Crowds out in force as winter sun shines on West Norfolk

The winter sun brought visitors out to a variety of attractions across West Norfolk over the weekend, including Hunstanton, where hundreds basked in the seaside sunshine.

The weather was a stark contrast to the conditions across the area this time last year, when the ‘Beast from the East’ brought heavy snow to the region.

At RSPB Titchwell Marsh, visitor numbers were up by 60 per cent on this time last year.

Hayley Roan, senior sites manager, said: “The warmer weather is certainly bringing more visitors to the reserve. Last week visit numbers were up, on this time last year, by a whopping 60 per cent.

“Visitors have been enjoying incredible, close views of nature including great sightings of bearded tits and marsh harriers on these warm, sunny days.”

Anyone wishing to find out more about upcoming events and activities on the reserve at RSPB Titchwell Marsh can go to rspb.org.uk/titchwellmarsh.

Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the Hawk and Owl Trust at Sculthorpe said they had seen a rise in visitor numbers over the last week, but they could not say for sure whether this was because of the warm weather, or whether the unusual birds at the reserve – redpolls – were the main cause.