Oystercatcher enjoys Attenborough's Walk

UPDATE 1 July: The path is now reopened!

The new footpath at Cley Marshes - which was opened on Friday 12 June by Sir David Attenborough and named "Attenborough's Walk" - had to be temporarily closed again: because an oystercatcher is nesting on it.

The new footpath allows access from NWT’s reserve at Cley Marshes, runs along the recently purchased and restored land, and connects to NWT Salthouse Marshes to the East.

Warden at Salthouse Marshes, Adam Pimble said: “Oystercatchers are large black and white wading birds with a long, orange-red bill and reddish-pink legs. It has chosen to nest on the path and as it is a protected bird this means we have had to close the footpath. All being well we expect the chicks to hatch in a couple of weeks and soon after that we will be able to reopen the path.”

Norfolk Wildlife Trust purchased the missing stretch of land in 8km of protected coastal sites in 2012, thanks to a £900,000 public appeal and a grant of over £1.5m from Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

Over the last three years the new land has been transformed from its former use as land for commercial shooting. Now the once-degraded pools have been restored and are already being used by breeding avocets.