About the reserve

Cley Marshes is one of the best-known nature reserves in the UK. Purchased by NWT in 1926 to be held ‘in perpetuity as a breeding bird sanctuary’, it is a haven for a wide range of species and a hotspot for rare vagrant birds.  

Visited by birdwatchers, walkers and sightseers from around the country, Cley feels like a special place for everyone who visits. The vast swaying reedbed is alive with birds and insects in summer, and all year the huge skies, wide open marshes and long stretching beaches create a sense of freedom and space.  

In 2012, an appeal helped us to purchase a further 57 hectares, linking the two NWT reserves at Cley and Salthouse together to create a single coastal reserve of more than 300 hectares. Today, Cley and Salthouse Marshes attract more than 110,000 human visitors each year. The six hides (four of which are accessible via boardwalks) give fantastic views across pools and scrapes that are specially managed to attract breeding and passage birds.  

Of the many birds found at Cley and Salthouse Marshes, the spectacular spoonbill with its long spatula-like bill, is one of the most popular sights. After an absence of more than 300 years, the spoonbill started breeding regularly in the UK again in 2010. Birds from a nearby colony frequently visit Cley's pools to feed. 

Our award-winning visitor centre features interactive interpretation, exhibitions, and a well-stocked gift and bookshop. The Simon Aspinall Wildlife Education Centre provides popular events, workshops, performances, guided walks, and seasonal festivals. There is also a large café which serves tasty local produce and offers panoramic views over the marshes and coastline.