National Trust - Brancaster Estate

General information

Today, the Norfolk Coast portfolio extends to about 3,500 hectares of mainly coastal landscapes of two distinct character types; the open coastal marshes on the North Norfolk Coast, and the low lying marshland and fens typical of the broadland landscape in north-east Norfolk. The portfolio stretches from Holme-next-the-Sea in north-west Norfolk to Heigham Holmes, near Great Yarmouth, a distance of some 70 miles. The places in our care are neatly represented by the ‘Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’, a landscape designation that includes natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage as well as scenery. The built features within the care of the Trust represent the interaction between people and their environment, both past and present.

From a windpump and windmills, to a converted watermill, former monastic buildings, the Lifeboat House on Blakeney Point, sheds used by Fishermen, a residential activity centre (Brancaster Millennium Activity Centre); all which in their own way tell a story of coastal change and the interaction between people and the landscape. We have various long-term lease agreements covering residential properties within the former watermill at Burnham Overy, the lease of the vast majority of the Horsey Estate until 2100 and the lease to Natural England of Scolt Head Island National Nature Reserve. We have various other agreements relating to land used for grazing, catering franchises, the management of common land or the provision of holiday cottages. We manage in-hand Blakeney National Nature Reserve and nearly all land within the portfolio is designated as being of national and international importance for nature conservation, both habitats and species.