A Suffolk coast's nature reserve that “keeps nature and history flourishing” closes the season celebrating another record-breaking year.
In 2022 the National Trust’s Orford Ness welcomed more visitors than in any previous year.
More than 11,500 people visited Orford Ness during the 2022 season, which ended last Sunday, October 30.
This is the highest number of visitors the reserve has welcomed since it was opened to the public 28 years ago.
It is the third record-breaking season in recent years, with records also being broken in 2019 and 2021, as popularity of the site's military history and wildlife grows.
Glen Pearce, the property operations manager at Orford Ness, said: “This achievement is a really important moment for Orford Ness.
“In 2020, we were disappointed when our plans to mark 25 years of the opening couldn’t go ahead, due to the pandemic.
“To have now returned to full capacity, and to have achieved record visitor numbers for the third season in a row, has made us incredibly happy, as we want more people to experience this remote coastal site and understand its incredible story and the work that continues today to care for the site and its wildlife.
“With a record year for wading birds on Orford Ness and now a record year for visitors, we’re looking forward to seeing what 2023 will bring.
“As a charity, we rely on the support of our members and visitors to help us keep nature and history flourishing, so we’re incredibly grateful that people’s interest in the site continues to grow.
“Over the winter we’ll carry on with our conservation work and planning our events programme for our anniversary year.”
2023 will mark 30 years since the National Trust bought the site from the Ministry of Defence.
Orford Ness is an internationally recognised site for conservation set amid a fascinating military history.
The reserve is opened on selected days from Easter to October each year and gives visitors the opportunity to experience this unique part of Suffolk’s coast.
Orford Ness has now closed to the public for 2022 and will re-open for 2023 on Good Friday, April 7.
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