Norfolk Wildlife Trust has announced that it has purchased the Pleasure Boat Inn at Hickling Staithe in the Norfolk Broads in a bid to engage more visitors with the local flora and fauna.
Norfolk is a county rich in wildlife, from the seals at Horsey Gap to the pheasant that roam every forest (and, seemingly, every road). One of the best areas for spotting wildlife, particularly of the avian variety, is the Norfolk Broads, which is one of the UK’s most important habitats for numerous species.
However, it isn’t just be bitterns and warblers that are drawing visitors in – there are also pints, with the Broads boasting of a number of boozers particularly popular with boaters. Norfolk Wildlife Trust has acquired one such watering hole near its Hickling Broad and Marshes nature reserve, along with the adjacent buildings, car park, and, crucially for the Norfolk Broads, nearby moorings.
The pub itself dates back to the mid-18th century when it was a popular stop for wherries, the single-sailed boats that transported peat and grain around the Broads.
Norfolk Wildlife Trust CEO Eliot Lyne said: “In addition to taking care of this unique and vital landscape for wildlife, we aim to create facilities that will provide new opportunities for everyone to experience Hickling’s fantastic wildlife in an area where nature, the community and the local economy are all thriving.”
“Investing in a popular local pub will allow us to create new ways to introduce people to the nature, landscape and wildlife of Hickling,” Lyne continued. “We want to create a business that will serve the local community, as well as attract new visitors to the area, and are looking forward to working closely with the local community to turn our vision into a reality.”
As part of the development, Norfolk Wildlife Trust also plans to develop additional facilities to educate visitors on the plants and animals that make it such a special slice of England.
The charity is also seeking a business partner to run the pub on its behalf.
Earlier this year, Cornwall Wildlife Trust launched an initiative to identify the county’s most nature friendly beer garden.
This article was originally published by the drinks business and has been shared with permission.
