This year, Norfolk Wildlife Trust celebrates 100 years.
And it all began with Cley Marshes. A hundred years ago, a small group of determined naturalists made a decision that would shape the future of Norfolk’s wild places.
In 1926, Dr Sydney Long and 12 fellow naturalists purchased a stretch of coastline at Cley Marshes – around 400 acres of marshland – to protect it “as a bird-breeding sanctuary for all time.”
Today, that same landscape is one of the most celebrated nature reserves in the country, welcoming more than 100,000 visitors each year. More importantly, it still does what it was saved to do. It provides a home.
A place that shaped a movement
Cley wasn’t just the Trust’s first reserve. It became a model for conservation across the UK. The idea that local people could step in, protect a place, and manage it for wildlife has since been repeated nationwide through the wider Wildlife Trust movement.
Today, it is widely regarded as one of the UK’s finest birdwatching sites.
Vast and alive with movement and sound, spend even a short time there and it’s easy to see why it captured people’s imagination.
With Spring blooming on the Norfolk coast, right now is one of the best times to experience it.
Along the coast at RSPB Titchwell Marsh, you may spot marsh harriers drifting low over the reed beds. Bitterns announce themselves with that unmistakable booming call. Avocets have returned to the shallows, striking in black and white.
Inland, at Weeting Heath, stone curlews arrive in April. If you spot one, those bright yellow eyes tend to spot you first.
Celebrating 100 years
Reaching a centenary brings a chance to look back, but also to share the story with more people.
One of the highlights is This Wild Dream, a beautifully put-together collection of writing by Nick Acheson. Drawn from his long-running columns for Norfolk Magazine, it captures the character of the county’s wildlife with warmth and clarity. You can pick up a copy at The Book Hive in Norwich and Aylsham, which feels like the right place for it.
Ways to get involved
If the past hundred years have shown anything, it’s that conservation works best when people care enough to take part.
The Trust’s “100 Species in 100 Years” challenge is a great place to start. It’s simple: see how many species you can spot across Norfolk. Birds, plants, insects – whatever catches your eye. It’s a reminder of just how much there is to notice once you begin looking.
There’s also the centenary appeal, which supports ongoing work to protect and expand habitats across the county. Places like Cley don’t look after themselves, and the next hundred years depend on continued support.
You can find more details and join in here.
Looking ahead
That original decision at Cley could easily not have happened. The land might have been drained or developed. The birds might have moved on for good.
Instead, it became the starting point for something much bigger.
A hundred years later, the marshes are still there. The birds still return. And the invitation is open to anyone who wants to be part of what comes next.
Enjoy more of Cley – it’s a really lovely part of Norfolk.
This 3-mile Cley to Blakeney Point coastal walk is is ideal for spotting wildlife and birdwatching.
