Holme Marsh NWT

Holme Marsh Norfolk Wildlife Trust

Holme Marsh is part of NWT Holme Dunes reserve (see that page for contact details, opening hours etc), but has its own access point on the southern edge of the reserve.  Due to the very limited space for parking near the entrance, and the narrowness of the roads in Holme village, NWT does not promote parking by this entrance, and there is a downloadable map on the NWT Holme Dunes reserve website showing a walking route from the Saltings car park.

Holme Marsh is not accessible to wheelchair users, not least because there are two kissing gates on the access path. If you have difficulty in walking from the Saltings car park, then parking near the Holme Marsh entrance is tolerated, but please do not abuse this, and if you do park in Holme village then please park sensibly.

The site is wardened from the main reserve. You may be lucky enough to meet the warden/volunteers when maintenance and general site observation is under way.

Accessible toilets, with RADAR locks are located at the northern end of Beach Road, as per the main reserve.

As everywhere else on the reserve there are no pay-phones and mobile signal is very weak, guide dogs on leads are allowed.

The reserve was visited and assessed over a number of days during March 2017 by Peter Bangs.

Location

Holme next the Sea, Norfolk.

The reserve is accessed via the track leading north out of Holme village, at the junction of Kirkgate and Eastgate.

Map Reference: TF 707435

Google MapHolme Marsh

Public Transport links

Ask for the stop at the junction of Eastgate and Chalkpit Lane on A149.  The bus route is the Coasthopper, run by Stagecoach

Tel: ­ 01553 776980 ­

Disability helpdesk Email: norfolk.enquiries@stagecoachbus.com

Telephone: 01553 776 980

Buses run from Kings Lynn (change may be needed at Hunstanton) or Wells.

Parking

There is space for a very few vehicles just past the concrete bollards. Please do not park before or in front of the manholes, as access is needed by tanker vehicles to pump out the drains. There should be room to drop off a passenger and then park elsewhere. (But see note above about restricted access.)

In wet weather the track and parking place can be very muddy.

Trails & Paths

Holme Marsh is accessed through the kissing gate opposite the concrete bollards. From the first kissing gate to the second – c150 metres. There is much bramble, mature hedge and views over a wet meadowland.

The surface is rolled stone in the section between the kissing gates, and on the wetter sections of the path between the hides. Some of the stones there are quite loose. All of the path is at least a metre wide. Paths are very nearly level throughout the reserve. However the two kissing-gates and loose stones make access to wheelchairs currently impossible. For the ‘hard of walking’ there are no seating/perching points other than the three hides. (For distances see details with each hide).

Hides

There are three hides.

Hide 1

Kissing gates prevent wheelchair access to this reserve. Hide 1 is about 40 metres from the second kissing gate and there is a slight step down into the hide through an inward opening door. One has to climb over the fixed benches to sit down and view the marsh, although there is one plastic chair provided.

This is a small hide with good views over a pond with reeds and reedmace margins. Bittern and kingfisher are occasionally sighted. Marsh harriers are regularly seen beyond hedge line. Close views of reed warbler are frequent.

On the day of survey a barn owl was sighted.

Hide 2

Hide 2 is about 150 metres from Hide 1 with two steps (12cms & 24cms) up to the hide to an inward opening 74cm-wide door. As with the other hide one has to climb over the fixed bench to sit down and view.  However, two plastic garden chairs are also provided that suit those needing back support.

This is another small hide which affords good views over the pond. Recently much work has been done to open up the view by removing encroaching reeds. On the day of the survey a tawny owl was calling nearby, a bittern was heard booming, and marsh harriers were seen mating – both on the NWT grazing marsh beyond the hedge. All at about 2pm.

Hide 3

Hide 3 is about 160metres from Hide 2. There are steps into the hide amounting to 35cms to an inward opening 74cms-wide door. Here too, benches must be climbed over to sit and view the pond. This hide looks out over a grazing field with a wide water-filled ditch plus a scrape.

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