Residents can explore Thorpe St Andrew’s urban nature reserve on a summer evening this week when naturalist Chris Durdin leads a free guided walk at NWT Thorpe Marshes on Thursday, 2 July 2026.
The two-hour meander runs from 7pm to 9pm, following paths through the 25-hectare reserve that borders the River Yare on the eastern fringe of Norwich. Participants should meet at the pedestrian railway bridge at the end of Whitlingham Lane, accessed from the A1242 Yarmouth Road diagonally opposite Thunder Lane. Sturdy waterproof footwear or wellies are recommended, and booking is required. Durdin, who has led monthly walks here for years, will point out waterbirds, the elusive Cetti’s warbler, and summer migrants including swallows, house martins and swifts that feed overhead before their autumn journey to Africa.
Established in 2011 as Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s first reserve in the city, Thorpe Marshes protects a mosaic of grazed marsh, meandering dykes and the open water of St Andrew’s Broad, a former gravel working. The site is also a stronghold for the exceptionally rare and endangered shining ramshorn snail, alongside water voles and Norfolk hawker dragonflies. Summer flowers currently in bloom include meadowsweet, meadow vetchling and valerian, while dragonflies such as scarce chasers are active. The trust reminds visitors to stay on designated paths and be mindful of biting insects and open water.
The walk goes ahead rain or shine unless conditions become unsafe. Organisers suggest bringing binoculars and a camera. No parking is available on Whitlingham Lane. The event is part of a programme linked to the Water, Mills and Marshes Broads Landscape Partnership scheme, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
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