife, including some of Norfolk’s rarest species.
The trust announced on the 6th of March their purchase of 336 acres of mostly arable land in Wood Norton, located less than 5km away from their existing Foxley Wood nature reserve in mid-north Norfolk.
After receiving £3.8m from the Natural England Nutrient Mitigation Scheme, the trust announced on the 6th of March their purchase of 336 acres of mostly arable land in Wood Norton, located less than 5km away from their existing Foxley Wood nature reserve in mid-north Norfolk.
The trust say that they will use the land to create a mosaic of habitats and connect wildlife with new ponds, grasslands, hedges, trees and wetlands, and they have ambitious plans to introduce more native trees to the area, which will help cool the nearby landscape, and they plan to bring Norton Beck, a tributary of the River Wensum, back to life by restoring its natural meandering course, which will help reduce downstream flooding.
Eliot Lyne, its chief executive, said “We have done our bit over the last 100 years to preserve and protect these amazing sites… and we can do it for another 100 years”.
Norfolk Wildlife Trust now have more than 40,000 members, around 1380 volunteers, 5,500 hectares worth of nature reserves, including 10km of coastline and they care for Norfolk’s nature through projects, education activities, events and campaigns. And with their new site, they can expand their impact.