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Heigham Holmes

National nature reserves in EnglandNature reserves in NorfolkNorfolk geography stubs
Heigham Holmes (National Trust) geograph.org.uk 261112
Heigham Holmes (National Trust) geograph.org.uk 261112

Heigham Holmes is a national nature reserve located within the Norfolk Broads in the English county of Norfolk. The reserve is, in effect, an island, being surrounded by the river channels, drainage ditches and wetland areas of the Broads. It is only accessible by an unusual floating swing bridge across the River Thurne from the village of Martham.The reserve is owned by the National Trust and is within the Broads National Park and the civil parish of Potter Heigham. It is only opened to the public for one day a year.It has been suggested that Heigham Holmes was used by the Special Operations Executive as a secret airfield between 1940 and 1944, with Lysander aircraft operating from the airfield to ferry agents to occupied Europe. However, no evidence of an airfield has been found in any records (military or local), maps or on aerial photographs, and any military-type structures that may have existed would appear to have been removed by the end of the Second World War, therefore any such usage cannot be confirmed.The subject of an airfield having existed in Heigham Holmes was featured erroneously in the BBC's Secret Britain television series, first broadcast in 2010.

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Heigham Holmes (License: CC BY-SA 3.0, Authors, Images).

Heigham Holmes
North Norfolk Potter Heigham

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Latitude Longitude
N 52.726572 ° E 1.616707 °
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Potter Heigham


North Norfolk, Potter Heigham
England, United Kingdom
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Heigham Holmes (National Trust) geograph.org.uk 261112
Heigham Holmes (National Trust) geograph.org.uk 261112
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The Broads
The Broads

The Broads (known for marketing purposes as The Broads National Park) is a network of mostly navigable rivers and lakes in the English counties of Norfolk and Suffolk. Although the terms "Norfolk Broads" and "Suffolk Broads" are correctly used to identify specific areas within the two counties respectively, the whole area is frequently referred to as the Norfolk Broads. The lakes, known as broads, were formed by the flooding of peat workings. The Broads, and some surrounding land, were constituted as a special area with a level of protection similar to a national park by the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads Act 1988. The Broads Authority, a special statutory authority responsible for managing the area, became operational in 1989.The area is 303 square kilometres (117 sq mi), most of which is in Norfolk, with over 200 kilometres (120 mi) of navigable waterways. There are seven rivers and 63 broads, mostly less than 4 metres (13 ft) deep. Thirteen broads are generally open to navigation, with a further three having navigable channels. Some broads have navigation restrictions imposed on them in autumn and winter, although the legality of the restrictions is questionable.The Broads has similar status to the national parks in England and Wales; the Broads Authority has powers and duties akin to the National Parks but is also the third-largest inland navigation authority. Because of its navigation role the Broads Authority was established under its own legislation on 1 April 1989. The Broads Authority Act 2009, which was promoted through Parliament by the authority, is intended to improve public safety on the water.

Martham
Martham

Martham is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. It is situated some 15 km (9.3 mi) north-west of the town of Great Yarmouth and 30 km (19 mi) north-east of the city of Norwich.The villages name means 'marten homestead/village' or 'weasel/marten hemmed-in land'. The civil parish has an area of 11.84 km2 (4.57 sq mi) and in the 2001 census had a population of 3,126 in 1,267 households, the population including Cess and increasing at the 2011 Census to 3,569. For the purposes of local government, the parish falls within the district of Great Yarmouth. In recent years the population has expanded with considerable housing being constructed. Bus service to Great Yarmouth is regular. There was a station in the village adjacent to a level crossing on Rollesby Road Martham railway station, but this closed in 1959, when the entire line from Great Yarmouth to North Walsham was eliminated. The station buildings stood for another 30 years. Education is available in the village from Early Years to aged 16. Martham Primary & Nursery caters for children up to year 6, with Flegg High School taking students from year 7 to year 11. Post 16 education is available at other establishments outside of Martham. The village has several Georgian houses, a large village green, covering three areas of greensward and two duck ponds. Near St Mary's church Church of England, Ferrygate Lane leads to Martham Ferry, where an unusual floating swing bridge crosses the River Thurne. The bridge leads to Heigham Holmes, an island nature reserve, which can only be accessed by the public on special occasions. About 2 km (1.2 mi) to the north of the village is Martham Broad, a 140 acres (57 ha) nature reserve, which is not navigable by boat.The Saxons settled in Martham around AD601 and gave the village its name, "the ham of the martens", the home of the polecats.The Anglican missionary Anna Hinderer died in the village in 1870.

Horsey, Norfolk
Horsey, Norfolk

Horsey is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk within The Broads national park. It covers an area of 8.49 km2 (3.28 sq mi) and had a population of 99 in 40 households at the 2001 census. At the 2011 Census the population remained less than 100 and was included in the civil parish of Sea Palling. For the purposes of local government, it falls within the district of North Norfolk. The villages name means 'Horse island'. It is situated at the end of Horsey Mere, a nature reserve. Horsey Windpump is the youngest Windpump in the Broads having been built by Dan England in 1912 and is in the care of the National Trust. It was struck by lightning in 1943 and ceased working at this time. Having succumbed to the elements and ravages of time, a major restoration project to replace the sails began in 2016, and the new sails first turned again in May 2019. The longer ambition is to have it restored to full working order. The tea room and Windpump is open from March until October but the wider estate is open all year. Horsey has often taken the brunt of devastating floods and violent coastal storms and, on some notable occasions, the sea has entered the Broads, rendering the water salty and killing large numbers of wildlife. The 18th century owner of Horsey, Sir Berney Brograve, by reviving a previous Act of Parliament, unsuccessfully tried to have the sea breaches repaired after many destructive inundations of his estate. The church of Horsey All Saints is one of 124 existing round-tower churches in Norfolk. The coast next to the village, known as Horsey Dunes, is a major wildlife site. During the months of November to January, a colony of Grey Seals heads on to the beach to give birth to seal pups. Creating a beautiful local attraction for many wildlife enthusiasts.