Short birdwatching visit · Norfolk Wildlife Trust / Broadland District Council
Broadland Country Park
- Tier
- Worth a special trip
- Best season
- Summer Nightjar; autumn Crossbill flocks
- Headline birds
- Nightjar · Crossbill · Marsh Tit
- Parking
- Main car parks off Haveringland Road.
- Hides
- Not stated by the operator
- Step-free
- Not stated by the operator
Between Horsford and Felthorpe · NR10 4DF
Broadland Country Park gives visitors north of Norwich a choice of woodland walks and views over restored heath. It is funded by Broadland District Council and managed by Norfolk Wildlife Trust. The shorter pink circuit has a hard surface, while the longer purple route passes sweet chestnuts and overlooks the heath. Resident woodland birds include Marsh Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Mistle Thrush. Autumn finch flocks may include Crossbill and Siskin in the pines. Summer Nightjars are part of the park’s wildlife, but birds should be watched only from public routes without playback or approaches into vegetation. Cattle and ponies may be grazing.
When to go and where to look
Summer gives Broadland Country Park a heathland-specialist focus: Norfolk Wildlife Trust names Nightjar among its summer birds and describes the chance to hear it on a summer evening. The purple circular route provides heath views among the sweet chestnut trees, while autumn visits shift the emphasis towards Crossbills and other finches in the pines. Choose between that longer, sometimes uneven route and the shorter hard-surfaced pink woodland circuit. The park opens from dawn until dusk, so fit any evening listening visit within those hours rather than assuming after-dark access. Follow grazing signs and remain on the public routes around the heath.
Sources: NWT — visitor access, habitat and birds. Planning reviewed 2026-10-27.
Birds and seasons
- Nightjar · Headline bird — Summer Source for Nightjar
- Crossbill · Headline bird — Autumn Source for Crossbill
- Marsh Tit · Headline bird — All year Source for Marsh Tit
- Great Spotted Woodpecker — All year Source for Great Spotted Woodpecker
- Mistle Thrush — All year Source for Mistle Thrush
- Siskin — Autumn Source for Siskin
Plan your visit
- Hides and viewpoints
- Not stated by the operator – check before travelling
- Paths
- Pink circuit about 1.3 km; purple circuit about 2.6 km and can be uneven or muddy.
- Toilets
- Not stated by the operator – check before travelling
- Parking
- Main car parks off Haveringland Road.
- Dogs
- Dogs permitted; follow livestock signs.
- Access notes
- Hard-surfaced pink route; disabled parking listed.
- Step-free access
- Not stated by the operator – check before travelling
Getting there: Reach the Haveringland Road entrance from the B1149; bicycle parking is available.
Sources
Social preview: original typographic artwork by Does Your Duck Quack.
Nearby special trips
- Buxton Heath · 2.4 straight-line miles
- Marsham and Cawston Heaths · 3.6 straight-line miles
- Surlingham Church Marsh · 10.2 straight-line miles
Continue birding nearby
Nearest full guide: RSPB Strumpshaw Fen, 11.9 miles away in a straight line.
- Buxton Heath · 2.4 miles in a straight line
- Marsham and Cawston Heaths · 3.6 miles in a straight line
- Sweet Briar Marshes · 5.0 miles in a straight line