In 1994 a beach visitor study took place and two reports were produced A Visitor Management Handbook - A Directory for AONB Site Managers and Wildlife and Windbreaks - a 1994 Beach Visitor Study were carried out for the Norfolk Coast Project.
The handbook was primarily to aid managers of coastal sites wishing to improve the management of visitors, but it will also be of interest to managers of inland sites. The contents are a combination of ideas and techniques used by reserve managers in Norfolk and elsewhere and the results of the 1994 Beach Study. It is based on the principle that wildlife quality and visitor enjoyment of a site are not mutually exclusive, but that wildlife and conservation interests should always come before visitors.
Many of the techniques outlined here are already in place somewhere within the Norfolk Coast AONB, but this report aims to draw together into a directory, the pool of visitor management knowledge that exists in Norfolk so that all wardens can benefit from both this and other experience gained outside the county.
It is not intended that the techniques contained within the report should be implemented as a complete package. It is left to the discretion of the warden to decide which sections may be useful on specific reserves.
All techniques are most effective if complemented by the presence of field staff. They are in no way intended to be used as a substitute for a full time wardening presence. It has been impossible to include every visitor management technique in this Handbook. However, suggestions are welcomed for incorporation into any future revised versions.
The Norfolk Coast Partnership was established in 1991 to promote sustainable use of the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Its work involves reducing the pressures and harnessing the benefits that visitors bring to this area. To this end the Partnership has produced A Visitor Management Strategy (VMS) for the Norfolk Coast with the aim of providing a framework for future recreation and tourism to occur in harmony with the natural beauty of the AONB and its local communities.
A key part of the strategy was the zoning approach, which categorises areas as Red, Orange or Green zones according to landscape and habitat sensitivity and visitor use (see appendix 1).
The Strategy identifies four areas of the Norfolk Coast as 'Red Zones' and defines these as: "Areas of fragile wildlife habitat (almost wholly of international importance) under considerable visitor pressure." It states that the visitor management priority on these sites is: " to overcome existing damage and disturbance problems associated with visitor activities and levels of use."
Rural beaches were seen as a priority as highlighted in VMS policy R9, and it was agreed that to develop action to overcome such problems, a field based Beach Visitor Study would be undertaken during the 1994 Summer season.
1.1. Aims of Beach Visitor Study To assess the effectiveness of existing visitor management techniques.
To develop and trial new approaches to minimise problems for wildlife and to seek visitors views on these techniques.
To develop a methodology for recording incidents of damage and disturbance on reserves in the AONB.
To interact with visitors to raise awareness and increase enjoyment of rural beaches.
To develop survey and recording methods on the distribution and activities of beach visitors to assist visitor managers in their work.
To co-ordinate action between those managing visitors in sensitive beach areas and disseminate information on successful techniques.
1.2. Areas of Study The 4 key Red Zone sites identified in the Visitor Management Strategy (VMS) lie within the following nature reserves:
Holme Dunes Nature Reserve: Norfolk Wildlife Trust
Holkham National Nature Reserve: English Nature
Blakeney Point National Nature Reserve: National Trust
Winterton Dunes National Nature Reserve: English Nature
All 4 of these sites display the common elements of sandy, rural beaches, accessible to the public and set within a wildlife area of national or international importance. Any techniques found to be successful at one site may be applicable to the other three.
The Beach Visitor Study was based at Holme Dunes. This was felt to display a typical selection of the most common visitor pressures and solutions. Specific problems were also examined at Holkham, Blakeney and Winterton.
The study was largely field work based as it was considered essential to have someone on the ground to maximise contact with and observation of visitors, to liaise with reserve wardens, and provide an improved link between the reserve managers and the public.
