Let us show you the best of Norfolk's wildlife! Carefully designed to take you to the very best places, at the best times, our Wildlife Walks and Wild Orchid Walks will show you the loveliest of Norfolk's wildlife. You will see some of the county's special flowers, birds, butterflies and dragonflies, get the 'low-down' from the experts, and have plenty of opportunities to have a closer look, take photographs and ask questions. The walks last around 2½–3 hours and are ideal for beginners as well as those seeking to improve their knowledge. Each group is limited to eight participants for a more rewarding experience (plus children if accompanied by an adult). The fee is £15 per person, children under 12 go free. * Superb range of birds, flowers, butterflies, dragonflies and other wildlife. The dates, times and venues for 2011 are given below. We can also organised customised events to suit your particular needs. For further information on our Wildlife Walks, see the Wildlife Walks information page. |
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2011 CALENDAR - 2012 DATES COMING SOON |
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Wednesday 27 April, near Thetford, 10 am We will look for Breckland's three special speedwells (Breckland, Fingered and Spring), Wild Grape Hyacinth and a good variety of other spring flowers. |
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Monday 16 May, 10 am Visiting a delightful site with a mixture of habitats that hold beautiful plants such as Bogbean, Lords-and-ladies and Wood Anemone. |
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Wednesday 18 May, mid Norfolk, 10 am Woodlands are at their best in spring and we will visit an area of ancient woodland where sheets of Bluebells vie for attention with Early Purple Orchids, Bugle, Water Avens and Yellow Pimpernel. |
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Tuesday 7 June, nr Brandon, 10 am Breckland holds a wealth of great plants but they are hard to find. We will hope to see specialties such as Tower Mustard and Annual and Perennial Knawel, as well as more widespread but colourful species including Viper's-bugloss and Russian Comfrey. |
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Wednesday 8 June, Sheringham, 10 am As well as Pugsley's Marsh Orchid, a species that is endemic to the British Isles, we should see the delightful Common Butterwort in good flower and both Round-leaved and Great Sundews - all three species are bog specialist and all three are carnivorous. |
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Thursday 9 June, Holt, 2 pm Holt is one of the best districts for orchids in Norfolk, and we will look for a variety including Bird's-nest, Twayblade and Pugsley's Marsh Orchid, as well as a selection of other interesting wild flowers. |
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Thursday 9 June, near Holt, 6.30 pm We will start by looking at a wide variety of heathland flowers and then, as dusk falls, wait for Woodcocks to start roding and then for the Nightjars to start their night-time patrols; we have an excellent chance of seeing both species. |
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Friday 10 June, Burnham Ovary, 10 am We will explore the dunes along the coast, where a spectacular colony of Southern Marsh Orchids has developed in recent years. The adjacent saltmarshes are also a real picture at this time of year, with sheets of pink Thrift in bloom. |
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Thursday 16 June, nr Brandon, 2 pm Spanish Catchfly, Purple Milk-vetch and Pyramidal Orchid are just some of the specialties we can expect before moving on to admire Stone-curlews, once so common in the county that they were given the name 'Norfolk Plover'. |
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Friday 17 June, Norfolk Broads, 10 am Marsh orchids, Swallowtail butterflies (if the weather is good), a variety of dragonflies, including Norfolk Hawker, Marsh Harrier, Hobby and Cetti's Warblers are just some of the delights on offer. |
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Friday 17 June, near Holt, 7 pm We will start by looking at a wide variety of heathland flowers and then, as dusk falls, wait for Woodcocks to start roding and then for the Nightjars to start their night-time patrols; we have an excellent chance of seeing both species. |
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Tuesday 28 June, Holkham, 10 am Southern Marsh, Bee and Pyramidal Orchids should be in good flower and, depending on the season, the first Marsh Helleborines may be coming out. |
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Thursday 30 June, near Holt, 7.30 pm We will start by looking at a wide variety of heathland flowers and then, as dusk falls, wait for Woodcocks to start roding and then for the Nightjars to start their night-time patrols; we have an excellent chance of seeing both species. |
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Friday 1 July, near Hunstanton, 10 am This is the perfect time to look for the delicate little Matted Sea-lavender, a species that in Britain is only found on the Norfolk coast, as well as a variety of other saltmarsh plants as well as waders - we may find Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit and Spotted Redshank all still sporting summer plumage. |
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Monday 11 July, Norfolk Broads, 10 am Marsh orchids, a variety of dragonflies, including Norfolk Hawker, Marsh Harrier, Hobby and Cetti's Warblers are just some of the delights on offer. |
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Tuesday 12 July Wells, 10 am We will search for Creeping Lady's-tresses (which should still be in good flower - unless it is a very early season) and should also see Southern Marsh Orchids and Marsh Helleborines. |
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Thursday 14 July, near Sheringham, 10 am We will look for Marsh Fragrant Orchid and the beautiful Marsh Helleborine, as well as a variety of other marsh plants and, if the weather is fine, dragonflies too.
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Friday 22 July, near Hunstanton, 10 am An excellent time to look for Common and Rock Sea-lavenders in flowers, as well as a variety of other saltmarsh plants and a selection of migrant waders - we may find Ruff, Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwits, Greenshank and Spotted Redshank, plus Marsh Harriers and perhaps also Bearded Tits. |
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Friday 19 August, near Hunstanton, 2 pm We will look for a selection of wild flowers - the tough specialists of the severe conditions to be found in coastal habitats, as well as a variety of birds - this is the time when Arctic-breeding wading birds are heading south through Britain to warmer climes. |
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Wednesday 7 September, near Sheringham, 10 am Looking in particular for the exquisite Grass of Parnassus, as well as variety of other late-summer flowers, dragonflies and butterflies. |
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Thursday 8 September, near Hunstanton, 10 am A good time to look for a wide variety of saltmarsh plants and a selection of migrant waders - we may find Ruff, Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwits, Greenshank and Spotted Redshank, Marsh Harriers and perhaps Bearded Tits too. |
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Friday 9 September, nr Holt, 10 am A chance to study the wide variety of arable weeds that can be found in Norfolk, both common and scarce. |
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Saturday 10 September, Morston, 10.00 am Cockles and mussels are well-known provender, but many saltmarsh plants are also edible; can you tell which is the delicious 'samphire' and which the less-than-lovely Annual Sea-blite? |
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Saturday 10 September, Wiveton, 2.30 pm A good variety of fruit and nuts can be found in the autumn hedges, but which ones are edible, and which should be avoided? |
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Friday 16 September, Snettisham, 10 am A chance to study a variety of wildfowl and waders and pick up tips on their identification from an expert, as well as admire the late-flowering plants of the saltmarsh and shingle. |
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Friday 21 October, Holkham, 10 am. Masses of Pink-footed Geese and Wigeon, together with a variety of other ducks and geese, waders and birds of prey. |