Hickling broad is part of the 568 hectare ‘Hickling broad and marshes national nature reserve’ (NNR), which in turn forms a section of the ‘Upper Thurne broads and marshes Site of Special Scientific interest’ (SSSI). Being the largest of the broads, and the largest area of open water in East Anglia, we’re pretty proud of it, even though it’s only about 150cm deep!

This is a stunning and wild place any time of year and visiting the reserve is a great opportunity to see how positive management in favour of the wildlife and it’s habitats has really transformed this area into one of the most spectacular places in Norfolk. Unless you take the (highly recommended, but book first) boat trip, you’ll not really see a huge amount of the water, never the less, what you’ll get a genuine feeling for the habitats and wildlife.

Wandering around the trail, stop off and install yourself in the hides, look our over the scrape and reed beds. Scrapes are areas literally ‘scraped’ out (by mechanical means), the water table is so high flooding immediately occurs. The proximity of water combined with beautiful expanses of reed bed makes ideal habitat for incredibly rare species like the Bittern.

We  love the Bitterns, they’re an emblem, 'a standard'  for the great work being done by conservationists in the struggle to change the tide in favour of the endangered flora and fauna. Time was that you'd never hear  Bittern but get down here in April now and ...................
Sorry, it appears that I digress from the point, my most profuse apologies, I’ll attempt to chart a more direct course!
The scrape water level  is managed for varying purposes, such as provision of mud to encourage breeding waders and flooding to rejuvenate the mud. Depending on the time of year you could see anything from Green Sandpiper to Bearded Tit (Reedling), the astonishing array of birds is usually written up on the board at the visitor centre, so check first, to see what treats you may have in store. Hang around long enough, and if you’re lucky you might see a Chinese water deer slip out of the margins, look for  his fangs, he can make an incredibly eerie bark during the rut, so listen up. Summer is a good time for Grass snakes, natural swimmers, look for the yellow collar as it curves it’s way across the water, maybe after a frog. Amazing butterflies also abound with arguably the most striking, the Swallowtail present and reasonably visible on hot sunny days at the right time of year, people have come literally hundreds of miles on weekend trips just to catch a glimpse of this ‘king if the hill’ of UK butterflies. I’ve seen a couple whilst out canoeing but never here on the trails, it’s just luck really, and a bit of planning, so come on a fine day in June (the first brood is always the best, I’m reliably informed) or August, and you’ve got as good a chance as anyone else. Once you’ve wandered the trails around the reed beds, fen and even the little wood, (interesting fungi in here), don’t forget the stride on up to Stubb Mill. A telescope is handy here, because you’ll look out over a huge expanse of grazing marsh to Horsey mill and the dunes beyond. I always get up here on a winter’s afternoon, to watch the Raptors come into roost. Basically if you don’t see a Marsh Harrier, you’ve got there too late and it’s already dark, in which case this is an awesome spot for star gazing some of those winter constellations, like Orion or Taurus see if you can make out Cancer  and the Beehive, that amazing dome of sky well I just ca……..
Apologies again! No more deviations.
Anyway imagine the scene. It’s half past three and  no fog to speak of, so scan the vista, Marsh Harriers abound here so look out for the gray and brown male, golden headed female and overall brown juvenile. You can't believe how happy it makes me to see these birds, only a few years back  you’d be lucky, very lucky, to see a Harrier at all!
Less common, and a real treat, are the ethereal grey male Hen harrier, now look for those black wing tips, the female has no grey but a white ring around it’s rump, hence ringtail (I saw her once out of my back room window, one morning as I was putting washing on the linen horse, a damn good  start to the day)!!!
Count up whilst you're here, I’ve counted 26 Marsh and 4 Hen in the air together, and I’m sure keener folk than I have seen more.

On any winters trip to ‘Stubb’, always stay to the ‘bitter end’.
 You’ll know what I mean when your fingers, and other vital extremities have gone numb. As well as the  Barn owls  this is the best chance to see the fabled Cranes, I’ve seen nine come in, others say thirteen, what an amazing call too, once heard never forgotten! Your eyes will probably pop out of your head just looking, in that semi darkness, but chances are they’ll make your day by drifting in, neck and feet out, before it’s totally dark. For me this is one of the best wildlife experiences anywhere in Norfolk.

Getting there : Grid ref TG 428222.Leave  the A149 & travel towards Hickling then following  the signs, turn off past the Greyhoung Inn and then left up Stubb Road

Amenities : Parking, Visitor Centre, Wheelchair Access & toilets, boat trip, Hides

Need more information : Call 01692 598276
 

Wilds of Norfolk was set up because of our unquenchable enthusiasm for the Norfolk Broads,  our small part of the natural world. We thought we'd like to try and give something back by helping other people enjoy the countryside and it's wildlife as well as do our own little bit to promote an interest in the natural world and it's conservation , not only for the wildlife but for the sheer exuberance of the precious life we're lucky enough to get the chance to live.

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