Take an evening stroll with a bat detector, or an early morning walk as spring truly gets underway; welcome creatures returning to roost sites or explore the history of the area: it’s Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s free Explore the Bure mini-walk festival.
For four days starting
Friday 17 April, celebrate the wildlife, landscape and history in an area home to some of the finest wildlife in the UK. The walks are organised by Norfolk Wildlife Trust in partnership with Upton Walking Group and the White Horse Community Owned Pub and Restaurant.
They are free to join and there is no need to book. They all start at the White Horse Pub, 17 Chapel Road, Upton, Norfolk, NR13 6BT. Warm, waterproof clothing and shoes you do not mind getting muddy are advised.
Friday 17 April, 7.30-9.30pm:
Stepping out in search of bats. A gentle stroll at dusk on Upton Marshes, looking for bats, owls and deer.
Saturday 18 April, 9-11am:
The early bird. A 3 mile walk at NWT Upton Broad and Marshes looking at spring wildlife.
Sunday 19 April, 10am-1pm:
Stepping back in time. A 5 mile circular walk along the river Bure to Acle, then back to Upton. Discovering the history of the area as we look out for wildlife.
Monday 20 April, 5-7pm:
Dusk dawdle. A 3 mile stroll along the river Bure as wildlife begins to return to roost sites or in some cases wakes ready to start their day.
Upstream of Acle on the floodplain of the River Bure,
Upton Broad and Marshes is one of NWT’s best-kept secrets. The beautiful countryside here is easily accessible with many of its most interesting wild places freely open for you to explore and enjoy. Discover the Bure Valley’s wildlife-rich fens, broads and marshes home to some of Norfolk’s rarest wildlife: from iconic swallowtail butterflies and Norfolk hawker dragonflies, to otters and water voles, and a staggering array of wetland plants.
Chief Executive of Norfolk Wildlife Trust, Brendan Joyce said: “The walks in the festival are designed to help people discover how to be part of a Living Landscape; to help people explore the area and to provide ways of taking action – either practical conservation work with NWT or in their own gardens or managed land.
“They are part of a community project run by Norfolk Wildlife Trust called
Delivering Living Landscapes, which is working in the Gaywood Valley in west Norfolk and Bure Valley in the Broads to engage local people with their landscape. We hope people will enjoy exploring and discovering Upton in the Bure Valley and take actions to help protect it.”
As part of the project, NWT has created a series of walks leaflets which are available from the White Horse pub or to
download from the NWT website. They highlight some beautiful and wildlife-rich walks in this area, with tips and a recording form to help you look out for wildlife.
The mini walk-festival is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Essex & Suffolk Water, John Jarrold Trust and Broads Authority.
Robyn Llewellyn, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund East of England, said: “We are delighted to support Norfolk Wildlife Trust with this project that will connect communities to allow people to engage even more with their local environments. There is clear historic evidence of habitat loss and fragmentation in both Living Landscape areas and this project will provide opportunities for people to get directly involved in ensuring these special landscapes are here to be enjoyed and valued now and in the future.”