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.”
John Milton, Head of Nature Reserves at Norfolk Wildlife Trust, said: “We are grateful to North Norfolk District Council for loaning us the 15 Bagot goats.
“For some time we have wanted to experiment with grazing by goats to deal with bramble and gorse, which are a particular issue on some areas in the Brecks restored to grass heath from forestry.”
NNDC’s herd of goats spend the summer on Cromer cliff, where they have provided a cheap and easy way to keep the undergrowth under control. Nine nannies and three nanny kids are currently grazing at Salthouse Heath, getting ready for their next shift back at the seaside later this year, and the herd is expected to welcome some new kids in the next few days.
The Bagot is a rare breed, so the council and the wildlife trusts are playing a key role in securing the breed’s future.
The wonders of the sea will be celebrated in a brand new marine film festival heading to North Norfolk in July.
A one-day series of films on July 8 is the brainchild of sea-loving local photographer and film-maker Chris Taylor from Sheringham.
The festival at Sheringham Little Theatre features a Bafta-nominated 2021 movie Becoming Cousteau, which tells the story of famous explorer and environmentalist Jacques Cousteau's life.
Screenings also include locally-made short films including Beachcombing by Hunstanton-based filmmaker Pete Naylor which features a poem read by acclaimed Silent Witness actress Emilia Fox. And there is work by Chris himself, including films about the north Norfolk sailing barge Juno, the life of a modern day fisherman Henry Randell, and some stunning footage of the rich wildlife on the chalk reef just a stone's throw from the Sheringham shoreline.
Dozens of Thetford residents and representatives from local community groups have taken part in a litter pick to help tidy and brighten up the town.
The event, which took place on 30 March, was organised by Breckland Council in support of Keep Britain Tidy’s national #SpringClean project.
Over 60 bags of litter were collected by the 34 participants, along with three discarded bikes and a mattress.
The event was supported by Thetford Fire brigade, Thetford Town Council, UPP Broadband, Norfolk Waste Partnership, Thetford River Group, and local residents, who all volunteered their time to help reduce the impact of litter on wildlife and the natural environment.
A £1.8m project to provide modern, quality emergency accommodation to homeless people in Breckland is nearing completion.
The Breckland Council project has seen Elm House, a former pre-school in Thetford, completely refurbished over the past year. When opened this spring, the service will provide temporary housing to single adults, couples, and families from Breckland district area.
The building work is now complete, and once opened, Access Community Trust will manage the centre on the Councils behalf, residents will be supported to if they seek further services where required.
The Daisy Programme and Thetford Town Ladies Football Club have announced they will be working together to raise awareness of domestic abuse, and the support available to those affected by it, in Breckland.
The Daisy Programme will run awareness sessions at the football club, and invite the players to become domestic abuse awareness ambassadors. The charity’s logo will also be displayed on part of Thetford Town Ladies’ kit, as a way of making fans more aware of the work they do.
The arrangement between the club and the charity was made by Breckland Council, which works with The Daisy Programme. Cllr Stuart Terry, who represents Thetford Boudicca ward on Breckland Council, is also an assistant coach at Thetford Town Ladies. He brought the idea of working with the charity to officers at the council, and the link was made with The Daisy Programme.
All Things Norfolk are delighted to be able to share with you a short documentary "Every Footstep" which has been made by George Parker and Ben Barter and follows Kees Jones, a young farmer from Holt, whose life has revolved around his third-generation family farm, during the harvest season of 2020.
Over the summer months, George and Ben spent many hours following Kees, documenting the various processes involved in harvest. They wanted to capture the spirit of the farming life, and also pay tribute to the romance of Norfolk's natural surroundings. Primarily, the film is a portrayal of Kees; his life and his work, conveying that the two things are synonymous with one another. They found particular poignance in Kees’ passion for his job, demonstrating the great value that can be found in pursuing work that is meaningful.