I currently write and edit an e-magazine for my home village of Hethersett in South Norfolk.
Whilst working on the October 2016 edition, I was contacted by Robin Whitmore about including a feature on his community group which wardens the dunes at Horsey during the sea-pupping season and greets visitors to educate them and explain what is happening in the colony which is now the biggest winter wildlife spectacle in Norfolk which last winter recorded over 60,000 visitors.
I thought it appropriate to reproduce this article on this web site:
Twenty-five years ago a handful of Atlantic grey seals struggled to raise pups on the quiet beaches of Horsey and Winterton. Needing sanctuary above the tide-line where they could give birth and nourish their single pup, these wide stretches of gently sloping sands sheltered by high dunes, offered grey seals the perfect rookery site.
Local villagers and winter visitors were excited to come across appealing, fluffy, white pups on their beach walks, and news about the babies gradually spread and more people came to see them. Some of them brought along their dogs. Well-meaning visitors tried to return pups to the sea, where they thought they should be.
Nervous females, unable to cope with disturbance, abandoned newly born pups, leaving them to starve. Breeding success was low in those times but a few pups did survive – 4 in 1994-5 - and the seals continued to turn up, winter after winter. Right from the start local people did their best to help the seals, keeping an eye on them, and asking other people to give them space. Among them was the indefatigable John Heseltine, who is commemorated on interpretation boards on the site. John’s concern to look after those first seals catalysed the development of the wardening we see today, and the notes he made were the start of regular counting and recording of the progress of the Horsey rookery, data used in marine mammal research.
That was 25 years ago. From those small beginnings, more than 1200 pups were born on these same beaches in the winter of 2015-16. Now, however, the beach at Horsey is voluntarily closed to visitors from November to January, and 150 seal wardens volunteer to help the seals by greeting and talking to visitors. The wardens explain what is happening in the rookery and guide visitors to viewing places where they get best views of this wonderful, natural, wildlife spectacle.
The number of visitors has grown dramatically in recent years, encouraged by reports and pictures in the press, and posts on social media, and it is estimated that 60-70 thousand people visited the Horsey site in the three months from November 2015. For many who live close, a visit has become a regular part of their Christmas celebrations, but visitors also come from many parts of UK and from other countries.
Speaking to them is rewarding for the wardens, and it’s clear that visitors are keen to understand what is going on in the unfolding dramas taking place on the beach before them. Protective mothers defend their territories from the approach of another seal, or signal to a male, hissing open-mouthed, and gesturing with agitated flippers, that mating is not yet an option. Visitors stare at the unexpected turn of speed of a huge beach master expelling an intruding male, or for the very lucky, are present at the moment of birth itself, usually quickly over and witnessed by just a few.
In 2002 rangers from English Nature (now called Natural England) and the Broads Authority, encouraged by John Buxton, landowner and conservationist, formalised wardening the site. Seal Project rangers recruited and trained a small band of seal wardens, about a dozen at that time. Fifty births were recorded in their first season. The project grew; later, a voluntary beach closure was introduced and viewing platforms were constructed on the dunes overlooking the rookery.
Seal births, visitors and numbers increased slowly over the following years. In 2008 the international banking crisis occurred and government grants were reduced, and in 2011, both Natural England and the Broads Authority were forced to withdraw their financial support. Facing the possibility of having to close the seal project, the suggestion was made that a community group could take over its management and Friends of Horsey Seals was inaugurated in 2012.
The new organisation was severely tested in December 2013 when meteorological conditions combined in a tidal surge, causing flooding along the east coast, and sweeping hundreds of seals and pups off Horsey’s beaches. Around 180 pups were lost that night, but others were deposited on the broader beach near Winterton. Seal wardens showed their mettle and determination to help. Many of the pups were newly born and still suckling. Very few were reunited with their parent. Those most in danger of starvation were lifted off the beach by RSPCA, aided by wardens, and transported to RSPCA’s Wildlife Centre at East Winch, where staff and volunteers put in hours of work to care for them, and members of the public, responded generously to an appeal led by Archant Newspapers which helped to cover the costs.
Horsey’s seals featured again in the national news last season when apparent twins were born on the dunes. Twin births in the wild are known to occur, but the survival of one or both pups would be unlikely. In this case the mother accepted both pups and they survived and prospered with her for 10 days. At that stage her milk would have been exhausted and she left them.
Without help, survival at that age was doubtful and RSPCA East Winch were again asked to help. Determined to prove the relationship of the pups, David Vyse, from FoHS committee, who was at Horsey on the day of the births, collected natal blood and obtained tissue samples, arranging DNA testing by a Norwegian Marine Institute. After many weeks the result was declared and the pups were confirmed to be twins.
Now in its fifth year, Friends of Horsey Seals (FoHS) is preparing for another season of seal births. Throughout the project visitors have been welcomed and looked after by seal wardens who know that talking to people about the seals and their life cycle is key to their enjoyment of the spectacle, and increases their understanding of how to act when seals are close by.
Each year FoHS deals with more seal births and more visitors. A team of enthusiastic volunteers warden year after year, but every year more volunteers are needed to share the load and FoHS is recruiting now. If you have an interest in nature, enjoy talking to people, like being outdoors even when it’s cold - and you have some time to offer weekdays and weekends, get in touch with Friends of Horsey Seals and find out more. FoHS will be very happy to train you.
