Protecting our feathered friends

One of our most recent projects was some fencing work for Norfolk Wildlife Trust (NWT) on their nature reserve which extends from Cley to Salthouse.

Our brief was to fence off the shingle beach to protect nesting ground birds, using fencing constructed to the NWT specification. While the NWT encourages people to visit to see the amazing birdlife that gathers in this unique ecosystem, it is also important to keep humans and dogs off the nesting grounds – once disturbed, a sitting bird is unlikely to return to her nest, so this is vital protective work to ensure the survival of many increasingly rare bird species.

The work certainly raised one or two challenges. Access is always a problem at remote sites such as this one. By its very nature a wildlife reserve is off the beaten track and, as the images show, we used some serious machinery to get the job completed efficiently and to a high level of durability. In addition, the loose shingle meant it was very difficult for the machinery to get traction. However, patience and some great work by the team meant that we were able to complete the work within the time frame. 

Getting machinery onto the beach was the first challenge

Getting machinery onto the beach was the first challenge

 

The length of fencing was approximately 1,700 metres, and we used three strand, high tensile wire. The posts, all timber HC4, included 3”-4” six-foot intermediate posts, plus 6”-7” 8 foot strainers and 4” 8-foot cross members to form box strainers.

 

The work was commissioned because the shingle beach and saline lagoons, along with the grazing marsh and reedbed support large numbers of wintering and migrating wildfowl and waders, as well as bittern, marsh harrier and bearded tit.

A little more about Cley Marshes

NWT Cley Marshes is Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s oldest and best known nature reserve. It lies on the outskirts of the village of Cley next the Sea and extends to the neighbouring village of Salthouse. The 430-acre site was purchased in 1926 to be held 'in perpetuity as a bird breeding sanctuary'. It provided a blue print for nature conservation which has now been replicated across the UK. It has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), a Special Area of Conservation and a Special Protection Area, due to the large number of birds it attracts.

 The water levels in the pools and reedbeds are regulated to ensure they are ideal for the resident birds, and reed is harvested every year to keep the reedbeds in good condition. 

It is not just birds that the environment attracts. There are also several nationally or locally scarce invertebrates and plants specialised for this coastal habitat. 

A new eco-friendly visitor centre opened in 2007 containing a café, shop, viewing areas (including viewing from a camera on the reserve). The newest addition is the Simon Aspinall Wildlife Education Centre, a courtyard and viewing deck, which allows for breathtaking views across the Marsh to the sea.

For information about this project or to discuss your own wildlife, livestock, agricultural or equine construction requirements get in touch via the website or call Jamie Dodd on 07766 815830.