Discovery Hubs
Helping people explore the Broads with confidence, curiosity and care
Discover the Broads in a richer, more sustainable way
Discovery Hubs are a growing network of information points across the Broads designed to help people explore this extraordinary landscape with confidence, curiosity and care.
Each Hub provides local insights, wildlife information, heritage stories and guidance on how to discover the area sustainably — including routes on foot, by bike and on the water.
By placing these Hubs in key locations, we help visitors and local people experience the Broads beyond the car parks and main roads, revealing the quieter paths, viewpoints and stories that make this National Park so special.
What Discovery Hubs offer
Each Hub is shaped by its surroundings, but they all share the same aims:
Inform
Clear, engaging information about wildlife, landscapes, heritage and local history.
Connect
A visible, on-the-ground presence for the Broads Society — reaching people in the places we work to protect.
Gather
A focal point for learning, celebration and community engagement — from school visits to themed events to member activities.
Each Hub is a multi-purpose space: part education, part interpretation, part inspiration — and always rooted in the character of the place around it.
Inspire
Ideas for walking, cycling and boating routes so visitors can explore sustainably and discover something new.
Support
Easy access to online giving, helping visitors contribute to conservation, community projects and environmental work across the Broads.
Our existing Discovery Hubs
Four Hubs have already been created in key locations across the Broads.
Each Hub reflects its own landscape, community and stories, making every visit distinctive.
Salhouse Broad
Featuring a Dark Skies platform for stargazing and night-time interpretation.
Great Yarmouth Railway Station
Welcoming visitors arriving by train and encouraging exploration beyond the seafront.
Beccles Quayside
The gateway to the southern Broads, highlighting circular walks, cycle routes and access to wider landscapes such as Carlton Marshes.
Great Yarmouth Seafront
Celebrating local heritage and showing how close the town is to the Broads National Park.
The vision: a connected network across the Broads
Discovery Hubs were conceived as a network of installations across the Broads — each offering local information, sustainable travel suggestions and a sense of connection to the wider National Park.
Work continues to identify suitable locations, landowner partners and external funding opportunities for future Hubs. As opportunities arise, this network will grow — helping more people experience the breadth, beauty and accessibility of the Broads.
Using Hubs for events, learning and celebration
Discovery Hubs don’t just inform — they bring people together.
✓ Member activities and gatherings
✓ Public educational events
✓ Guided walks and talks
✓ Outdoor learning sessions for schools and community groups
✓ Themed events such as stargazing, wildlife talks or heritage storytelling
And we’d love to develop this further.
Why Discovery Hubs matter
Discovery Hubs help people:
✓ Explore the Broads more sustainably
✓ Understand local wildlife, heritage and landscapes
✓ Discover quieter paths, viewpoints and landscapes
✓ Feel connected to the wider National Park
✓ Learn about conservation challenges and how to support the landscape
✓ Access donation opportunities where the money directly supports local projects
They deepen understanding, spark curiosity and help build a community of people who care for the Broads.