Belsey Bridge lies within the Broads National Park in the village of Ditchingham. If you find some downtime from your conference or event, why not take the time to discover Britain’s largest protected wetland. With its scenic waterways and rich history, it’s home to some of the rarest plants and animals in the UK.
Beautiful beaches
Not only is the Broads home to 124 miles of waterways, It also boasts 1.5 miles of beaches, and is on the doorstep of 90 miles of Norfolk coastline. From the Sand dune nature reserve of Horsey, to the bright lights of Great Yarmouth, there’s something for everyone.
188 square miles to explore
Whether you plan your own course or join an organised excursion, the broad’s seven rivers and 63 broads offer miles of calm, safe waterways for a scenic boat trip. The broads range in size from small pools to the large expanses of Hickling Broad, Barton Broad and Breydon Water. Historical landmarks and Mills can be found spread out along the miles of waterways, fenland, woodland, footpaths, pretty market towns and villages.
With so many different habitats, the Broads can be explored by foot, on bikes and on the water by kayak or boat hire. River boats can be hired from the Waveney River Centre in Beccles.
Flora and fauna
The Broads is renowned for its biodiversity and is home to more than a quarter of the UK’s rarest wildlife.
With bitterns, swallows, otters, adders, swallows, deer and even porpoise there’s a lot to discover. During the summer season, the unique flora attracts a variety of rare insects, dragonflies and butterflies including Britain’s largest butterfly, the Swallowtail.
The highlight of the year from October to early February is the grey seal pupping season around the coast at Horsey. This is something not to be missed with mother seals coming ashore and nursing their young right on the beach.
The fens alone have more than 250 different plants including the nationally protected fen orchid and the Rare Crested Buckler Fern.
Steeped in History
The broads are a man-made collection of waterways originally formed by natural rivers but also peat digging, with evidence of this dating back to the 12th century. When these pits flooded, it became a wetland rich in all types of wildlife, flora and fauna.
The broads then became a centre of industry, and vital in the development of commerce in Norfolk and Suffolk. The broads were used to transport cargoes, the malted barley was used to create beer and whisky and the reeds created a massive thatch industry. Some of these industries can still be seen today.
Explore more...
To learn more about the Broads National park visit: http://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/about-the-broads
To find out about all you can see and do within the Broads, take a look at: http://www.visitthebroads.co.uk
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