EAST Anglia has some
of the country's top
nature reserves where
some of our most rare
flora and fauna can be
seen.
But you do not have to be
an enthusiast prepared to peer
into muddy ponds or sit for
hours with a telescope.
East Anglia's reserves offer
easy views of some of the
greatest wildlife sights in
Europe. From vast flocks of
waders and swans to memo-
rable encounters with rare indi-
viduals, like swallowtail butter-
flies, bitterns or hunting marsh
harriers.
The reason for this great
variety is the equally varied
nature of our habitats. They
range from some of the largest
reedbeds left in Britain, through
the dry, sandy Brecks to large
areas of ancient woodland and
long stretches of unspoiled
coastline.
Reserve shops are good
places to buy wildlife garden-
ing items, like bird feeders,
nestboxes, bat boxes and wild
flower seeds. So while you
help your garden wildlife, prof-
its from the sales help maintain
the reserves.
Many reserves organise spe-
cial events during the year so it
is worth checking their events
programme by phone, email or
by visiting the websites.
Please note dogs are not
generally allowed on nature
reserves and wellies are sensi-
ble in wet weather.
Toilets and refreshments are
only available when visitor cen-
tres are open.
Wildfowl and
Wetlands
Trust
Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust
The WWT only has one reserve
in East Anglia, but it is well
worth visiting.
Web: www.wwt.org.uk
HQ tel: 01453 891900
Welney Wetland Centre
Reserve type: Wetland
Location: Hundred Foot Bank,
Welney, PE14 9TN. Access via
the A1101 or A10, 12 miles
north of Ely and 10 miles south
of Downham Market.
You can see: In summer, a
huge variety of waders, war-
blers and a wealth of other
wetland wildlife. Guided war-
den walks and supervised
pond-dipping on summer
weekends, plus family activi-
ties, trails and events, including
walks in the Washes and areas
of the reserve where access is
usually restricted. Winter visi-
tors can see thousands of
Whooper and Bewick's swans
from close proximity, with day-
time and floodlit evening swan
feeds.
Best time to visit: All year
round � the wildlife changes
with the seasons, and special
events take place all year.
Opening times: Open 7 days a
week, except December 25.
Winter (Mon 3 November 2008
- Sun 1 March 2009)
Mondays, Tuesdays &
Wednesdays 10.00am to
5.00pm - Visitor
centre/shop/reserve (Wigeon
caf� closes at 4.30pm)
Thursdays - Sundays 10.00am
to 8.00pm � Visitor
centre/shop/reserve (Wigeon
caf� closes at 7.30pm)
Late night last admission at
6.30pm.
Facilities: Main Observatory
and six hides, Free parking,
cafe, gift shop, interactive
Fenland Worlds display, educa-
tional children's area, binocular
hire and events calendar
including school holiday activi-
ties. Wheelchair access to the
centre, main observatory, most
hides and reedbed boardwalk.
Admission prices (gift aided):
Adult �6.30, Concessions
�4.75, Children �3.10, Family
�16.90.
Tel: 01353 860711
NORFOLK
WILDLIFE
TRUST
Norfolk Wildlife Trust has over
40 reserves including 10km of
coast, nine Broads and five
ancient woodlands.
Under 16s and NWT members
are admitted free to all
reserves. Adult prices for 2009
had not been set when we
went to press, so check with
reserve.
Web: www.norfolkwildlife
trust.org.uk
HQ tel: 01603 625540
Cley Marshes
Reserve type: Coastal marsh
and reedbed. Norfolk's oldest
reserve.
Location: Three miles north of
Holt on the A149 east of Cley.
You can see: Avocets and bit-
terns in summer, large flocks of
wildfowl and waders.
Best time to visit: Something
good to see all year round. Go
in May for warblers, July for
returning summer waders, win-
ter for snow buntings and wild-
fowl
Opening times: Nature reserve
and visitor centre open year
round, except Christmas Day,
10am to 5pm. (10am to 4pm 1
November to 1 March, call
01263 740008 for further
details).There is a small charge
for entry to the reserve; free for
children and NWT members.
Facilities: Brand new Visitor
Centre with touchscreens,
remote camera and panoramic
views of the reserve, binocular
hire, gift shop, teashop, cafe,
toilets, coach and car park,
wheelchair access to centre,
audio trail, hides and board-
walk. In Daukes Hide is a world
first � a solar powered hearing
system that lets you listen to
the birds on the reserve
through headphones or on T
Loop.
Tel: 01263 740008
Hickling Broad
Reserve type: Broadland and
marsh. Largest and wildest
Norfolk Broad.
Location: Four miles south
east of Stalham off the A149.
You can see: Swallowtail but-
terflies, Norfolk Hawker drag-
onflies, marsh harriers, bitterns,
barn owls, marsh orchids.
Best time to visit: Spring and
summer.
Opening times: Nature reserve
open year round 10am to 5pm.
There is a small charge for
entry; free for children and
NWT members. The visitor
centre is open April to
September. Call 01692 598276
during season for further infor-
mation.
Facilities: Visitor centre, nature
trails, hides, 60ft tree tower
with fabulous views over
Broadland, Water Trail by boat
through quiet backwaters
(book in advance June to
September), reedbed board-
walk, gift shop, tearoom, picnic
site, toilets, coach and car
park, electric powered boat
tours June to September,
wheelchair access to broad
and boardwalk.
Tel: 01692 598276
Weeting Heath
Reserve type: Breck (sandy
heath)
Location: Signposted from the
Weeting to Hockwold road two
miles west of Weeting.
You can see: Best place in the
UK to see rare, shy stone
curlews.
Also heathland plants and
insects.
Best time to visit: Summer.
Opening times: Visitor centre
and nature reserve open April
to September 7am to dusk.
There is a small charge for
entry; free for children and
NWT members. Call 01842
827615 during season for fur-
ther information.
Facilities: Visitor centre, gift
shop, teashop, toilets, coach
and car park, wheelchair
access to to visitor centre and
hides.
Tel: 01842 827615
Easy access
to rare treats
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