Cley Marshes Appeal

NWT Cley Marshes is where the Wildlife Trusts movement began in 1926, when a group of 12 friends led by Dr Sydney Long had a vision to purchase and protect this and other precious sites.

What they and we never imagined was that 86 years later, the Trust would have the chance to buy 143 acres adjoining Cley and expand our world famous nature reserve by a  third.

With this purchase we will secure for conservation the last stretch in eight kilometres of coastal sites; with unique sand dunes, shingle ridges, saltmarsh, grazing marsh, reed beds and pools.

Chief Executive, Brendan Joyce said: ‘When this land on the north Norfolk coast suddenly came on the market, all eyes fell on Norfolk Wildlife Trust. Situated next to the Trust’s world-famous nature reserve, Cley Marshes, with Salthouse Marshes on the other side, it spurred much excitement and expectation among our membership, the Norfolk public and bird watchers around the world, wondering what the Trust would do. We rise to the challenge to protect Norfolk’s wildlife. But we need everyone’s help to make this possible. This is the biggest appeal in the Trust’s 86 year history. And probably the most important.

‘The Trust has been offered a special finance facility by a major charitable foundation, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, which allows us 22 months to raise the £1million to complete the purchase. While it may seem a long time, this is an incredible challenge alongside restoring and protecting the 10,000 acres currently in our care.

‘Please help us make this once-in-a-generation purchase of an irreplaceable piece of land by donating to our appeal. Your donation, however small, is critical. We cannot let this chance go. This land creates a network of internationally vital habitats for many endangered species including marsh harrier, avocet, spoonbill, bearded tit and bittern.’

Please make a donation to the appeal now online

My Cley

We want to hear why Cley is special to you. Did you come here as a child and see your first little tern? Have you brought your own children here to explore?

Whatever your special memories of Cley, help us to honour our founder’s vision and hugely expand the nation’s best-loved nature reserve by making and gift-aiding your donation today. We will put a selection of your memories on a new ‘MyCley’ web page and will award a small prize to the best three.

Read more on our MyCley page and submit your own memories. Please help us show how important Cley is and why we must take this opportunity to make it better.