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Broads National Park
@broadsnationalpark.bsky.social
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The official account of the Broads National Park in Norfolk and Suffolk, looked after by the Broads Authority. Follow us for news, facts, stunning images and things to do in Britain's most iconic wetland landscape.

www.visitthebroads.co.uk
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Well done to Matt who has had this fantastic image of a moonrise over Thurne Mill shortlisted in the 2025 National Parks UK Photo Competition.

Vote for this picture by visiting the NPUK Instagram page and dropping a like on it to help him with a chance of winning!

www.instagram.com/nationalpark...
A serene evening scene featuring Thurne Mill, a traditional white windmill beside a calm river, with houses and trees in the background. A large pink moon rises in the blue sky above. Text on the image reads: “Thurne Mill by Matt Willimott – Shortlisted in the National Parks UK Photo Competition. Head to the NPUK Instagram page to vote.”
October 9, 2025 at 1:36 PM
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We’re proud to support the Baton of Hope in Norwich today 💛

Our Rangers will guide the #BatonOfHope by river from Jarrold Bridge to Norwich Yacht Station (16:30-17:00pm).

Join us in backing the UK’s biggest suicide prevention campaign and promoting the power of nature for mental health.
An illustrated map of the Norwich Baton of Hope Tour. The route shows stops at key locations in Norwich: starting at the Norfolk Showground, then moving to the Sainsbury Centre, The Plantation Garden, Varah House (Samaritans), Chapelfield Gardens, Maddermarket, Norwich Cathedral, Norwich Train Station, and ending at Carrow Road football stadium. The River Wensum is shown running through the city. Footprints and arrows connect the locations. The Baton of Hope Norwich logo is in the top right corner, and the text “@BatonOfHopeNorwich” appears at the bottom.
September 17, 2025 at 11:04 AM
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There's still time to enter the 2025 National Parks UK Photography Competition 🤝🏻

Submit your images via Instagram before 5 September for a chance to win £250 in Sykes Cottages vouchers and over £100 in Collins National Park books.

Read more here: www.nationalparks.uk/photo-compet...
A black-and-white photo of a sailboat on a river with trees in the background. Overlaid text reads: ‘National Parks UK Photography Competition. Win a prize bundle worth over £350. Enter before 5 September.
August 29, 2025 at 3:21 PM
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Our first set of Volunteer Action Days are coming up in August, offering an opportunity to learn about conservation work and get stuck in managing the landscape at Reedham Marshes 🌿

A great way to enjoy some volunteering with no long-term commitment.

Interested? Book your spot here: bit.ly/40J1dB7
A group of three smiling volunteers and a Broads ecologist standing on a grassy path through tall reeds, holding long bamboo poles. They are dressed in outdoor gear and appear to be in a wetland or marsh area. Text on the image reads: “Volunteer Action Days #1 Reedham Marshes – 19–22 August 2025. Book via Eventbrite."
July 29, 2025 at 4:21 PM
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Is it us or would this shot make a fantastic book (or album) cover? 🧑‍🎨

A heron takes off in-front of the fiery setting sun near the River Thurne. Well done to Will for capturing this incredible shot!

📷 @whulbert-photos.bsky.social
July 29, 2025 at 8:17 AM
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🤝 We have some fantastic Volunteer Action Days coming up soon which offer a great opportunity to have a go at conservation volunteering in the Broads National Park.

Get involved and join us this August, September and February 2026.

Book your spot here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/cc/volunteer...
A promotional poster for "Volunteer Action Days" with bold white text on a dark purple background. The poster is decorated with stylised, illustrated purple and green flowers and plants. A QR code is centered at the top. Below the main text, it reads: "Have a go at conservation work and help to look after the Broads. Book your spot on Eventbrite." Three dates are listed at the bottom: "18 AUG", "15 SEPT", and "23 FEB".
July 11, 2025 at 3:03 PM
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Earlier this year, a second drone survey of deer populations in the Broads was completed - providing the clearest picture yet of how they are impacting our wetland landscapes.

If you're interested in learning more, find the full article on our website: www.broads-authority.gov.uk/news/largest...
A male muntjac deer rests in green grass, showing small antlers and dark facial stripes, photographed by Marc Baldwin
May 27, 2025 at 10:39 AM
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Join a guided walk with the Broads Rangers this Tuesday May 6 near Potter Heigham! 🧭

Explore a Hickling Nature Reserve and one of England's last-remaining eel setts on this fascinating walk which delves into the history of eel catching.

