A "driving force" who united the efforts of farmers and conservationists to boost Norfolk nature has won heartfelt plaudits after stepping down from his role.

David Lyles is retiring as chairman of the North Norfolk Coastal Group (NNCG), a cluster comprising farmers, landowners, government agencies and local authorities.

At the group's second annual conference at Holkham Hall, he was praised for his "tireless" work to foster collaboration between land managers and conservation bodies, inspiring them to work together to improve environmental biodiversity while farming "profitably and sustainably".

The group was conceived in 2016 ahead of a ground-breaking biodiversity audit, whose results were published by the UEA in 2022.

The audit listed more than 14,000 species, and was used to formulate habitat management strategies for important landscape features like hedgerows, field margins, ponds and rivers.

Mr Lyles, an award-winning farm conservationist from Muckleton Farms near Burnham Market, said these goals could only be achieved through collaboration.

"I believe we are a meeting of minds, a sharing of ideas and science," he said. "Our goal is to farm well and feed the nation, but not at the expense of conservation - to examine less productive areas, to find a place for nature."

Mr Lyles thanked his "wonderful colleagues who have tolerated my whims and supported our cause" - adding that he was now working on a wider project to link up a "cluster of clusters" across Norfolk and Suffolk.

Leading the tributes to the retiring chairman was Prof Paul Dolman, from the UEA's School of Environmental Sciences, who said Mr Lyles' determination, knowledge and wealth of countryside contacts were crucial to the success of the project.

"None of this would have happened without David," he said. "The biodiversity audit wouldn't have happened and the NNCG wouldn't have happened.

"He worked selflessly and tirelessly for a number of years to build up this incredible coalition of people.

"He knew everybody. He knew the farmers, the land managers, the site managers. He knew people in Natural England, in the county council and the environmental and conservation bodies, and he put together this coalition which stretched unbroken right along the coast."

The Earl of Leicester, who hosted the conference at Holkham Hall, also thanked Mr Lyles for "driving forward" the NNCG, praising his "gentle persuasion, impeccable manners and modesty".