Heigham Holmes facts for kids

A view to the old barns in the centre of Heigham Holmes

The site of the floating bridge that gives access to Heigham Holmes, looking towards the reserve

Heigham Holmes is a special place in the Norfolk Broads, a beautiful area in Norfolk, England. It's like a secret island, surrounded by rivers, small canals, and marshy lands. You can only reach it by crossing a very cool floating bridge over the River Thurne from a village called Martham. This makes Heigham Holmes a truly unique nature reserve!

Getting There: The Floating Bridge

Imagine an island that you can only reach by a special bridge! Heigham Holmes is exactly like that. The only way to get there is by using an unusual floating swing bridge. This bridge crosses the River Thurne. It starts from the village of Martham. This unique access adds to the mystery and special feeling of the reserve.

Who Looks After Heigham Holmes?

Heigham Holmes is owned by the National Trust. The National Trust is a charity that protects important places in England. The reserve is also part of the wider Broads National Park. It is located near the village of Potter Heigham.

Even though it's a nature reserve, Heigham Holmes is not open to everyone all the time. In fact, it is only opened to the public for one day each year. This helps to protect the special wildlife and habitats found there.

The Mystery of the Secret Airfield

For a while, people wondered if Heigham Holmes was once a secret airfield. Some thought it was used during World War II between 1940 and 1944. The idea was that Lysander aircraft flew from there. These planes might have carried secret agents to parts of Europe that were occupied by enemy forces.

However, there is no real proof of this. No records, maps, or old aerial photos show an airfield. Any military buildings that might have been there seem to have been removed by the end of the war. So, while it's an exciting story, it's not confirmed.

The BBC Show and the Airfield Story

The idea of a secret airfield at Heigham Holmes was even shown on a BBC television series. This show was called Secret Britain. It was first broadcast in 2010. But the show incorrectly suggested that the airfield definitely existed. It's important to remember that sometimes TV shows can get facts wrong or present rumors as truth.