Norfolk Wildlife Trust has opened its new Visitor Centre at Cley Marshes on the North Norfolk Coast.

The building tucks neatly into the landscape with its curved green roof and is fronted by a ribbon of glass to provide stunning views over the marshes. It is a showcase of what can be done to be energy efficient and reduce carbon emissions by generating heat and power through its own wind turbine, solar panel and ground source heat pump.

It has a living green roof covered with sedum moss and rainwater is collected and recycled for use in flushing the loos. It is believed that with all this technology, the so called “carbon footprint” of the building is reduced by 80% compared to a building relying on non-renewable energy sources.