We're marking a century of nature conservation in Norfolk this Friday 6th March - 100 years since Dr Sydney Long, along with 12 other naturalists, purchased our very first nature reserve at Cley Marshes ‘as a bird-breeding sanctuary for all time’. 

Cley Marshes is now one of the UK’s most well-loved nature reserves, welcoming over 100,000 visitors each year. Since its purchase, we have paved the way for what would become a nationwide network of county Wildlife Trusts.  

As we reach our centenary, we close our 99th year with record membership and income, managing more land than ever for wildlife; and we have broadened our work to support communities and landowners to enjoy and help the wildlife on our doorstep.  

We are proud to:  

• Have built an unrivalled network of nature reserves. We own or manage over 60 wildlife sites in Norfolk, covering 5446 hectares, protecting and restoring wildlife habitat including ancient woodlands, bog, fen, reedbed, grazing marsh and heath.
• Have played a significant role in species recovery in Norfolk: Together with partners, we have brought the northern pool frog back from UK extinction at Thompson Common and played a significant role in the recovery of threatened species in Norfolk including crane, bittern, fen orchid, purple emperor butterfly and natterjack toad.
• Have reached a record membership: As we enter our centenary, we have 41,000 members – the highest in our history.
• Enabled hundreds of thousands of people from diverse backgrounds to enjoy, learn about, and protect Norfolk’s nature: In 2024/25 we welcomed over 175,000 people to our visitor centres; connected approx. 5,000 school children with nature at our sites and through classroom visits; welcomed thousands of people to events around the county; and opened Sweet Briar Marshes - its first urban nature reserve with accessibility at its core.
• Give nature a voice: Through campaigns that: speak out against developments that threaten wildlife such as the Norwich Western Link road; highlight the need for greater legal protection for Norfolk’s special wildlife habitats such as chalk streams; ensure wildlife protection is at the heart of local policy and decision-making.
• Champion and support local action for wildlife: we work outside of our nature reserve network to support farmers and landowners to restore hedges, ponds and meadows. We manage a large County Wildlife Scheme that protects over 1,500 other sites with high value for wildlife and supports communities to bring wildlife back on their doorstep. 

Legendary presenter and naturalist, Sir David Attenborough who also turns 100 years old in 2026, sent a special message to us to mark the occasion, saying: ‘I send my most sincere congratulations on achieving your centenary.’ 

Eliot Lyne, our CEO, said: ‘It’s incredible to think that the UK-wide county wildlife trust movement began with the purchase of Cley Marshes a century ago. It is a great honour to be at the helm of such a landmark organisation for UK nature conservation as it reaches this special milestone. Our achievements must, however, be credited to thousands of supporters, staff, volunteers, partners, and funders – past and present - who have supported our wildlife through the decades with an abundance of passion, commitment and purpose. 

‘Following 100 years of wildlife conservation in Norfolk, we have achieved so much – and honed the skills and experience to secure a wilder, healthier and more prosperous Norfolk into the next century. However, Norfolk’s nature still faces huge threats. That’s why we are raising our ambitions and looking forward to the next 100 years with hope.  

‘Creating a healthy natural world that supports our day-to-day life is going to take all of us. I invite you to enjoy Norfolk’s incredible nature and wild spaces during our birthday year - and urge you to do one thing for wildlife in 2026.’ 

We're kicking off celebrations by inviting everyone to enjoy time in nature at any of our sites from Friday 6 March – Sunday 8 March, with free entry to all.  

As our centenary year unfolds, there’s lots more to enjoy – from books, films and music to talks, walks and workshops. Highlights include a special evening with Chris Packham in April exploring Norfolk’s nature, a Wild Weekend in May across many of their sites offering canoe safaris, free family activities and wellbeing events. In September, you can look forward to ‘Wild by Design’ a programme of events exploring nature and culture.   

The Trust’s story is brought together in a special centenary book: This Wild Dream – A Celebration of 100 years of Norfolk Wildlife Trust, published by Propolis Books of The Book Hive in Norwich. Created from columns our Ambassador Nick Acheson has written for over a decade for Norfolk Magazine, this inspirational book is a seasonal journey celebrating the glory of nature in the county and our vital work.

We are encouraging everyone to celebrate our special birthday by pledging to do one thing for wildlife. We are suggesting ten different ways that you can give wildlife a boost this year – choose from a series of suggested pledges, from helping hedgehogs to planting for pollinators, mark it on our map and receive instructions to help you carry out your pledge. 

Learn more about our centenary celebrations