Wildlife trust to run expanding country park

2 hours ago

Zoe ApplegateNorfolk

News image — Eliot Lyne, from Norfolk Wildlife Trust and Broadland District Council's Sue Holland have a shared vision for the country park

Norfolk Wildlife Trust Eliot Lyne, who has greying light brown hair and is wearing a black coat and blue shirt, shakes hands with Sue Holland, who has light brown shoulder-length hair and is wearing a patterned scarf and black jacket. They are standing in front of a Broadland Country Park sign. — Eliot Lyne, from Norfolk Wildlife Trust and Broadland District Council's Sue Holland have a shared vision for the country park

The UK's oldest wildlife trust is to take over the running of a country park as it almost doubles in size.

Broadland Country Park, between the villages of Horsford and Felthorpe, near Norwich, is home to rare species such as nightjars and cuckoos and will now be managed by Norfolk Wildlife Trust.

A 114-acre (46 ha) plot, called Drayton Drewray, will also be added to the south of the site after being bought by the wildlife trust and Broadland District Council, which set up the 140-acre (57 ha) country park in 2021.

Council leader Sue Holland said she was "incredibly proud" of what the council had done with the land and there was "no better custodian than Norfolk Wildlife Trust".

Zoe Applegate/BBC Heathland and trees. — Broadland Country Park is being expanded following the purchase of more land

She continued: "Broadland Country Park was born from a vision to provide our residents with world-class access to nature.

"[The trust's] expertise will ensure while the park remains a beautiful place for a Sunday stroll, it also becomes a thriving engine for nature recovery."

Plans include improving the haven's woodland and marshy grasslands, holding wildlife events, guided walks and workshops, while it will also be a place where volunteers can get specialised conservation training.

New walking and cycle paths will be created too.

Norfolk Wildlife Trust chief Eliot Lyne said it was "delighted.. to grow this amazing green space to almost twice its size" due to council funding.

"This is a brilliant site for the people of Norwich and its surroundings to experience nature and a vital piece of the puzzle for nature's recovery," he said.

"By managing these woods and heathlands, we can create a more resilient landscape for rare species like the nightjar and silver-studded blue butterfly."

The council will continue to fund the park, which will remain free to visit.

A visitor centre, offering a café and toilets, is due to open this summer.

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