The Glaven Valley Benefice Community News
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National Trust

Happy New Year from all the National Trust team on the North Norfolk coast.

The great Outdoors
Wow - another amazing record-breaking season for the grey seal colony on Biakeney Point The final seal pup count completed in early January was 932, surpassing the 747 pups counted last year, a 24% increase, bringing the total colony to an estimated 2,000 seals at its peak. Further along the coast at Horsey there has been an increase on a similar scale with 500, new pups and our colleagues on the Fame Islands had 1,555 new pups. Despite the strong winds and unpredictably large tides along the length of the coast, the seal colonies have faired well; however, the weather has resulted in some seal pups being dispersed into areas of the coastline that are frequented by walkers on the coast, with one report of a dog owner being bitten by a seal. With this in mind, we would like to seek your support to help us manage what we anticipate to be another record breaking breeding season later in the year – please see the Volunteers R US section below. The seals that Graham took to the RSPCA centre are now on a diet of fish having been weaned on milk and are being readied for released. During the month you may see the team working out on Blakeney Freshes repairing and replacing some fencing and supervising the ditching work to clear and ease the waterways improving the flow of water between the fields.

Engaging Events
We have organised a range of special events throughout the year to mark the centenary of Blakeney Point being in the care of the National Trust since 1912. Some dates for the diary are:

The events include evening talks from our own Wildlife, Conservation and Archaeological consultants, an evening talk from Professor Ken Pye about his scientific research on the Norfolk coast and a four day exhibition called 'Tidal Lands' in Blakeney Village Hall, all of which are in conjunction with Blakeney Area Historical Society. We hope you can join us for at least one of the events.

Points of View
We will be having a beach clean on Saturday March 31st starting at 10:00 until 14:00 and we would like to have your support to help collect and bag up all the harmful flotsam and jetsam that is washed up on to the stretch of beach from the Cley beach car park to the Point. It would be great to have as many hands as possible; I'm sure it will be good fun and really help clean and conserve an area of real beauty where we all love to be. If you can help, please contact us and we hope to see you there. We would like to seek your support to help us manage what we anticipate to be another record breaking seal breeding season later in the year. If you are interested in helping to recover injured or stranded seals across the property then please get in touch.

lain Wolfe, Visitor Services Manager,National Trust
Friary Farm, Cley Road
Blakeney, NR25 7NW
Office/Fax: 01263 740241 -
Email : iain.wolfe@nationaltrust.org.uk

County Councillor Dr Marie Strong County Council News:

Broadband:
I am delighted to report that Norfolk County Council has reached the next stage in bringing better broadband to Norfolk . We now need to attract the best possible private sector partner and to do this we need to show that demand exists right across the county. The bigger towns and parishes will produce large numbers yet our small parishes not only have a greater need but can demonstrate this by each entire parish registering. Not only will this impress potential partners but will, I believe, benefit these parishes at the next stage.

So I am asking every business, every embryonic business, resident, students of all ages to again say 'YES' to better broadband. And here is my challenge: every person who has contacted me regarding the dire state of their broadband should not rest easy until their entire parish has registered!
You can register in a number of ways: go to www.norfolk.gov.uk/savyesnorfolk sign up and find out more information; get hard copies of separate forms for residents and businesses from our libraries and mobile libraries; register by simply 'phoning 0344 800 8023.

Please note there is no commitment or obligation in registering your interest at this stage. And those of you who, hearing of the appalling service in your area, have not yet bothered to go on-line can still register. I am asking for the website to be amended so friends can register you but you can register by using a form, noting you are interested but waiting for a better service. Over to you now!

Natural England and Marsh Zoning:
At a further meeting to discuss Natural England's proposals those present demonstrated considerable knowledge of the marshes, existing protective measures and ecological research. The representative for Natural England responded to many questions but it was clear that there are questions and indeed counter-proposals outside of NE's remit. Whilst there is to be a public consultation later next year it is felt that a number of important questions should be addressed prior to the consultation. Therefore Norman Lamb MP has agreed to my request and asked Richard Benyon, Minister for the Natural Environment and Fisheries, to meet with representatives of the concerned parties.

Government 'Cash Bonus'
Because NCC froze the council tax the government grant settlement includes £8.6m which the Council intends to spend on: assisting young people into work, delivering more apprenticeships, skills and training; increasing the number of looked after children cared for within the County instead of out of county; investing extra resources in Norfolk's road networks.

Rural Buses:
I shall be asking Council if some of the 'Cash Bonus', or indeed any subsequent new funding, can be used to offset the proposed reduction in rural buses (caused by the shortfall from concessionary bus passes). More on the subject of rural buses next time.

Contact: Dr Marie Strong: marie.strong@norfolk.gov.uk or 07920 286 597