Norfolk Wildlife Trust buys pub to promote nature

Norfolk Wildlife Trust (NWT) has bought a pub to try to help more people connect with nature in The Broads.

The charity says it paid the market rate for The Pleasure Boat Inn at Hickling, which is currently closed. It hoped the purchase would attract people who "might not normally go to a nature reserve" to get connected with the outdoors.

 Norfolk Wildlife Trust has bought a popular pub overlooking Hickling Broad (Norfolk Wildlife Trust).

The trust plans to hire experienced pub managers to run the inn and extensive refurbishment will be carried out before it opens in 2024. NWT chief executive Eliot Lyne said the charity had toyed with the idea of buying the pub for a while.

"We know that nature is really struggling and if people really value nature, they will want to do something about it. So what better way than to introduce people to the wonderful place that we've got at Hickling by coming here to have some food or a drink to get used to the nature here and to experience it?"

Plans are being made to arrange boat trips from the pub to other parts of Hickling Broad.