In April 2026, Norfolk Wildlife Trust was lucky enough to have the iconic naturalist and presenter Chris Packham join us to celebrate our 100th birthday. Chris led a walk with our Youth Action groups, before giving a fantastic talk with NWT President Patrick Barkham and passionate young people.

Natalie Douglas took the chance to ask Chris about his thoughts on Norfolk's wildlife and his hope for the next 100 years of nature in the county.

When you look at Norfolk’s wildlife story over the last 100 years, what gives you the most hope for the next hundred?

There’s a lot to be hopeful about. We’ve seen real progress in terms of habitat restoration, species recovery and reintroductions. We now have tried and tested methods that we know can work, and that’s incredibly important.

At the same time, we have to be honest. There have been significant declines in habitats and species, and we haven’t always acted quickly enough.

But I always look forward. The next 100 years depend on changing our methods and our attitudes. The most important thing is helping people recognise that they can be part of that change. We have a problem, yes, but we don’t have to be part of the problem.

The Trust’s “100 species” challenge celebrates wildlife that feels especially Norfolk. If you had to choose a species that captures this county, which would it be and why?

It’s difficult to choose just one because Norfolk has such a rich diversity of habitats and species. That’s one of the things that makes it so special. But the spoonbill is a favourite of mine.

I first came to Norfolk in the 1970s to look at birds, and at that time the idea of spoonbills breeding successfully in the UK would have felt almost unimaginable. Now they’re here, breeding, and doing well. That’s a real success story and a powerful reminder that nature can recover when given the chance.

Norfolk is famous for its big skies and spectacular wildlife, but what is a quieter wildlife moment here that people might miss unless they slow down?

For me, it’s the reedbeds. In summer they’re dense, green and full of life, with bitterns booming somewhere deep inside. But in winter they become something completely different. The reeds turn brown and gold, the light drops, and the wind moves through them in a really soft, subtle way.

As it gets darker, you might hear a water rail calling from deep within the reeds. It sounds like a pig squealing, which can be quite startling if you’re not expecting it!

There have been some real conservation successes in Norfolk, from spoonbills to cranes and bitterns. Which comeback story do you find most inspiring?

What’s inspiring is the principle behind them. Give nature a window of opportunity and it will take it.

Sometimes those opportunities come from unexpected places, but when we restore habitats or change how we manage the land, we see wildlife respond. That’s the key lesson. If we create the right conditions, nature has an incredible ability to recover.

Projects that start from scratch and rebuild landscapes show just how quickly things can change when we get it right.

For readers who love Norfolk but may not think of themselves as naturalists, what one thing would you encourage them to do this year to feel more connected to wildlife?

Go out and experience it for yourself. On a crisp winter’s day, take a walk along the coast. And if you’re feeling bold, go to Snettisham and see the knot when the conditions are right.

When the tide and the birds align, and those flocks come over you, it’s extraordinary. The sound of thousands of wings moving together, it’s like a thousand swords clashing in the air.

We often look to faraway places for wildlife spectacles, but some of the best experiences in the world are right here in Norfolk.