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We’d like to help you have a great visit to the Broads

What did you call that bird?

Many birds have traditional local names as well as their official names. Can you match these birds with their local names? Write the number for the correct local name beside each bird name.

mallard grey heron cormorant tufted duck bittern marsh harrier reed warbler cormorel moor buzzard buttle or bottle-bump wild duck

Frank or harnser reed chucker black poker or golden-eye

If you’re wearing a life jacket when you see a ranger or quay ranger at a Broads Authority yacht station, ask them for a sticker. Show this completed page (even if you haven’t seen all the birds) at Broads Authority information centres or yacht stations (see pages 5,7,8 and 25) and collect a small prize.

Here are some mixed up Broads water birds. Match each bird’s head with the correct body and put the letters next to the name of the bird. The first one has been done for you.

Answers moorhen grey heron great crested grebe mallard mute swan kingfisher greylag goose cormorant

Eurasian coot................

Have you spotted any of these birds?

Give yourself a tick in the boxes below when you see them and add the place and date. You’ve become a birdwatcher! The RSPB is the place to find out about birds rspb.org.uk place date mute swan

Eurasian coot great crested grebe grey heron cormorant greylag goose mallard kingfisher moorhen

• mute swan – many live here; in cold weather some arrive from mainland Europe • Eurasian coot –it patters noisily over the water before taking off

• great crested grebe – they carry young grebes on their backs • grey heron – these water birds nest in the treetops • cormorant – a sea bird that often comes inland • greylag goose – they graze like farm animals • mallard – the commonest duck

• kingfisher – they hunt fish from the riverside

• moorhen – they are found all over the world

Remember, Competent Crew always wear life jackets for getting on and off or mooring their boat. Competent Crew never get into the water. Competent Crew always plan ahead, listen to instructions when they arrive, follow advice and go slowly while they’re boating.

Competent Crew are great!

VisitTheBroads.co.uk

The visitor website for the Broads is mobilefriendly, and has all you need to know about where to go and what to do, where to stay ashore and afloat, where to eat, boating, special events and everything else you need to visit the Broads by land and water. There’s also a blog, full of inspirational ideas for your visit. Or find us on Facebook: Visit the Broads

For all the latest news, offers and events from the Broads National Park, sign up to our newsletter mailing list: VisitTheBroads.co.uk/newsletter

If you organise special events, you can submit events for our website at any time – go to VisitTheBroads.co.uk/whats-on

If you have a business in the Broads and would like to add or update your company information on the site, please contact us – see page 4. Find out how to join Visit the Broads, which works in partnership with the Broads Authority to provide a strong voice for Broads tourism-related businesses, at VisitTheBroads.co.uk/business

You can also find the Broads National Park on: Twitter @BroadsNP

Facebook Broads National Park Instagram @broadsnationalpark

Broads National Park information centres

For a warm welcome and expert local advice whatever your enquiry, visit the Broads National Park information centres, where our knowledgeable staff will help you make the most of your time in the Broads. You’ll find the centres at Hoveton, How Hill and Ranworth. See the telephone directory and pages 5-10 for more details. The map on page 4 and the boating map on the centre pages will also help you to find your way around.

The centres stock leaflets and sell an extensive range of maps, guides, books, postcards, souvenirs and locally made ice cream. They have lots of boating info to help you too, including tide tables and navigation maps. You can book for Broads National Park boat trips and buy short visit boat licences. At Hoveton we can also help you to find bed and breakfasts, guest houses or hotels.

For guidance on drone use go to broads-authority.gov.uk/drones

We look forward to seeing you! VisitTheBroads.co.uk/information-centres

Broads Briefing and UK National Parks

Sign up for our Broads Briefing newsletter, which covers all aspects of our work broads-authority.gov.uk/newsletter

Find out about all UK National Parks nationalparks.uk

Public transport

VisitTheBroads.co.uk/getting-here

Buses

For all bus services in the Broads contact Traveline 0871 200 22 33 traveline.info

Trains

National Rail Enquiries 03457 48 49 50 nationalrail.co.uk greateranglia.co.uk bitternline.com wherrylines.com eastsuffolklines.co.uk

See page 14 to find out about visiting by train.

