A trailblazing farm which pioneered rewilding and hosted the BBC's Springwatch has been given the go-ahead to turn more land back to nature.

Wild Ken Hill plans to create a 50-acre 'habitat bank' on land off South Beach Road, at Heacham.

A planning statement says ponds will be created within open habitat that will be reverted from arable land to species-rich grassland.

Eastern Daily Press: The site is close to the Heacham River The site is close to the Heacham River (Image: Chris Bishop)

A planning officer's report said: "Habitat banks are large-scale habitat creation and enhancement projects that deliver an uplift in biodiversity value and restore nature at scale.

"The aim of this project is to create a mosaic habitat to provide new opportunities for wildlife within the area."

Scrub, native broadleaved woodland and native hedgerows will be planted alongside the wildlife ponds.

Eastern Daily Press: The charred landscape after a wildfire at Snettisham in July, 2022The charred landscape after a wildfire at Snettisham in July, 2022 (Image: Chris Bishop)

The site is close to where more than 80 acres of scrub and coastal habitat were destroyed by a major wildfire in July 2022. 

The application was approved by West Norfolk Council on condition nearby Fenway is not used to access the site, after residents raised concerns about vehicle movements.

READ MORE: Rewilding has doubled plant diversity at Wild Ken Hill

READ MORE: BBC Winterwatch returns to Wild Ken Hill for final time

READ MORE: 'We've got to learn from Wild Ken Hill fire' - Chris Packham
 

Eastern Daily Press: Wild Ken Hill, between Snettisham and HeachamWild Ken Hill, between Snettisham and Heacham (Image: Wild Ken Hill)

The scheme is the latest chapter of a project which began five years ago to hand around a third of the farm's 4,000 acres back to nature, with beavers and rare-breed native cattle and ponies introduced to graze and shape the landscape.

Elsewhere regenerative organic farming and conservation measures such as improving wetlands are in progress to show farming can work hand in hand with nature.

Eastern Daily Press: Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan at Wild Ken HillChris Packham and Michaela Strachan at Wild Ken Hill (Image: Chris Bishop)

Wild Ken Hill was featured on two years of the BBC's acclaimed Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch series, hosted by Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan.

The pair brought Norfolk's wildlife onto the TV and tablet screens of millions, using an array of cameras.

Eastern Daily Press: A battery of cameras set up by BBC Winterwatch around Wild Ken HillA battery of cameras set up by BBC Winterwatch around Wild Ken Hill (Image: Chris Bishop)

More than 150,000 signed a petition protesting at the cancellation of Autumnwatch.

The BBC said it needed to prioritise Springwatch and Winterwatch.