Book here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/eel-sett-g...
A poster for the “Eel Sett Guided Walk” on 6 May, 10am–1pm, £6. Includes a photo of a black-painted riverside hut with a corrugated red metal roof.
May 2, 2025 at 11:47 AM
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It's looking like a lovely weekend in the Broads!

If you're heading out on your canoe, kayak or SUP it pays to be water smart and to learn the rules of the river.

Check out our website for some top tips to help you make the most of your time on the water.

www.visitthebroads.co.uk/discover-the...
A woman and a boy kayaking on a calm river, both wearing life jackets and paddling side by side. Tall green reeds line the riverbank in the background under a clear sky.
April 11, 2025 at 12:45 PM
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Whether you own a boat here or are coming for a holiday trip, who's looking forward to another summer on the Broads?

The Broads Authority's Yacht Stations, visitor centres and staffed moorings re-open for the summer on Saturday 29 March and we can't wait for another season! ☀️
A Quay Ranger wearing a life jacket and holding a brochure talks to an older man by the riverside in Norwich. The Quay Ranger points to information in the brochure while the older man gestures as they engage in conversation. In the background, people are walking along the towpath, and a boat is moored on the calm water, surrounded by lush greenery and purple flowers overhead.
March 21, 2025 at 12:42 PM
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We’re thrilled that our infamous demon dog, Black Shuck, will be featured in Royal Mail's new Myths and Legends stamp collection, illustrated by Adam Simpson 🔥

The collection celebrates UK folklore, including Scotland’s Loch Ness Monster, Cornish Piskies, and Northern Ireland’s Fionn mac Cumhai.
A Royal Mail stamp featuring an illustration of Black Shuck, the infamous demon dog from East Anglian folklore. The fearsome black hound, with glowing red eyes and a menacing snarl, is depicted standing on scorched ground with sharp, jagged lines. Behind the creature, a medieval church looms under a stormy sky filled with ominous clouds and lightning. The stamp is marked “1st” in the top right corner, with “Black Shuck” labeled at the bottom left.
March 20, 2025 at 4:35 PM
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A superb capture of a Bearded reedling perched up at Hickling Broad ✨

Males sport a bold black ‘moustache’ against soft tawny plumage. These fascinating birds build intricate, globe-shaped nests among reeds near water and often chatter in small flocks outside breeding season.

📷 Adam Spruce
An image showing a male Bearded reedling perched on a reed, bathed in golden light against a backdrop of out-of-focus reeds
March 14, 2025 at 3:22 PM
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Before vs after at Six Mile House Drainage Mill 💙

Built in the 19th century, this Broads windpump drained land until 1946.

After years of neglect, it was restored during the Water, Mills & Marshes project. Apprentices repaired brickwork, replaced the cap & added floors - keeping history alive!
February 27, 2025 at 4:23 PM
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A huge congratulations to Waterways Projects Officer Emily who was highly-commended in the Green Impact Award category of the 2025 Apprenticeships Norfolk Awards last week!

She is currently working towards the Civil Engineering Technician Apprenticeship (Level 3 Standard) at City College Norwich.
Emily at the Apprenticeship Awards with her highly commended certificate
February 20, 2025 at 4:34 PM
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A majestic Marsh Harrier soars above the reedbeds 🦅

This iconic species was once driven to UK extinction by the late 19th century.

They began breeding here again from 1927, with numbers rising steadily thanks to conservation efforts.

Thankfully, now they are often a common sight in the Broads!
A marsh harrier soars above a golden reedbed, its broad wings outstretched and slightly tilted. The bird’s plumage is a mix of warm brown, cream, and black, with a pale head contrasting against the darker body.
February 6, 2025 at 11:51 AM
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The upcoming Fibrebroads: Cultivating Sustainable Futures Symposium explores Paludi-fibre in bio-based building materials 🌿

Join experts on biomaterials, sustainable design & innovation plus a student exhibition showcasing fresh ideas.

Interested? Book here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fibrebroad...
A promotional poster for 'Fibrebroads: Cultivating Sustainable Futures' exhibition at Norwich University of the Arts. The event takes place on Monday, 17 February, from 10:00 to 17:00 at DS4, Duke Street Building, NR3 3AS. The exhibition showcases MArch students' paludiculture research works at Boardman House, NR2 4SL. The poster features a textured, brown, 3D-printed object made from a reed fibre, eggshell, and sand composite. Logos for Norwich University of the Arts and Broads Authority are at the bottom. A subtle blue map-like pattern is in the background. Image credit: Sam Joy, MArch Architecture.
February 5, 2025 at 10:51 AM
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After what felt like a very long January, it's a new month and we're already looking ahead to enjoying the signs of spring hitting the Broads!

