Welcome to the Brecks

Neil Featherstone

Brecks Partnership Manager

The BrecksNow based on the national landscape character area (Breckland) covering 1015 sq kms including Thetford Forest - the largest lowland forest in the UK

The Brecks

Few of the lowland districts of England have more striking individual characteristics than the area known as Breckland’

W G Clarke 'In Breckland Wilds 1925

The Brecks has Thetford Forest: the largest lowland forest in UK contributing to almost 17% of land being accessible

The Brecks has no national landscape designation: only 3.5% grade 1 & 2 land, over 60% grade 3 and 4 with 33% non-agricultural

The Brecks has some of the earliest evidence of man in the UK, also the first industrial site: Grimes Graves flint mining

•The Brecks contains 12,845 species with 2,149 of national conservation concern with 72 species Brecks specialities

•The greatest concentration of pingos and meres in the UK•28% of UK Biodiversity Action Plan species in 0.4% of land area

•Over 40% of area designated SSSI with 39% as Special Protection Area (SPA) or Special Area of Conservation (SAC)

The Brecks in 2007: 383,000 stay trips, 4,004,000 day trips contributing £213m and supporting 4500 tourism jobs (The Broads

£124m and 2500 jobs: Norfolk Coast £184m with 3750 jobs) and over 250 tourism related businesses

Immerse yourself in the Brecks

Remnant hedgerows form iconic Brecks Pine Lines

The Brecks has some unusual cultural assets

The start:

•The Brecks Partnership supported by 4 local councils

•Brecks RDPE tourism delivery of £125k to include:

•Brecks Visitor Guides

•Brecks Gateway and repeater signs

•New Brecks tourism website

•Brecks Explorer newspaper with Food and Drink feature

•Brecks itineraries and awareness days

•Brecks Heritage Lottery Landscape Partnership bid of £2.2m

•Brecks Food and Drink Festival

The challenge: To make The Brecks the recognised responsible tourism destination for the UK

The Brecks: The Future

Tourism in the Brecks will:

•develop through considering the high conservation value of the Brecks as much an opportunity as it is a constraint •develop recognition of the Brecks as the destination for responsible tourism•develop a sense of identity and pride for those that live and visit the area •Within 5 years be driven and supported by the private sector through facilitation by the public sector •actively pursue relevant funding and support for tourism development •continue to lead the regional Volume and Value contributions for rural visitor destinations including the Broads and Norfolk and Suffolk Coasts •developed through collaboration with the land owners and managers of the Brecks •demonstrate the importance of tourism activities to the local economy, employment and landscape •develop tourism infrastructure and facilities for the economic benefit and enjoyment of both visitors and residents alike •develop to benefit the significant cultural, built and natural heritage of the Brecks •meet the needs of an increasing and diverse population •be a vehicle to increase awareness, understanding, the celebration of and participation in securing the future of the special character of the Brecks

The Brecks: a great place to do something

The Brecks: something for everyone

The Brecks

www.brecks.org