Holkham National Nature Reserve (NNR) is one of the largest reserves in the UK and home to an impressive array of habitats, including saltmarsh, mixed woodland and sand dunes. Andrew Bloomfield describes the mix of habitats of Holkham NNR, as well as its history, wildlife and management.
For the million-plus annual visitors to north Norfolk, the seemingly endless sweeping sands of Holkham Beach, backed by dunes and pinewoods, hold special attraction. There is far more here than just the beach, however: Holkham National Nature Reserve (NNR) is one of the finest and largest reserves in the UK, covering 4,100ha of wildlife-rich countryside over a 14km swathe of coast between Stiffkey in the east and Burnham Norton in the west.