Bringing our vision to life

Our first phase of work was to get Sweet Briar Marshes ready for opening in May 2024. This involved clearing dangerous debris such as barbed wire, as well as installing new fencing and entrances. We also settled conservation cattle on site, created new paths and put up essential signage.

Ensuring everyone can access nature is central to our ethos. We worked closely with local disability groups from the start to help us tackle potential barriers. On their advice, we installed light-weight entrance gates, a wide, hard-packed pathway with raised edges across the reserve and seating designed for a variety of users.

Creating space for wildlife

Alongside the infrastructure work, we’ve continued to manage the site for wildlife, often with the help of volunteers. Over a year an incredible 380 volunteers contributed 2,000 hours to conservation as part of a mix of corporate, public and youth groups.

We’ve put in place a robust monitoring system, working alongside Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists Society, to help us discover more about the unique ecosystem at Sweet Briar Marshes. Everything we learn will guide our conservation management plan.

Extensive ecological monitoring of the site has so far revealed impressive biodiversity with over 200 flowering plants and red and amber-listed birds of conservation concern including linnet, greenfinch, nightingale, bullfinch, reed bunting and numerous species of warbler being present. Six species of bats have been recorded hunting over the site, and it provides habitat for the wetland specialist priority species Norfolk Hawker dragonfly, water shrew, common toad and grass snake.

Helping people get closer to nature

The urban location of Sweet Briar Marshes provides a unique opportunity for us to inspire new audiences to enjoy nature. Even before we opened, we hosted many groups on site such as Queer Birders and Mile Cross Young Carers and ran regular free events such as Walk with the Warden and forest bathing sessions in collaboration with Norfolk and Waveney MIND.

To coincide with our opening weekend of free events and activities, we hosted an art exhibition as part of Norfolk & Norwich Festival 2024. The artwork was inspired by the stories of local people and also had audio descriptions. Since we’ve been open, we’ve been delighted to see the diversity of people and groups visiting and enjoying the nature reserve. Alongside more traditional activities such as guided walks and practical conservation tasks, we’ve also run events such as stargazing and forest bathing and even hosted theatre shows and an art exhibition. Through diversifying our activities, we’re bringing people in contact with nature who may not have set foot in a nature reserve before, whether that’s through choice or barriers to access.