Nigel Marsh in row with gamekeeper over Norfolk campsite

But guests at Dam Hill Plantation, a new, upmarket glamping site in Edgefield, have found their serene surroundings somewhat disturbed by the deafening sounds of bird scaring guns.

Now, the campsite's manager, Nigel Marsh, has been arrested after disabling a trio of the devices which were set to go off every 20 minutes and which he claims were intentionally placed around the site to disturb his campers.The idyllic Dam Hill Plantation campsite near Holt (Image: Denise Bradley)

The gas-powered devices can produce blasts of up to 130 decibels and are equivalent to the sound of a gun going off.

Mr Marsh claims they were placed on the campsite perimeter and directed towards it as part of an ongoing spat with local gamekeepers disgruntled at the launch of the business - which only opened last year - near to the land they operate.

A bird scarer, similar to the ones frightening guests at the My Mini Break camping and glamping site at Edgefield (Image: Denise Bradley)

He also claims rotting animal carcasses have been left around the boundary, causing a foul stench of rotting flesh to waft towards his customers.

Another incident he says involved shotguns being fired over the heads of his guests and claims that his mains water supply was also mysteriously shut off at the stop cock on one occasion.

The shotgun incident was reported to Norfolk Police's firearms and licensing team, Mr Marsh said.

The River Glaven rises from tiny headwaters in lower Bodham and Baconsthorpe before meandering through a valley and meadow before reaching the sea at Blakeney (Image: Newsquest)

SCARERS SILENCED

However, it was the sound the bird scarers that has posed the greatest problems, he said.

He claimed that in March the devices began booming every 20 minutes, from 7am until 7pm, over Dam Hill Plantation, which he runs under his brand My Mini Break.

In August - at the peak of the camping season - he took matters into his own hands and removed a component from the bird scarers which rendered them silent.

"They would go off every 20 minutes from 7am to 7pm at night. I feel I have been under attack," he said.

The glamping site in Edgefield, near Holt (Image: Denise Bradley)

"By August, I realised it was not going to stop so I decided to take action myself by removing the bit that creates the 'bang'.

"I did not cause any damage and kept the parts."

He believes the bird scarers were put in place by gamekeeper Rob Chambers, who leases the land surrounding the campsite from farmer Stewart Ross.

Bird scarers were put around the campsite, which Mr Marsh says were disturbing guests (Image: Denise Bradley) THE LAW STEPS IN

Mr Marsh thought little of it until 8pm on Saturday October 12, when two police officers turned up at his home in Heacham, where he operates another campsite, and arrested him on suspicion of theft.

He was taken to King's Lynn police station and spent three hours there, locked up in a cell before being questioned.

He was eventually released on police bail, while the investigation continues.

He does not believe the manner of his arrest was justified and that police officers made no attempt to ask him any questions about the incident before he was handcuffed.

"It is only a theft if an item has been stolen to enrich yourself or to sell it for financial gain," he said.

Nigel Marsh has been left frustrated after he was arrested on a Saturday night (Image: Denise Bradley)

"This was never my intention, quite the opposite.

"There was no reason to remove me from my property and lock me away for three hours."

He said he took the parts to encourage the owner of the bird scarers to contact him so the situation could be resolved.

He has since spoken with his lawyers to investigate whether his arrest last weekend was lawful.

Norfolk Constabulary has declined to comment on the investigation or the arrest.

Mr Chambers also declined to comment, as did Mr Ross although he did say that Mr Marsh was caught on camera removing the equipment.

Nigel Marsh and his dog, Lily, at the My Mini Break North Norfolk camping and glamping site, with a bird scarer (by the sign) similar to the ones frightening his guests. (Image: Denise Bradley)

GLAVEN GETAWAY

Mr Marsh leases Dam Hill Plantation from a landowner, who previously used the site for forestry.

It is hidden away off the B1149 in the heart of the Glaven Valley - a protected rural landscape known for meandering streams, lush green meadows and picturesque flint villages.

The campsite at Dam Hill Plantation in Edgefield, near Holt (Image: Owen Sennitt)

Since taking over the lease in 2023, he has invested thousands of pounds to turn it into a glamping and camping site.

But North Norfolk District Council has not taken kindly to his actions and he is currently in a dispute with the authority over the siting of three shepherd's huts on site, resulting in an attempt to take enforcement action against him.

This is currently the focus of an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate - the government official that presides over planning disputes.

Mr Marsh has also faced legal wrangles with West Norfolk Council over his campsite in Heacham.