Partnership offers exciting future for Broadland Country Park

The landmark partnership comes as NWT celebrates its centenary and marks a new chapter for the 140-acre site, ensuring its long-term future as a haven for both wildlife and the local community. Since its opening, Broadland Country Park has become a popular green space for residents of Felthorpe, Horsford, and the wider Greater Norwich area.

Having successfully established the park’s infrastructure, BDC is now transferring management to NWT to make use of its specialist expertise in protecting and restoring wildlife and providing people with opportunities to enjoy time in nature.

As part of this exciting new partnership, Broadland District Council will remain a key stakeholder in the park’s future, while Norfolk Wildlife Trust will serve as the principal managers of the site, bringing its extensive experience in managing land to benefit both nature and local communities.

As partners, Broadland District Council and Norfolk Wildlife Trust are significantly expanding Broadland Country Park by purchasing Drayton Drewray. This will add an additional 114 acres of land to the south of the site, effectively doubling the size of Broadland Country Park.

Over time this land will see new paths created for walkers and cyclists, alongside conservation work designed to increase biodiversity across the landscape. Habitats such as native broadleaf woodland and heathland will be restored and expanded, creating a richer and more varied environment for wildlife. The transition was marked today by an event at the park with the Leader of Broadland District Council and the Chief Executive of Norfolk Wildlife Trust.

The two leaders discussed the shared vision for the site, which includes enhancing the rare heathland habitats and strengthening the "green corridor" connecting the park to the wider Bure Valley.

The Leader of Broadland District Council, Sue Holland said:

Broadland Country Park was born from a vision to provide our residents with world-class access to nature. I am incredibly proud of what the Council has achieved in establishing this site. As we move into this next phase, there is no better custodian than Norfolk Wildlife Trust. Their expertise will ensure that while the park remains a beautiful place for a Sunday stroll, it also becomes a thriving engine for nature recovery in our district."

Norfolk Wildlife Trust CEO, Eliot Lyne added:

“We’re delighted to become custodians of Broadland Country Park and to be able to grow this amazing green space to almost twice its size with funding from Broadland District Council.

“This is a brilliant site for the people of Norwich and its surroundings to experience nature and a vital piece of the puzzle for nature’s recovery in Norfolk. By managing these woods and heathlands, we can create a more resilient landscape for rare species like the nightjar and silver-studded blue butterfly. Nurturing Norfolk’s nature and helping make it part of everyone’s daily lives is vital if we are to protect wildlife for future generations and support healthy, happy communities. We look forward to doing even more for nature and people at this special site for years to come.”

The park will remain free to enter and open to the public daily. NWT plans to introduce:

• Enhanced Biodiversity: Specialised management of the woodland and marshy grasslands.

• Community Engagement: New wildlife-focused events, guided walks, and educational workshops.

• Volunteer Continuity: Current volunteers will be invited to join NWT’s extensive network, receiving specialised conservation training.

Local residents are encouraged to visit the park and look out for new NWT-led activities starting this spring. For more information, visit: www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk/BroadlandCountryPark