River Chet on Norfolk Broads nominated for BBC magazine award

To celebrate BBC Wildlife magazine's 60th birthday, it has asked 60 people from its network of writers, presenters, photographers and conservationists to share their favourite places in the UK for flora and fauna.

And it was the River Chet which is the author and journalist Simon Barnes' choice.

Author Simon Barnes at his home at Heckingham (Image: Denise Bradley)

Mr Barnes said: "Whenever I can, I take my kayak out on the River Chet.

"It’s not a pilgrimage spot for naturalists, but once there you can encounter nature on a come-as-you-are basis.

"It can be spectacular: otters at play in the water; marsh harriers sky-dancing overhead; the vivid blue flashes of kingfishers and the summer extravagance of purple loosestrife and hemp agrimony along the banks."

Beautifully calm and bright day along the River Chet (Image: Jim Stuart)

READ MORE: Norfolk's famous history of sugar on the Broads

The River Chet is a tributary of the River Yare and is the smallest of the six rivers on the Broads, navigable for 5.5km (3.5 miles).

It originates in Poringland and flows through Alpington, Bergh Apton, Thurton, and Loddon before meandering eastward.

At Loddon, it travels past Loddon Mill and into Loddon Staithe after crossing the A146 at which point the river is navigable.

The Loddon Staithe is home to a campsite and work is underway to expand the area ahead of a "busy boating season".

The River Chet at Loddon Staithe (Image: Newsquest)

The River Chet, which joins the River Yare, was once used for transportation and trade, shipping sugarbeet from Claxton, near Loddon, down the river to the sugar beet factory at Cantley.

The Cantley sugar factory, next to the River Yare, was one of the first beet sugar factories to be built after earlier ventures in the 19th century in Suffolk and Essex failed.

Among the other seven places in the region which have been shortlisted are Blakeney Point and Foxley Wood.

Click the link to vote for your favourite place to spot wildlife in the East.

A heron hunts for its dinner on the River Chet (Image: Harry Horsman)

A storm passes over Hardley Flood beside the River Chet in the Norfolk Broads (Image: Jon Gibbs)

A barn owl stalks the reeds for a kill along the River Chet (Image: Norman Wyatt)