Hickling Broad NWT reserve is managed by Norfolk Wildlife Trust. Access can be gained from the visitor centre and is famed for Brendan’s Marsh but not labelled as such on the visitor’s map supplied by the trust. Several rariities have been seen from walking out of the car park and down the rough track to a viewing mond at the end of the scrape. I late spring many obbies can be seen hunting over the reed bed with occasional flights from Bitterns and Common Cranes. The raptor and Common Crane roost can be seen in the winter months by parking at the visitor centre and then walking down the lane to the old disused windmill. Up to 50 Harriers have been counted on some winter evenings as well as a couple of Merlins and Hen Harriers.
Rush Hills Scrape, accessed from the footpath by parking in Potter Heigham village near the church and walking back up the lane and down by a hedgeline is good for waders. Swallow-tailed Butterflies can also be seen from the Weaver’s Way footpath in the summer.
