Protecting ground-nesting birds Working in partnership Many of the birds breeding on the , is part of Blakeney National including oystercatchers, , redshanks, Nature Reserve and has been under the care of avocets and ringed plovers nest on the the National Trust since it was gifted in 1912. ground, making them especially vulnerable to Nature Reserve was purchased by disturbance. Whilst many factors have a bearing Wildlife Trust in 1926 and was the first on breeding success, human and particularly dog Wildlife Trust reserve in the country. Together disturbance can have a significant impact. The these reserves, which stretch for six and a half presence of dogs can cause birds to leave nests miles, are internationally recognised as vitally and chicks, leaving them open to predation by important for breeding birds. Walking your dog and other predators. at Blakeney Point & Cley Beach

Many birds lay their eggs in a hollow directly on sand or shingle and often the eggs are barely For further information and advice contact: visible - please mind your step! National Trust, Norfolk Coast Office Little EU Life+ Project Friary Farm, Cley Road, Blakeney, NR25 7NW Little terns are summer visitors to the UK but Tel: 01263 740241 their population is declining. They are threatened Email: [email protected] by human disturbance, Website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/blakeney predation, change and high tides. The National Trust are NorfolkCoastNT @NorfolkCoastNT a partner in a 5 year RSPB led EU Life+ , Cley and Marshes project that aims to Coast Road, help little tern conservation in the UK at 20 of the Cley-next-the-Sea, NR25 7SA most important sites in the UK. Working together Tel: 01263 740008 with Norfolk Wildlife Trust, we will be taking Email: [email protected] actions to tackle these threats here on the north Website: www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk Norfolk Coast. This is expected not only to improve the species’ NorfolkWildlifeTrust @SupportNWT Help care for these nature reserves status at this location but also and their important breeding birds, to increase the population at a © National Trust 2017. Registered charity no. 205846. by walking your dog responsibly. national level. Norfolk Wildlife Trust. Registered charity no. 208734. Photographs by National Trust/Ian Ward/David Wood. Walking your dog on Blakeney Point & walk your dog on Cley beach during this period. It is therefore important to always keep dogs Cley Beach You may wish to follow the under close control and to stay away from fenced- if you fancy a longer walk. off areas. Some ground-nesting birds such as To help minimise disturbance to ground-nesting avocets and little terns are Schedule 1 protected birds we have produced some handy advice and If you have arrived at Blakeney Point by boat, species. Did you know that disturbing these a map to show you where you can walk with dogs are welcome in the immediate area around species, even unintentionally, is a prosecutable your dog. the Lifeboat House but please keep them on a offence? lead at all times. The western end of Blakeney Dogs can be walked on the shingle beach at Point is closed to visitor access at all times. Responsible dog owners Cley and Salthouse throughout the year, but The National Trust and Norfolk Wildlife Trust ground-nesting birds are often present between Ground-nesting birds may nest anywhere on the appreciate the contribution responsible dog April and August. Please keep your dog under shingle, not just in dog-restricted zones. owners make to the protection of valuable wildlife close control and walk as near to the sea as habitats on the Norfolk coast. It is important that possible during this important time. we work together to support their future.

There are dog restrictions in place on Blakeney Please always clear up after your dog and dispose Point from 1 April until 15 August each year with of the waste responsibly. Dog bin locations are the beginning of the dog restriction zone marked marked on the map above. with signs along the width of the beach. Please