Swallowtail caterpillar by David Thacker 1/10
Upton Dyke by Richard Osbourne 2/10
Water vole by Peter Mallett 3/10
Reed cutting by Barry Madden 4/10
Marsh harrier by Brian Macfarlane 5/10
Dyke at NWT Cockshoot Broad by Ray Jones 6/10
Great crested grebes by Barry Madden 7/10
NWT Barton Broad by Mike Page 8/10
Four-spotted chaser by Jessica Riederer 9/10
Barn owl by Chris Mills 10/10
The Bure Valley Living Landscape has a number of important wetlands at its heart, including NWT Ranworth Broad and NWT Upton Broad and Marshes. These two nature reserves comprise grazing marshes, fen, reedbed, wet woodland and open water, habitats that support a large number of plants and animals. The areas surrounding these reserves include rivers, scrub, woodland, and farmland, all of which are also vital habitats for many species of wildlife.

Discover: Bure Valley

Discover the Bure and Ant valley’s wildlife-rich broads, marshes, reedbeds and damp woodlands, and the swallowtail butterflies, common terns, wintering wildfowl, Norfolk hawker dragonflies, and rare plants that are found here. Secretive mammals, including otters and water voles, also occur, but you will need lots of luck to see one. Explore the links to our species profiles and learn what has been seen recently (and what you could see), or share your photos of the Bure and Ant's wildlife in our gallery.
 
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.

News stories, A living landscape

2021-10-29 Ground-breaking new Claylands Ground-breaking new Claylands wildlife project calls on South Norfolk communities
Friday 29 October, 2021
Norfolk Wildlife Trust is embarking on an ambitious new project to restore the "fabric of the countryside" ...
2021-06-15 More than £600k raised to expa More than £600k raised to expand Brecks nature reserve
Tuesday 15 June, 2021
Norfolk Wildlife Trust has reached its fundraising target to expand one of the Brecks’ most important nature re...
2018-08-13 Floating digger provides next Floating digger provides next stage of fen restoration
Monday 13 August, 2018
A 14-ton excavator has been ‘floating’ on a Norfolk fen this month to create a network of ponds, which wi...
2018-07-25 Songs, Scales and studies at C Songs, Scales and studies at Cley this summer
Wednesday 25 July, 2018
Don’t miss Cley Calling Summer Spirit next week - Thursday 2nd till Sunday 5th August – with unusual ways...
2018-06-27 Summer Spirit as Cley calls to Summer Spirit as Cley calls to art and nature lovers
Wednesday 27 June, 2018
Just five weeks until our long summer weekend of wildlife and creativity at Cley! Thursday 2nd till Sunday 5th August...
2018-05-22 Wildlife in Common Wildlife in Common
Tuesday 22 May, 2018
A two year project celebrating Norfolk’s commons and their wildlife and heritage has begun,  run by Norfol...
2017-12-08 Be ‘eagle’ eyed this winter Be ‘eagle’ eyed this winter
Friday 08 December, 2017
Winter is often a very good time of year to spot birds of prey. As the trees have lost their leaves the silhouettes o...
2017-12-05 Cley Calling celebrates Norfol Cley Calling celebrates Norfolk’s starry skies this weekend
Tuesday 05 December, 2017
Do you know your mallard from your gadwall? Do you fancy a spot of frosty storytelling with a glass of mulled wine? Y...
2017-10-02 New report links volunteering New report links volunteering in nature with better mental health
Monday 02 October, 2017
A new report which examines the effects of volunteering in nature on people’s mental health is published by The...
2017-09-20 Cley Calling – Autumn Colours Cley Calling – Autumn Colours
Wednesday 20 September, 2017
This autumn, you can explore North Norfolk’s colourful coastal landscape and culture as part of NWT’s ...
2017-09-19 Celebrating two decades of rub Celebrating two decades of rubbish help for biodiversity
Tuesday 19 September, 2017
It feels counterintuitive - the waste we produce helping to restore habitats and conserve some of Norfolk’s mos...
2017-09-11 Breeding redshank return to Ro Breeding redshank return to Roydon Common after 40 years
Monday 11 September, 2017
A new noise has joined the cacophony of bubbling curlew, drumming snipe and the ‘tooo-wips’ of lapwing th...
2017-06-27 Norfolk's magical meadows Norfolk's magical meadows
Tuesday 27 June, 2017
Norfolk Wildlife Trust is leading a free meadow tour of Mulbarton Common this Saturday 1 July 2017 as part of The Wil...
2017-06-07 From Dartmoor to Breckland From Dartmoor to Breckland
Wednesday 07 June, 2017
New ponies settle in to manage Cranwich Camp, Norfolk.  Sixteen Dartmoor Ponies are settling in to their new...
2017-05-03 Cley Calling - Spring Song Cley Calling - Spring Song
Wednesday 03 May, 2017
Musicians and artists celebrate spring at the North Norfolk Coast From Thursday 4 May to Sunday 7 May, Norfolk Wi...
2017-04-18 £1 million target reached to s £1 million target reached to secure future of international wetland Hickling Broad
Tuesday 18 April, 2017
Norfolk Wildlife Trust has announced today that the £1 million target had been reached through donations to the...
2017-03-15 'Microsculpture' 'Microsculpture'
Wednesday 15 March, 2017
'Microsculpture' is a unique exhibition resulting from a ground breaking insects project by Levon Biss, Briti...
2017-03-07 Celebrating 'The Year of Norfo Celebrating 'The Year of Norfolk’s Nature' - photography competition
Tuesday 07 March, 2017
Norfolk Wildlife Trust today [Wednesday 8 March 2017] announced the winner of its photographic competition celebratin...
2017-02-16 Do some 'fun raising' and Do some 'fun raising' and "Help Hickling" Broad
Thursday 16 February, 2017
Norfolk Wildlife Trust has an ambitious target of raising £1 million by 31 March 2017 to help it purchase 655 a...
2017-02-02 World Wetlands Day celebrates World Wetlands Day celebrates major public commitment to securing Norfolk’s finest wetland
Thursday 02 February, 2017
Norfolk Wildlife Trust has announced today on World Wetlands Day that over £500,000 has been donated so far to ...
2017-01-14 Sea Flooding at NWT Cley Marsh Sea Flooding at NWT Cley Marshes Nature Reserve
Saturday 14 January, 2017
Update: 18 January 2017 Following the flooding at the weekend, reserve staff are now carrying out a clean-up and ...
2016-12-06 A strong step towards securing A strong step towards securing Hickling Broad
Tuesday 06 December, 2016
Norfolk Wildlife Trust has announced that over £128,000 has been donated so far as a result of it launching the...
2016-11-21 It's time to chat about the ba It's time to chat about the bat
Monday 21 November, 2016
Join bat expert John Goldsmith for an evening this Thursday [24 November] discovering the secret lives of these noctu...
2016-11-02 Hickling Broad - urgent appeal Hickling Broad - urgent appeal to secure future of historic Norfolk wildlife haven
Wednesday 02 November, 2016
 Norfolk Wildlife Trust today announced it is launching a £1 million appeal to secure the future of one of...