Cley Marshes is a place steeped in stories: stories told by its changing landscape, by the arrivals and departures of migrant birds that waymark the changing seasons and, of course, stories of the people who have cared for and helped shape the marshes.

2026 marks the reserve's centenary year, and you might already be familiar with one rather special Cley story that dates back 100 years. This is the involvement of first Robert Bishop, then his grandson, Billy, followed by Billy's son, Bernard, as watchers and wardens of this reserve.

The Bishop family have watched over Cley Marshes throughout its hundred-year history, but it is only Bernard who has had a lifelong involvement with the marsh. Not only did he help his father on the reserve as a child, but he grew up in the cottage built by Norfolk Naturalists Trust, which overlooks the reserve. Now in his 70s, he is still living there today.

A new book, by David North, captures the story of Bernard Bishop, from his childhood days in a then very different Cley village, through his 42 years as assistant warden then warden, to his continuing involvement watching over and working on the marsh today.

Norfolk Wildlife Trust spoke to David about his experience writing the book:

Q: What was it like spending time with Bernard while you were researching for the book?

A: I have known Bernard for many years, and it was very special to spend many hours with him in Watcher's Cottage overlooking Cley Marshes. It's a very special location: the house where Bernard was born in 1949 and where he still lives today. The book is based upon many conversations with Bernard, recorded on my phone, while drinking coffee in the kitchen. Bernard is blessed with a very good memory and at our first 'book meeting' we began by talking about his childhood growing up in Cley. It was fascinating hearing about village life in the 1950s – the shops, the village school, the various trades like blacksmiths, garages, shoemakers – all gone now.

Q: Do you have any favourite stories or memorable moments from your time with Bernard?

A: Bernard has so many fantastic stories, from royal visits to the marsh, to the many damaging floods he has experienced. But I did love hearing about the time he spent as a child in his grandfather, Walter's, workshop – he lived on Cley High Street and was a carpenter who made 'mussel canoes.' These were flat-bottomed boats that worked out of Cley and Blakeney Harbours and were used for working the mussel beds. Bernard probably gained his lifelong love of boats from his time watching his grandfather boat building – working with his hands to turn a lump of ash into an oar.

Q: How did you find the experience of pulling all the research together to write the book?

A: There are quite a few challenges in turning conversations into a readable book! This involved me learning a lot about the history of the reserve and the village. I wanted to keep Bernard's voice so that, as far as possible, reading the book is like sitting and listening to Bernard tell his stories – as if he is in the room with you. But of course, a book needs a narrative. Achieving that involved creating several themes to hang Bernard's stories on - these form the chapters and sections of the book.

Q: How did writing this book compare to your experience writing your previous book about Cley?

A: It was harder! My previous book, Life Changing – Cley and Salthouse Marshes – is a diary of my own personal wildlife observations and experiences told over the course of a calendar year. I've always enjoyed making notes of special encounters with wildlife – experiences of the natural world that inspire and move me. Sharing those with others in the form of writing is something I enjoy. Crafting someone else's stories and experiences and keeping their tone and voice in a way that remains true to them was much more difficult.  I've never attempted writing in that way before.

Q: What is your own connection to Cley and what does the place mean to you?

A: Cley is a place I love deeply for its wildlife and its wildness. I have known it in every mood, from winter storms when the bitter east wind bites, to summer heatwaves – from winter marshes filled with the sounds of wigeon, pinkfeet and brent, to summer skies alive with swifts, swallows and martins dipping over scrape pools. However often I visit, it's a place that always excites me: its shifting landscape and ever-changing wildlife never fail to inspire. It is somewhere I return to again and again; a place that helps me connect with my own nature and see my life from a different and bigger perspective.

Bernard Bishop: My Life at Cley is published as a limited centenary edition. It is priced at £20 and is available to buy from Cley visitor centre. All profits will support future wildlife conservation at Cley and Salthouse Marshes.

David would like to share the following messages of thanks:

Writing a book is not a solitary activity and many people helped me. I can't mention them all here, but special thanks to Nick Acheson for writing the foreword and Moss Taylor who contributed the introduction. John Hurst painted the cover portrait of Bernard and his watercolours can be found in several sections of the book. David Tipling, Liz Dack and many other photographers generously allowed free use of their images. And, of course, special thanks to Bernard and Shirley Bishop for their hospitality at Watcher’s Cottage and allowing me to take notes from their wonderful collection of scrapbooks, full of information and cuttings about the history of the reserve.