Whilst working on the October 2016 edition, I was contacted by Robin Whitmore about including a feature on his community group which wardens the dunes at Horsey during the sea-pupping season and greets visitors to educate them and explain what is happening in the colony which is now the biggest winter wildlife spectacle in Norfolk which last winter recorded over 60,000 visitors.
I thought it appropriate to reproduce this article on this web site:
Twenty-five years ago a handful of Atlantic grey seals struggled to raise pups on the quiet beaches of Horsey and Winterton. Needing sanctuary above the tide-line where they could give birth and nourish their single pup, these wide stretches of gently sloping sands sheltered by high dunes, offered grey seals the perfect rookery site.
Local villagers and winter visitors were excited to come across appealing, fluffy, white pups on their beach walks, and news about the babies gradually spread and more people came to see them. Some of them brought along their dogs. Well-meaning visitors tried to return pups to the sea, where they thought they should be.
Nervous females, unable to cope with disturbance, abandoned newly born pups, leaving them to starve. Breeding success was low in those times but a few pups did survive – 4 in 1994-5 - and the seals continued to turn up, winter after winter. Right from the start local people did their best to help the seals, keeping an eye on them, and asking other people to give them space. Among them was the indefatigable John Heseltine, who is commemorated on interpretation boards on the site. John’s concern to look after those first seals catalysed the development of the wardening we see today, and the notes he made were the start of regular counting and recording of the progress of the Horsey rookery, data used in marine mammal research.
That was 25 years ago. From those small beginnings, more than 1200 pups were born on these same beaches in the winter of 2015-16. Now, however, the beach at Horsey is voluntarily closed to visitors from November to January, and 150 seal wardens volunteer to help the seals by greeting and talking to visitors. The wardens explain what is happening in the rookery and guide visitors to viewing places where they get best views of this wonderful, natural, wildlife spectacle.
The number of visitors has grown dramatically in recent years, encouraged by reports and pictures in the press, and posts on social media, and it is estimated that 60-70 thousand people visited the Horsey site in the three months from November 2015. For many who live close, a visit has become a regular part of their Christmas celebrations, but visitors also come from many parts of UK and from other countries.
Speaking to them is rewarding for the wardens, and it’s clear that visitors are keen to understand what is going on in the unfolding dramas taking place on the beach before them. Protective mothers defend their territories from the approach of another seal, or signal to a male, hissing open-mouthed, and gesturing with agitated flippers, that mating is not yet an option. Visitors stare at the unexpected turn of speed of a huge beach master expelling an intruding male, or for the very lucky, are present at the moment of birth itself, usually quickly over and witnessed by just a few.
In 2002 rangers from English Nature (now called Natural England) and the Broads Authority, encouraged by John Buxton, landowner and conservationist, formalised wardening the site. Seal Project rangers recruited and trained a small band of seal wardens, about a dozen at that time. Fifty births were recorded in their first season. The project grew; later, a voluntary beach closure was introduced and viewing platforms were constructed on the dunes overlooking the rookery.
Seal births, visitors and numbers increased slowly over the following years. In 2008 the international banking crisis occurred and government grants were reduced, and in 2011, both Natural England and the Broads Authority were forced to withdraw their financial support. Facing the possibility of having to close the seal project, the suggestion was made that a community group could take over its management and Friends of Horsey Seals was inaugurated in 2012.
The new organisation was severely tested in December 2013 when meteorological conditions combined in a tidal surge, causing flooding along the east coast, and sweeping hundreds of seals and pups off Horsey’s beaches. Around 180 pups were lost that night, but others were deposited on the broader beach near Winterton. Seal wardens showed their mettle and determination to help. Many of the pups were newly born and still suckling. Very few were reunited with their parent. Those most in danger of starvation were lifted off the beach by RSPCA, aided by wardens, and transported to RSPCA’s Wildlife Centre at East Winch, where staff and volunteers put in hours of work to care for them, and members of the public, responded generously to an appeal led by Archant Newspapers which helped to cover the costs.
Horsey’s seals featured again in the national news last season when apparent twins were born on the dunes. Twin births in the wild are known to occur, but the survival of one or both pups would be unlikely. In this case the mother accepted both pups and they survived and prospered with her for 10 days. At that stage her milk would have been exhausted and she left them.
Without help, survival at that age was doubtful and RSPCA East Winch were again asked to help. Determined to prove the relationship of the pups, David Vyse, from FoHS committee, who was at Horsey on the day of the births, collected natal blood and obtained tissue samples, arranging DNA testing by a Norwegian Marine Institute. After many weeks the result was declared and the pups were confirmed to be twins.
Now in its fifth year, Friends of Horsey Seals (FoHS) is preparing for another season of seal births. Throughout the project visitors have been welcomed and looked after by seal wardens who know that talking to people about the seals and their life cycle is key to their enjoyment of the spectacle, and increases their understanding of how to act when seals are close by.
Each year FoHS deals with more seal births and more visitors. A team of enthusiastic volunteers warden year after year, but every year more volunteers are needed to share the load and FoHS is recruiting now. If you have an interest in nature, enjoy talking to people, like being outdoors even when it’s cold - and you have some time to offer weekdays and weekends, get in touch with Friends of Horsey Seals and find out more. FoHS will be very happy to train you.