North Norfolk District Council’s Chairman has invited Norfolk Wildlife Trust to be his Charity of the Year, with money raised supporting conservation grazing and family learning.
Dr Clive Stockton has a personal life-long association with nature and wished to support a charity that specifically works to conserve the fragile habitats of Norfolk and raise awareness of the importance of wildlife.
Funds raised by NNDC will be used in two key areas of NWT’s work across Norfolk: to support conservation grazing with rare native breeds and to extend engagement with young children in Sure Start centres.
Conservation grazing with native breed cattle, sheep and ponies protects important areas for wildlife. Without regular grazing, many of our rare and fragile habitats and the species they support would be at risk of being overwhelmed by more dominant plants. NNDC has already shown its own commitment to conservation grazing through the establishment of its Bagot goat herd, 15 of which are on long-term loan to NWT in the Brecks.
NWT’s Sure Start with Nature project introduced children and their carers to the natural world at the very start of their lives. The 2018-19 pilot was run in partnership with Sure Start Children’s Centres in Great Yarmouth, Thetford and Corpusty, and included monthly indoor and outdoor nature-focused activities such as interactive sessions, sensory play and guided nature walks. Funds from NNDC would contribute to a continuing the work and, with more funding, establishing a bigger project in Norfolk from next year to help families learn about nature and wildlife together, and embrace the natural world.
Chief Executive of Norfolk Wildlife Trust, Pamela Abbott said:“Norfolk Wildlife Trust welcomes this opportunity to receive funding from North Norfolk District Council for our vital conservation and engagement work. The Trust’s flagship nature reserve at Cley and Salthouse Marshes forms a key part of the iconic North Norfolk landscape and this funding will make a real difference to wildlife habitats and the very young and their families across the county.
Chairman of NNDC, Dr Clive Stockton said: “At a time when we are becoming more aware of the importance of the natural environment of which we are all a part, it is particularly relevant that we make every effort to involve the next generation and those generations to come"
“Involving children at an early age gives them a life-long appreciation of the importance of nature and wildlife and how we can all relate positively to the natural round around us.”
It’s official: North Norfolk continues to have some of the best beaches in the country.
The beaches in Cromer, East Runton, Mundesley, Sea Palling, Sheringham and West Runton have all been awarded prestigious Blue Flags for another year – and that means the 45-mile North Norfolk coastline is home to half of all the Blue Flag beaches in the east of England.
The awards are given out only to those beaches that have the highest quality of water, facilities, environmental education and management, with superb levels of cleanliness and safety. It means the hundreds of thousands of residents and visitors who visit North Norfolk’s beaches each year can be sure they are enjoying top-notch destinations.
North Norfolk is the only district in the county that has been awarded any Blue Flags this year.
The number of kids born as part of North Norfolk District Council’s Bagot goat-breeding programme has hit a final tally of 12.
The dozen baby animals are all doing well and are enjoying life with their new friends as the herd prepares for another busy summer of habitat management.
The goats have also become a tourist attraction, and the 12 baby Bagots are sure to prove a hit with the public when they head to Cromer later this year.
The latest additions to the popular herd were a bit wobbly on their feet to start with but the adorable kids are now settling well into Norfolk life, and they will be the stars of a forthcoming slot on BBC Radio 4’s Farming Today programme.
Partners in the multi-million pound Bacton to Walcott Coastal Management (Sandscaping) Scheme gathered in Cromer yesterday, February 19th, for the signing of the construction contract.
The construction contractor for the project – Team Van Oord – was resolved at a Full Council meeting in December.
Yesterday representatives from Team Van Oord visited North Norfolk District Council to formally sign the contract.
The significant project milestones include the decommissioning of existing outfalls and building of a new outfall during May and June; and the placing of approximately 1.8 million cubic metres of sand on the beach off Bacton Gas Terminal, Bacton village and Walcott village in July and August.
Some of the famous North Norfolk Bagot goats have headed south to continue their valuable conservation and habitat-management work.
The 15 billies have been sent on a long-term loan to heathland near Thetford, on land looked after by Norfolk Wildlife Trust.
The loan follows the sale of a group of billies to Suffolk Wildlife Trust last year.
Cllr Sarah Butikofer, Leader of North Norfolk District Council, said: “We’re delighted that the wildlife trusts see the same potential benefits as we do.
The goats are a cost-effective way of managing vegetation and vulnerable habitats, and they act as a draw for tourists, too.”