The village of Weybourne is a hotspot for wildlife and for nature lovers. Weybourne Parish Council takes its role as protector of this environment very seriously. We have a member of the Parish Council with responsibility for environmental and biodiversity issues, and have declared Weybourne a Wildlife Friendly Village. We aim to encourage people within the community to look out for wildlife and environmental issues, and we also manage our assets for the benefit of wildlife.

We have joined the Norfolk Churchyard Conservation Scheme (Norfolk Wildlife Trust/Diocese of Norwich). We received advice from NWT about the plants present in our churchyard and now leave areas that feature species which are typical of unimproved grassland unmown from May till August. Signage in the churchyard explains this scheme, and it is well supported by churchgoers and visitors. In our cemetery we have changed our hedge management regime to prevent disturbance to nesting birds and to thicken the hedge and leave berries for birds and mammals to feed on. The areas in the cemetery where Bee Orchids proliferate are not mown until the orchids have finished flowering.

We have been successful in winning a number of grants to allow us to improve biodiversity within the area. The first of these was to plant bulbs and wildflower seeds in the verges. Members of the community planted spring-flowering bulbs to provide early nectar, while children scattered bee bombs. The verges are unmown between May and September, when they are hand-scythed and the leavings raked off by local residents, to reduce the fertility of the soil. As well as the species in our seed mix, a number of interesting plants have emerged from the seedbank, including Knotted Hedge Parsley (found in only one other location in Norfolk) and Common Restharrow. The grant also paid for a noticeboard where we advertise wildlife-related events and provide useful information on how individuals can help to protect the environment and enhance biodiversity.

Another grant funded timers on our street lights, which are now switched off from 11pm till 5am, helping to maintain our dark skies. This also reduces our carbon footprint.

The dilapidated garden outside the Village Hall was redesigned as a wildlife garden thanks to another grant, aiming to showcase that wildlife gardens can also be attractive. Using no-dig techniques and plants selected for their drought-resistance, watering is kept to a minimum, and can be supplied by the water butts that were installed as part of the project. The garden features nectar- and pollen-rich plants, shrubs to provide shelter, and plants which produce seed heads and fruits to provide food in autumn and winter. Many of the flower species were chosen to attract specific butterflies or bees. Wood piles create homes for insects and fungi, while the children of our local Messy Church made hoverfly lagoons and bug hotels and planted sunflowers. Our local bee expert created a bee bank and special bee bricks, and has recorded 24 species of bee in the garden, including some that are scarce such asSmall Scabious Mining Bee, Wool Carder Bee, Red-thighed Epeolus, Orange-vented Mason Bee and Reticulate Blood Bee. As part of the same grant, we installed three Swift boxes on the side of the Village Hall.

We have been upgrading our playground and as part of this we received a grant from our County Councillor to help us to provide a sensory area. This allowed us to purchase planters, which were filled with peat-free compost and plants which serve the dual purpose of appealing to the senses of visitors to the area, and also delivering wildlife benefits – providing year-round sources of pollen and nectar, and shelter for insects. We also created a herb path made of Thyme, Corsican Mint and Camomile, grown from seed by local organic horticulturists at Thornage Hall.

We participated in a tree planting session at NNDC’s car park by the beach, and planted a Rowan to commemorate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. The George Weston Community Field is owned by the Parish Council but managed by Weybourne Community Fund, who have cooperated with our biodiversity ambitions by leaving areas of the field unmown during the summer, allowing wildflowers to flourish, including Bee Orchids, Pyramidal Orchids and Field Scabious. We have facilitated talks about wildlife gardening and habitat connectivity, delivered by Norfolk Wildlife Trust.

When the Parish Council reviews planning application, we always consider the environmental impact, the potential for biodiversity net gain, and the effect of lighting on wildlife.

With much already achieved on the land which we control or influence, we will be turning our attention outwards in the future. We hope to introduce a wildlife garden award scheme, in collaboration with Sheringham Town Council. We are also looking to engage with other nearby parish and town councils, both to share what we have done and learn from them, and also to see how we can create wildlife habitat corridors to connect our land together.