NWT Cley and Salthouse Marshes

What will students see and do?

NWT Cley Marshes is Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s oldest and best-known nature reserve. It was purchased in 1926 to remain as a bird sanctuary, and provided a blueprint for nature conservation that has now been replicated across the UK. Today, it’s one of the country’s most popular birdwatching sites, attracting more than 110,000 human visitors each year.

Thanks to the Norfolk nature reserve’s position in the middle of the Norfolk coastline, it’s in the ideal place to receive a number of fascinating animal visitors, such as migrating and rare birds like the white-crowned sparrow from North America, Pacific swift, red-necked stint from Asia, rock sparrow from southern Europe, as well as spoonbill birds, snow buntings and marsh harriers.

Visiting students can enjoy a wide range of popular events, workshops, performances, guided walks around the local nature reserve, Attenborough’s Walk and shingle beach, and talks from artists and wildlife experts on wildlife and nature in the Simon Aspinall Wildlife Education Centre.

Workshops and events include arts and crafts, birdwatching, an exploration of coastal landscapes wildlife using handheld cameras, pond dipping, moth identification, a coastal walk and scavenger hunt to gather nature materials for shingle sculptures, lessons on plankton, and a closer look at various critters bones, beaks and body bits.

Students can also visit the award-winning visitor centre for interactive interpretation, regularly changing exhibitions from local artists – including paintings, photography, textiles, printmaking and glass work – and a well-stocked book and gift shop.

How does the trip link to the curriculum?

Norfolk Wildlife Trust manages some of the most inspiring wild spaces in the county, with the vision to reconnect people of all ages with wildlife.

Cley and Salthouse Marshes activity sessions are linked to the national curriculum, and aim to inspire pupils to respect and research wildlife through hands-on experience, and help the environment with small changes.

Each activity is approximately an hour-long, and can be tailored to most Key Stages and abilities, so you can choose a range of sessions to tailor a day which complements your pupils’ learning objectives.

Subjects covered

Details of risk assessment

The team can provide a teachers’ pack which includes risk assessments to support your visit.

PLANNING

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