The Bure Valley Living Landscape provides a vital range of natural functions (sometimes called ‘ecosystem services’) that we all rely upon: its trees and green plants convert the carbon dioxide we exhale (and that is released when fossil fuels are burned) into the oxygen we need to breathe; carbon dioxide is also taken from the atmosphere and locked away in the peat of the valley’s marshes, helping to protect against climate change; our crops are pollinated by insects that live around the varied habitats of the valley, and the soils those same crops grow in are kept healthy by well-functioning local ecosystems; the wetlands and flood plains of the Bure also help to protect against flooding, soaking up excess water like a sponge during wet periods before slowly releasing it back to the rivers during drier times.
 
Perhaps almost as importantly, the Bure Valley Living Landscape offers people a place to relax and enjoy the outdoors, a place to experience and connect with the natural world. Whether it’s taking a walk, a bike ride, a boat trip, or just sitting and watching the local wildlife pass by, the Bure and Ant valleys are a source of pleasure and inspiration to the thousands of people who live in and visit this magnificent Living Landscape.

Put Norfolk's Wildlife on the Map

You don’t have to be an expert to make a valuable contribution to local knowledge of Norfolk’s wildlife. Recording wildlife is an easy way to get involved in wildlife conservation; it is a way of helping us to monitor wildlife within the county, helping us to gain an understanding of an animal’s distribution.

Every wildlife record counts and will be of value to us. Your sightings can help us identify areas which are especially important for wildlife in your local area and help us identify species in decline or under threat.