Broads work disrupted by flooding

The trust said the extent of damage will not be known for a year

Work to maintain wildlife habitats on the Norfolk Broads has been abandoned due to flooding.

Areas of fenland and grazing marshes have been swamped by water levels which means management work cannot be carried out, the Norfolk Wildlife Trust said.

Vital mowing and clearing for plant species and butterflies has been halted by water levels "higher than winter".

The trust maintains 40 nature reserves in the county, including nine in the Norfolk Broads.

Other work carried out by the trust in the area has been affected, including flocks of sheep, used to maintain the reserves, being too wet to be sheared and machinery unable to be operated in the water.

Matt Bradbury, head of nature reserves for the trust, said: "The flooding has affected everyone, and for habitat management work the implications will probably not be known until next year.

"If the flooding continues on our Broad reserves, it will have major implications on both the wildlife habitats and our ability to complete habitat management programmes."