To kick things off, we're loving this iconic image of St Benet's Level Drainage Mill reflected in the still waters of the River Thurne.

📷 Tom Mackie
St Benet's Level mill and a black wooden chalet with a white porch stand beside the River Thurne, reflecting perfectly in the still surface. The scene is bathed in warm golden sunlight, with reeds in the foreground and a clear blue sky above.
February 4, 2025 at 10:49 AM
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It can often be grey & oppressive, but a Norfolk woodland in winter, when the weather conditions are just right, is truly a magical sight to behold ✨

Thank you to Rick Bowden for sharing, if this doesn't make us want to get out there and brave the winter chills for a woodland walk then what will?!
A woodland scene with small trees holding onto brown leaves. Tall tree trunks stand in the foreground, while soft light filters through the misty background. The forest floor is covered in fallen leaves.
January 31, 2025 at 12:01 PM
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We love the vibrant colours of this shot of the River Thurne, taken on a particularly cold snap last winter where thick ice formed on the rivers 🥶

We've certainly had some glorious winter weather recently!

📷 @graemetaplin.bsky.social
A wintry image of Thurne Mill in Broads with its iconic white sails and a boat resting on a frozen waterway. Warm light highlights the serene landscape of reeds and trees, creating a tranquil, timeless scene, and the sky is a pastel blue suggesting sunrise/sunset.
January 15, 2025 at 3:03 PM
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This week saw us celebrate 75 years of the UK's National Parks 🥳

Seventy-five years ago the "people’s charter for the open air" was enacted, paving the way for the establishment of the UK’s first National Parks.

What a journey it has been so far for the Broads and the rest of the NP family.
A serene view of a windmill at sunset, reflected in calm water. The sky is painted with soft oranges and yellows, while silhouetted reeds and trees frame the scene, evoking a tranquil countryside atmosphere.
December 20, 2024 at 2:43 PM
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The calm and serenity you get from moments like this is what makes the Broads truly special.

A sailing boat glides along the River Bure near Oby.

📷 Abbey Wilkins
A serene aerial view scene with a sailboat gliding along a calm river in the foreground. The river is bordered by lush green marshes and dense vegetation. In the midground, there is a mill with a domed top, surrounded by small buildings and trees, adding a rustic charm to the landscape. The sky is partly cloudy, with patches of sunlight breaking through, illuminating the vibrant greens of the fields. The atmosphere evokes a peaceful and idyllic rural setting.
December 11, 2024 at 5:30 PM
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You can't beat a good view of Horsey Mill, especially on a crisp winter's morning. Lovely stuff.

An unmistakable icon of the Broads, worth a visit as it's so close to the seal colony, a fantastic pub (Nelson's Head) and a great National Trust cafe!

📷 Jon Gibbs
A picturesque view of Horsey Windpump at sunrise, surrounded by frosty reeds and a still, icy waterway reflecting soft pink and purple hues in the sky. The mill's red brick tower and white sails stand tall amidst the winter landscape, with bare trees and rustic boat sheds in the background.
November 28, 2024 at 4:42 PM
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🍴Please share! The Broads Authority is on the look-out for a mobile caterer to offer food & drink at Acle Bridge in the Broads from next year. A great opportunity to offer something exciting at this popular and picturesque site.

People can apply here: www.broads-authority.gov.uk/news/opportu...
A scenic view of Acle Bridge 24-hour mooring on the River Bure, featuring moored boats along the calm waterway and a thatched riverside building with outdoor seating. The surrounding landscape includes open fields under a bright blue sky.
November 27, 2024 at 5:47 PM
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Who's a poser! A handsome barn owl perches elegantly on a wooden post near the historic St. Benet's Abbey, a serene corner of the Broads.

Known for their ghostly white faces, striking golden-brown feathers, and silent flight, barn owls are a familiar and cherished sight in the Broads landscape.
The image shows a barn owl perched on a wooden post. Its distinct white, heart-shaped face contrasts with its golden-brown and gray feathers. The background is blurred, emphasising the owl, and consists of green and earthy tones.
November 25, 2024 at 4:29 PM
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This evening we're enjoying this wintry #Broads postcard view of How Hill 🩵

There's a dusting of snow on the ground, with Boardman's Drainage Mill (named after the local Boardman family) standing proud against the dusky blue winter sky. A calming scene if we ever saw one.

📷 Tom Barrett
The image depicts a serene winter landscape at How Hill, showcasing marshland with patches of water and frost-covered grass under a crisp blue sky. A windmill can be seen in the distance, framed by bare trees, evoking a peaceful and atmospheric scene typical of the Broads in the colder months.
November 21, 2024 at 4:42 PM