Storm damage leads to closures at many NWT nature reserves


Saturday 26 September, 2020


UPDATE 10/10: All sites have now re-opened. Thanks for your patience! 


The strong winds and rain meant many Norfolk Wildlife Trust nature reserves have been closed, or have reduced access.

A yellow weather warning was in place overnight and has caused damage at several of NWT’s nature reserves. Many of its woods have been closed – Foxley, Brett’s, Wayland and Lower Wood Ashwellthorpe – as well as the nature reserves at Hickling Broad and Booton Common.

In West Norfolk, NWT closed the east car park and the nature trail at Roydon Common and there was reduced access at Narborough Railway Line and East Winch Common.

Holt Lowes has no acess from Hempstead Road or the Country Park. NWT also closed the hides at Cley Marshes on the north Norfolk coast, which had recently been reopened as part of the ongoing coronavirus situation. These have now re-opened.

Nature Conservation Manager at Norfolk Wildlife Trust, Steve Collin said: “There has been much damage across Norfolk with numerous trees down, many of which were healthy. Our priority has been to remove the trees from roads and off the stock fences. North Westerly winds are not normally the most destructive, so this is a surprising situation.”  

NWT advises anyone considering a visit over the weekend to any of its nature reserves, and especially those with trees, to take extra care in the adverse weather conditions. 

Update: 
​Hickling Broad has now reopened: Cadbury Hide and Bittern Hide are open as they were before the storm hit. The observation hut is open but the boardwalk leading to it is underwater at the moment. The paths are very muddy especially those by the Broad. The boats are currently suspended until further checks have been made. 

Bishops and Babcock hides at Cley are now reopened.

Lower Wood Ashwellthorpe, Wayland Wood, Booton Common, Foxley Wood, Roydon Common, Tony hallatt Memorial Reserve, Syderstone Common, Ringstead Downs, East Winch Common and Narborough Railway Line are now open.
NWT
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