But the Wensum Valley came under the spotlight ahead of the new series at the weekend when singer songwriter David Gray officially opened the annual Go Wild About the Wensum event.

Hundreds of people visited the reserve for the event on Saturday which celebrated the natural history and cultural heritage of the Wensum Valley – one of Norfolk's most diverse natural areas.

David Gray told visitors he rekindled a childhood love of nature and bird watching since buying a home near Hunstanton and a pair of binoculars about three years ago.

While they also saw the star perform an impression of a Desmoulins whorl snail – last year's guest David Bellamy performed a crane impression – he said there was a serious message.

"There is so much pressure on land for crop production, the world population is growing and we know the climate crisis is real. These are pressures which are going to impact unless people regain their link with the countryside, nature and places like the Wensum Valley."

• The new Springwatch series will be aired live from the reserve from Monday for four nights a week for three weeks.

It draws an audience of some four million viewers and is presented by Bill Oddie and Kate Humble.