Fairhaven Garden Black Headed Gull Colony Enjoys Nesting on Rafts

The black headed gull colony at Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden is having a successful breeding season nesting on wooden rafts on the garden’s private broad.

Trevor ‘Tabs’ Taberham volunteer wildlife warden explains: “The wooden rafts have been moored on the broad by the gardening team and have proved very popular with the black headed gulls. Some of the gulls have nested on the top of wooden posts that have cavities in the top, a precarious position to be in, as one false step and the chick falls into the water. Fortunately the wooden rafts are fitted with floating gangplanks which the chicks happily use to get back onto the rafts and luckily the parents continue to feed them.”

Visitors on the daily boat trips at Fairhaven Garden can monitor the gulls’ progress.

Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden is at South Walsham NR13 6DZ, half way between Norwich and Great Yarmouth, signposted off A47 at B1140 junction, www.fairhavengarden.co.uk, t. 01603 270449.

The garden is open daily from 10am to 5pm and on Wednesdays until 9pm from May to the end of August. Free entry to tearoom (opens 9.15am), gift shop and plant sales.

There is wheelchair access throughout the garden, including a Sensory Garden and an accessible boat for trips on the broad from April to October (additional charge). Visitors requiring special facilities are advised to telephone in advance, mobility scooters available.

Dogs are welcome on leads; small charge to cover poop scoop.