Wildlife experts from across Norfolk heard how from Google how AI could help transform their work.

Representatives from the Holkham estate, Wild Ken Hill, nature restoration company Nattergal, the British Trust for Ornithology, the North Norfolk Coastal Group and the University of East Anglia joined researchers and software engineers from the tech giant at the Watatunga wildlife reserve, near King's Lynn.

After a tour of the reserve, the Google team discussed how the AI revolution can be applied to conservation - from monitoring species via so-called bioacoustics - microphones deployed in the field - and wildlife cameras, to satellite-based remote sensing of habitat change, to using data to guide conservation action.

Delegates see a rare Mountain Bono on a tour of the reserveDelegates see a rare Mountain Bono on a tour of the reserve (Image: Anna Pope) Drew Purves from Google DeepMind, said: "Everyone really was quite amazed by the tour experience. Please bear in mind that this group has an enormous amount of experience in nature, and of eco-tourism.

"With no exceptions, we were all really impressed and excited to see what you are doing at Watatunga.

"Similarly, people really valued meeting some people from the local conservation community. I personally felt a sense of pride to see Norfolk represented in that way."

Delegates at the conference at WatatungaDelegates at the conference at Watatunga (Image: Anna Pope) Millie Chapman, a visiting researcher at Google and professor at the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland, outlined how data and algorithms might influence decision making about land and sea protection.

Delegates discussed how AI could best be blended with the local knowledge of Norfolk's natural history.

Some of the delegates at the conference at WatatungaSome of the delegates at the conference at Watatunga (Image: Anna Pope) Watatunga founder Ed Pope said: “The reserve was at its best – crisp autumn colours, all three male bongo out on show, a stunning sighting of our white-lipped deer in the woodland, their stag silhouetted by the lake.

"We made it back from tour to the Watatunga stretch-tent just before the heavens opened for a fascinating presentation from several of the Google delegates."