Weather metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/what/ met-office-weather-app

Visit the Broads with your dog – on land or water

• Dogs are allowed on public rights of way (footpaths, bridleways and byways) under effective control

• Routes called permissive paths may not allow dogs and many nature reserves don’t allow dogs

• On areas known as open access land, dogs must be kept on a lead no more than two metres long between 1 March and 31 July to protect ground-nesting birds, and all year round near farm animals

• Dog owners must not allow pets to ‘worry’ or attack farm animals

• Restrictions on dogs shouldn’t unreasonably restrict access for assistance dog users. If you have a problem, contact the local authority or the Kennel Club.

01296 318540 thekennelclub.org.uk

• For places to visit try thebarkingbugle.co.uk

• For boating with dogs, see Boating Basics, starting on page 25

Please

• clear up after dogs

• keep dogs close by, under effective control (on leads if necessary) and in sight

• check access for dogs with places you plan to visit and respect restrictions on dogs

• don’t let dogs disturb people, wildlife or farm animals, or wander near them

• if you or your dog are bothered by farm animals, let go of their lead so that you can both get to safety

• never enter the water to rescue a pet –you are putting your own life at risk gov.uk/government/publications/the-countrysidecode

Telephone directory

Emergencies – coastguard, fire, police, ambulance 999 or 112 Bridges

Potter Heigham Bridge pilot

• 07990 686097 or Phoenix Fleet boatyard 01692 670460

Swing bridges – you can also contact these swing bridges on VHF radio Channel 12

• Oulton Broad 0330 852 5351

• Reedham 0330 858 4655

• Somerleyton 0330 858 4656

• Trowse 01603 675297 / 01603 763440 – seven days’ notice required for openings

Broads Authority – main office 01603 610734

Broads Control – Broads Authority navigation advice and incidents 01603 756056

Broads information centres

• Hoveton/Wroxham (see page 7) 01603 782281 / 01603 756097

• Ranworth (see page 5) 01603 756094

• Toad Hole Cottage, How Hill, Ludham (see page 8) 01692 678763 / 01603 756096

Environment Agency – incident hotline 0800 80 70 60 – use this for pollution incidents. During the day you can also call Broads Authority Broads Control on 01603 756056 or for serious pollution incidents outside office hours you can also call the coastguard on 999 or 112.

Hospitals

• James Paget University Hospital (Gorleston, Great Yarmouth – 24-hour casualty) 01493 452452

• Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (Norwich –24-hour casualty) 01603 286286

Mutford Lock 01502 574946 / 01502 531778

NHS 111 – call 111 for 24-hour urgent but non-emergency medical advice 111.nhs.uk

Police – non-emergency 101

Tourist information centre and points – may be seasonal

• Beccles: Bear & Bells, 11 Old Market; Beccles Books, 1 Exchange House, Exchange Square 01502 716806; Beccles Station Cafe, Station Road; Library, Blyburgate; Quay Deli & Coffee House, Fen Lane; SportStore, 33 New Market

• Bungay: Art Trading Company, 55 Earsham Street; Library, Wharton Street

• Loddon: Library, 31 Church Plain

• Lowestoft: Kirkley Centre, 154 London Road South; Library, Clapham Road South; Lowestoft Arts Centre, 13 St Peter’s Street; Railway Station, Denmark Road

• Oulton Broad: Library, 92 Bridge Road; Yacht Station, Bridge Road

Wildlife emergency

• Marine and Wildlife Rescue 01692 650338

• RSPCA 0300 1234 999

Yacht Stations

• Beccles 01502 712225 / 07938 845744

• Great Yarmouth (see page 25) 01493 842794 / 07766 398238

• Norwich (see page 25) 01603 612980 / 07747 065378

• Oulton Broad 01502 574946

• Reedham Quay (see page 25) 01493 701867 / 07733 102566

Broadcaster is produced on behalf of the Broads Authority by Countrywide Publications. While every effort is made to include accurate and up-to-date information at the time of compilation, the Broads Authority and Countrywide Publications do not accept responsibility for any errors or omissions. If you find any inaccuracies please let us know. Inclusion of an advertisement in Broadcaster does not imply any recommendation or approval by the Broads Authority or Countrywide Publications.

If you would like to advertise in Broadcaster 2024, please contact Countrywide Publications, Fountain Way, Reydon Business Park, Reydon, Suffolk IP18 6SZ 01502 725800

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Contact the Broads National Park information centres (see opposite page) for help with finding the best places, whether you want a drink in a waterside pub, a traditional tea, a special meal or a tasty takeaway, or for a great selection of places to eat with links to each establishment’s website, go to VisitTheBroads.co.uk/eating-out