NWT Cley Marshes Nature Reserve.
Cley Church.
Cley Marshes is the oldest nature reserve in the country and the Norfolk Wildlife Trust started a trend that resulted in the creation of thousands more sites throughout the country. In Medieval times this marsh was covered by the sea, up almost to the church you can see in the picture above. In 1949 a flood defence was erected with the formation of the marshes, both salt water and freshwater. The visitor centre is excellent, I particularly like the garden centre on the roof. The staff are both friendly and informative. But it must be said that a single toilet for both genders makes you wonder how popular the planners expected the place to be. I sometimes think they spend too much time thinking what eyecatching thing they can dream up and then lose sight of the real practicalities that affect Joe Public. The innovative technology with its turbines, heat pumps, solar water heating and rainwater harvesting systems are all very commendable but there is only one toilet. Brilliant! I gather the little cottage next door has toilets and can be used . But that is not the point. Its like having one toilet in Wembley Stadium and saying the toilet in the carpark attendants hut can be used if more than one person at a time is desperate.
Pats Pool from one of the 3 hides.
While I'm going on I might as well mention the fact that to get to the reserve from the centre a busy A149 has to be crossed. While old dodderers like ourselves can handle this, other more vulnerable soles, the more elderly the disabled and the school parties have to hope for the best as cars appear from blind bends. Where's the 'elf un safety brigade' police on this one? Probably trying to get the centre closed in case a bit of sedum falls onto someone from the roof, then they won't have to install a traffic crossing scheme, or extra toilets! What amazed me about the place was, walking alongside the busy road yet seeing and hearing warblers along the reedbeds. Then a couple of hundred yards away in beautiful thatched hides, Spoonbills and, wait for it, White Winged Black Terns! We were told of the latter by a couple of lasses. We'd never heard of it and was surprised to find it in my guide book. We'd just come from the group of 3 hides where it had been seen and our next move was along the East Bank to get a closer look at the Marsh Harriers and possibly spot the odd Bearded Tit. Anyway 20 minutes later after doing a u-turn, we had spotted our first White Winged Black Tern. This was a fantastic day and we finished it off in the Albatross in Wells-next-the-Sea harbour.
The three thatched hides.
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