Recent visits from pupils from Fairhaven and Acle Primary Schools signalled the start of a major new project to revamp the facilities at
NWT Ranworth Broad nature reserve, found 20 minutes from Norwich.
As part of the charity’s new ‘Discovering Ranworth’ project, Norfolk Wildlife Trust will be improving visitor facilities and access, adding new information and signage as well as offering new education and visitor activities – all aimed at making NWT Ranworth Broad an even better place to explore Norfolk’s iconic wildlife.
During their visits, the pupils were able to enjoy a new wildlife hide, donated by Acle Primary School, that has recently been installed at the nature reserve. School classes also took part in pond dipping, a habitat trail and enjoyed a boat trip on the Broad.
Thanks to the new project, future improvements to Ranworth Broad over the coming months will include the development of a ‘family discovery area’, a new wildlife quiz pack to encourage families to explore the site together and a series of new discovery boat trips that will run from Ranworth Visitor Centre to Cockshoot Broad.
A teacher from Fairhaven Primary School said of their visit: “We had a super day! This experience has made our pupils more aware of what a special part of the county we live in and are lucky to have.”
A pupil from Acle Primary School added: “I loved the boat because we got to see all the animals and we saw three kingfishers!”
The school pupils will continue to explore the theme of Broads wildlife throughout the coming term, and have a return visit to the nature reserve planned for next year.
Nick Morritt, NWT Visitor Centre and Sales Manager, says of the new initiative: “As part of our new Discovering Ranworth project we’re making improvements to the site that help visitors explore and learn about vital wetlands that make up the Broads landscape, from the abundance of plants and wildlife they support to how they can play a role in protecting against climate change and improving water quality.
"We’re excited to be able to create new ways to share this wildlife-rich spot with as many people as possible by making the reserve even more accessible and family friendly than ever.
“We were delighted when Acle St Edmund C of E Primary School donated a new wildlife hide to us. We have given it a new green roof, and built a new section of boardwalk to join it to the main path. It now overlooks a quiet, area of water that the public have not had access to before, where we are creating an otter holt and a kingfisher bank, to increase wildlife habitats on the reserve.”
Thanks to its varied habitats, Ranworth Broad is home to a rich array of wildlife which can be seen from the 750m of boardwalk that snakes through the wet woodland and reedbeds. At the end of the boardwalk you will find NWT’s unique floating visitor centre nestled in the reeds, looking out across the open water of the Broad.
Ranworth Broad is a special place for Norfolk’s iconic wildlife, providing the perfect home for rare species including bittern, swallowtail butterflies and marsh harriers.
The Discovering Ranworth project has been made possible thanks to generous funding from a variety of NWT’s supporters, including
Essex & Suffolk Water,
Norwich Freemen’s Charity and
The Ranworth Trust.