Wildlife trust's centenary 'free weekend in nature'

The UK's oldest wildlife trust is opening its sites for free for three days as part of its centenary celebrations.

The Norfolk Wildlife Trust (NWT) was founded by Dr Sydney Long. In 1926, he bought 435 acres of marsh at Cley next the Sea "as a bird-breeding sanctuary for all time".

Cley Marshes now attracts more than 100,000 visitors a year. Its purchase helped pave the way to what would become a nationwide network of county wildlife trusts.

Chief executive Eliot Lyne said: "It is a great honour to be at the helm of such a landmark organisation for UK nature conservation as it reaches this special milestone."

NWT's "free weekend in nature" runs from this Friday to Sunday.

"It's incredible to think that the UK-wide country wildlife trust movement began with the purchase of Cley Marshes a century ago," said Lyne.

"Following 100 years of wildlife conservation in Norfolk, we have achieved so much — and honed the skills and experience to secure a wilder, healthier and more prosperous Norfolk into the next century.

"However, Norfolk's nature still faces huge threats.

"That's why we are raising our ambitions and looking forward to the next 100 years with hope."

NWT's centenary is in the same year the broadcaster and natural historian David Attenborough celebrates his 100th birthday.

In a special message to NWT, he said: "I send my most sincere congratulations on achieving your centenary."

He was at Cley Marshes in person in June 2015 to open the Attenborough's Walk footpath.

Species NWT has helped recover in Norfolk include crane, bittern, purple emperor butterfly and natterjack toad.

In 2025, NWT acquired 100 acres of ancient woodland to expand its reserve at Foxley Wood.

Parts of the wood, designated a site of special scientific interest, are known to have been there for 6,000 years.

Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.