Bright future ahead as nationally important nature reserve more than triples in size.
The ink is barely dry, but today Hawk and Owl Trust are celebrating watching the mid-summer sun rising over their new land area.
They have ‘signed on the dotted line’ in the purchase of 150 acres of land surrounding their existing 45 acre Sculthorpe Moor Nature Reserve near Fakenham in North Norfolk.
The reserve is famous for its wildlife and habitats and with the addition of the new land will offer a home to a vast range of wildlife from plants and fungi, to Otters and birds of prey.
Public support for the appeal to raise the £1.7million needed to buy the land and turn it into a wildlife paradise has been astonishing, with enough raised in just two years to enable the land to be secured and the three-year project to manage the land and develop the infrastructure to be started. The project relied on a major Heritage Lottery Fund award, and a significant amount has also been donated by the Local Enterprise Programme (LEP).
The Hawk and Owl Trust, a national charity dedicated to conserving wild birds of prey and their habitats whose headquarters are at Sculthorpe in North Norfolk, can’t wait to get started on delivering the 3-year project to allow public access to the land and develop the habitats to make the land more suitable for the widest range of wildlife using their proven land management techniques.
Sculthorpe Moor Nature Reserve is already one of the country’s most accessible reserves and is internationally recognised for its wildlife.
The reserve is located in the beautiful Wensum Valley in Norfolk, and is a marvellous, peaceful place with a huge variety of wildlife in a rich and unusual mosaic of woodland, fen and reedbed habitats. At only 18-hectares (45 acres), the existing reserve is easy to explore and offers everyone a real opportunity to get involved with the natural environment. Small but perfectly formed: a real gem, it is recognised how important being out in the fresh air is to our mental well-being.
The two large areas of land on either side are currently rough grassland and were about to be put on the open market for sale. Hawk and Owl Trust were given two years to raise the money to purchase the land and begin the project and thanks to the generosity of a huge number of visitors and supporters, alongside a large Heritage Lottery Fund application and significant donations from individuals and the Local Enterprise Programme (Norfolk LEP).
The new area of land has a rich history of peat cutting, gravel extraction, gunpowder manufacture, brush making, shooting range, charcoal making and water mills. The Trust’s vision for the area is about so much more than amazing wildlife. The future will see a rich ecosystem co-existing with the local community with access for all, rural history, rural crafts and traditional sustainable management benefiting the landscape, people and wildlife.
The three-year project to deliver the vision for the reserve will begin on August 5th as the diggers roll onto the barren fields to scrape away the first bucket loads of soil in the formation of open water and redirection of the ditches. A new entrance near the visitor centre will be the next task, as boardwalks and other fully accessible pathways will be taking shape around the reserve.
As wildlife struggles more with loss of habitat, man-made obstacles and changing climate, nature reserves are an increasingly important oasis. Likewise, it is now recognised that activity out in the fresh air, and enjoying mature, are crucial to our own health and mental well-being. One of the key goals at Sculthorpe has always been accessibility to all, allowing everyone that chance to experience wild places.
A programme of activities, and the opportunity to get involved and volunteer have always been a key role and the new land will enable the Trust to offer this to even more people.
Nigel Middleton, Sculthorpe Moor Reserve Manager, said “I have been working towards this since first seeing the land 18 years ago. For much of the time it seemed like a hopeless cause, but now the dream has come true. The Trust will benefit but at the heart of it all, it will be the wildlife and local people in this area that will be the true beneficiaries. I can’t tell you how excited I am for the future of the reserve!”
Adrian Blumfield, Chief Operations Director, H&OT said “It has taken a lot of effort to reach this stage, and the project to bring this land to the point of being an amazing place for wildlife and people has only just begun. A lot of people and businesses have been a part of this vision, so far, and I thank them all. This is a fantastic landmark in this process. The future is bright!”
Contact information – available for interviews.
Nigel Middleton (Sculthorpe Moor Reserve Manager and Conservation Officer, Eastern Region) Office: 01328 856020 (8am to 4pm) Mobile: 07771 415859 Email: [email protected]
Adrian Blumfield (Chief Operations Director) Office: 01328 850598 (8am to 4pm) Email: [email protected]