Development plans

We are exited to be sharing development plans at Wild Ken Hill that will allow us to host greater education and engagement opportunities in the future.

The Wild Ken Hill project has principally been about changing the way we manage land to deliver benefits to society. We couldn’t ever have imagined the interest in what we are doing. From hosting BBC Springwatch to speaking in the House of Lords, it has been truly humbling. Thousands of members of the public as well as conservation bodies, farming groups, policymakers, and companies have also visited Wild Ken Hill in the past two years.

We have quickly reached the limit of our ability to host such visits – there’s only so much you can do with outdated farm buildings! We are now hoping to redevelop existing buildings to host new facilities so that local residents and visitors can have longer and deeper experiences when visiting us.

Our ethos is that the redevelopment will be sustainable, work for local people, encourage respectful, year-round, experiential tourism, and also enhance the character of the North Norfolk AONB.

The redevelopment plans mostly comprise the creation of walking trails, cycling skills areas, indoor and outdoor play areas and a cafe at our Heacham Bottom farmyard. There would also be a dog walking area and free car parking.

The plans would also see a new direct cycle and pedestrian path created between Snettisham and Heacham villages via Heacham Bottom Farm. The aim is to provide sustainable access to Heacham Bottom and also greater connectivity between the villages.

The plans also include low-density, naturalist camping and glamping units so visitors from further afield are also able to visit Wild Ken Hill.

It is extremely important to us that local residents have the opportunity to provide input on these plans. There will be drop-in sessions at Ken Hill which will provide an opportunity for residents to ask questions and provide input. The times of these sessions will be communicated through Heacham and Snettisham Parish Councils, and on each village Facebook group.

We will also shortly be sharing documents relating to the plans to our website for other interested stakeholders to comment on.

UPDATE: The presentation used during the meetings with residents is now available here.