Blakeney Point is a National Nature Reserve near Blakeney on the north coast of

Norfolk, England. It features a 6.4 km (4 mi) spit of shingle stones and sand du
nes, as well as salt marshes and tidal mudflats. Land reclamation projects start
ing in the 17th century broadened the spit, but silted up nearby river channels.
Ruins of a medieval dwelling called Blakeney Chapel and a monastery are buried
in the marshes. The area has been studied for more than a century, following pio
neering ecological studies by botanist Francis Wall Oliver and a bird ringing pr
ogramme initiated by ornithologist Emma Turner. The reserve is important for bre
eding birds, especially terns, and for migrating birds in autumn. Up to 500 seal
s at a time gather at the end of the spit, and its sand and shingle hold a numbe
r of specialised invertebrates and plants, including the edible samphire. The sp
it is moving towards the mainland at about 1 m (1 yd) per year; several former i
slets have been covered by the advancing shingle and then lost to the sea. Manag
ed by the National Trust since 1912, Blakeney Point lies within an Area of Outst
anding Natural Beauty and a World Biosphere Reserve.