Cley Marshes

Cley Marshes is a 176-hectare nature reserve on the North Norfolk coast near the village of Cley next the Sea. It sits beside the North Sea, made up of reed beds, freshwater pools and wet meadows. The reserve forms part of a larger protected area known as the North Norfolk Coast Site of Special Scientific Interest. It also belongs to a Special Area of Conservation and a Ramsar wetland site because of the many birds that gather here. Five hides stand across the reserve and an eco-friendly visitor centre welcomes people to the site. The reserve is important for rare breeding birds such as pied avocets on the islands and western marsh harriers in the reeds. It is also a key stopover for migrating birds and a winter home for many species. The land has a long history of human use, from prehistoric farming to a Second World War prisoner-of-war camp. Over centuries, people built embankments to reclaim land, yet the marshes have flooded repeatedly. The shifting shingle bank and rising sea now threaten the reserve’s future. A visitor finds wide views across reed beds and pools from the five hides. The visitor centre sits near the entrance and shows how the marsh works. Paths lead through the wet meadows and past old sea banks built to hold back the tide. Remains of wartime gun emplacements and pillboxes can still be seen along the beach edge. The reserve’s long connection with birdwatching draws people from far away, making it a well-known place for watching wildlife.