River Mun farming cluster aims to boost Norfolk wildlife

Spearheaded by farmer and caterer Tom Gurney, the 11 members of the River Mun Catchment Group will work together to boost biodiversity in the area.

More specifically, they hope to improve water quality in the five-mile stream, affectionately known as the "Mighty Mun", which runs into the sea at Mundesley.

After formally registering as a farm cluster, funding was secured via the government's Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) programme to appoint a facilitator and pay for a "biodiversity audit". 

Mr Gurney said the audit will identify existing "natural assets" and form a starting point for decisions on what habitat work is needed to support priority species.

But while long-term projects will take months or years to come to fruition, the group also wanted some more immediate "quick fixes".

So it is working with Julian Moulton, a volunteer bird ringer and recorder with the British Trust For Ornithology (BTO), who has installed 27 nest boxes on Mr Gurney’s land and has been asked to put up more on neighbouring farms.

Tom Gurney inspecting a nest box on his farm - Picture: Tom Gurney (Image: Tom Gurney)

Mr Gurney said: "The biodiversity audit will give us a general overview but Julian’s work means we can have a detailed picture of one aspect of the natural world, namely the farmland bird population.

"Over time, as we grow hedgerows sympathetically, or plant cultivated margins, or leave corners of fields untouched, then we will see those numbers of birds – both variety and quantity – rise and show that our efforts are paying off."

Mr Moulton added: "Across the county, we are seeing the return, in numbers, of birds such as lapwing, curlew and skylark.

"The River Mun is new territory to me so I am looking forward to learning more and reporting about what I find here along the ‘mighty Mun’."

Volunteer bird recorder Julian Moulton ringing a young jay - Picture: Julian Moulton (Image: Julian Moulton)