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PICTURES: The Simon Aspinall Wildlife Education Centre (left and right ©Richard Osbourne) hosts a range of events throughout the year, from art workshops (above left ©NWT), talks from local authors such as Elly Griffiths (above right ©NWT), and children’s activities (below ©NWT)
replacing it about 12 years ago. “The Trust has always held educational activities and organised events, and the centre was built as somewhere where people could get information and access the reserve,” says Ewan. “But it soon became clear that the potential to run events for the public outstripped the facilities available to do it. So the education centre was conceived with the idea was that it would be a completely multipurpose space.” The reserve itself contains a variety of habitats, including saltwater and freshwater marshes, saline lagoons, large areas of reedbeds and grazing marsh. The shallow pools, known as scrapes (so called because the pools are literally scraped regularly to remove recent organic matter) offer an outstanding area for both breeding, roosting and migratory birds, and the coastal shingle ridge is home to important plant species. The reserve is run by a separate team within the Trust. “People have the impression that the 40
reserve runs itself,” says Ewan, “but there’s a lot of management involved in maintaining the habitats for the wide variety of wildlife. For example, there are no pumps on the reserve, but there are a series of ditches and water controls so we can move water and keep pools topped up if necessary. We’re always thinking about what we need to do to enrich the reserve.” “Obviously, birds are what we’re most known for,” continues Ewan, “but a large number of them are migratory, so we can only protect them while they’re here. Despite our efforts, many birds are really struggling to maintain their population as they’re travelling large distances and fall victim to hunting and climate change.” Many of the events held at the reserve are planned to educate visitors as to the work of the reserve – for example, what birds are doing at various times of the year, and where they are when they’re not at the reserve. A full programme of talks, walks and educational events is held throughout the year (many of them free
to attend) and the extra facilities now available help enhance these events. “The reason the Simon Aspinall centre is here is to engage people and encourage them to learn about nature, and increasingly to come and start taking action for nature,” says Ewan. “As a conservation charity this is one of our primary functions.” For more information on the Norfolk Wildlife Trust and its work, and for details of events at the Simon Aspinall Wildlife Education Centre, please visit www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk
KLmagazine October 2019