On Friday 27 September, the Norfolk Coast Protected Landscape Team were joined by local residents, landowners, and community and user groups to celebrate the launch of a new, more accessible stretch of boardwalk in Brancaster.
Stretching for almost 2km through some of the most beautiful and environmentally protected habitat in Norfolk, the new boardwalk makes it easier for visitors of all ages and abilities to explore our amazing coastline.
Located on the Norfolk Coast Path National Trail and within the Norfolk Coast National Landscape, the original wooden boardwalk was used by more than a million visitors each year and had begun to break down in the harsh marine environment.
In 2022, we began to develop the design for a new and improved boardwalk, with the aim of making the coast more accessible while conserving and enhancing the protected landscape around the route. To achieve this, we worked closely with experts from the National Trust, Historic England, Natural England and Norfolk Wildlife Trust and with equality, diversity and inclusion specialists. We also reached out to the local community, hosting a drop-in event to share our ideas for the area.
We chose to build the new boardwalk using an exciting new material called POLYboardwalk™ – a durable, non-slip material made from recycled plastic bottles. Unlike wooden boardwalks, this UK-made material requires very little maintenance, is fire-resistant, and is expected to last for at least 75 years. This is great news for the people and wildlife of the Norfolk coast, especially when compared to the 10-year lifespan of a traditional wooden structure.
Accessibility and inclusivity were considered during every stage of development. The boardwalk is wide enough to accommodate both wheelchair users and pushchairs, with frequent passing places and wide-berth gates. We installed high-contrast bumper strips to enhance accessibility for people living with dementia or visual impairments and included rest spots and viewing platforms to allow users to take a break and enjoy the landscape.
We invited members of the DRAGONs (Disability Real Action Group of Norfolk) to audit the boardwalk as part of their DRAGONs on the Move Outdoors Project. They were really pleased with the end result, with one member saying, “It was such an easy walk – I didn’t realise how far we had travelled.”
Andrew Jamieson, Chair of the Norfolk Coast National Trail Partnership said: “This is a really special location. We looked rigorously at the costs and benefits of this spend and, in the long-term, this gives us by far the best value and outcome for public access, the wildlife and the businesses that thrive here. This path runs through some of the most spectacular scenery in the country and it is something that everyone should feel welcome and able to enjoy.”
This project was supported by Norfolk County Council, Natural England, the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), Norfolk Coast National Landscape Access for All, and the Norfolk Coast Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) funding programme.