A Broads holiday business has made a significant contribution towards Suffolk Wildlife Trust's campaign to create a 1,000-acre nature reserve.

Norwich Evening News: Suffolk Wildlife Trust have received a donation from Waveney River Centre to help secure part of Carlton Marshes. Broads Warden Matt Gooch (cap) is with James Knight, MD of the Waveney River Centre. Sonya Duncan Copyright: Archant 2017Suffolk Wildlife Trust have received a donation from Waveney River Centre to help secure part of Carlton Marshes. Broads Warden Matt Gooch (cap) is with James Knight, MD of the Waveney River Centre. Sonya Duncan Copyright: Archant 2017 (Image: Archant 2017)

Waveney River Centre, a family owned holiday park connected to the existing reserve at Carlton Marshes by a foot ferry, donated £10,000 to help secure part of a nationally important landscape that will benefit both wildlife and people.

The donation has seen the campaign's fund raising initiatives climb to more than £700,000 of the £1m needed for the project.

Matt Gooch, Broads Warden for Carlton Marshes, said the 'extremely generous donation' was another stepping stone towards safeguarding a precious piece of East Anglia.

'We are so grateful to Waveney River Centre for their support and belief in our vision and for helping us reach another milestone in our campaign.

Norwich Evening News: Suffolk Wildlife Trust have received a donation from Waveney River Centre to help secure part of Carlton Marshes. Broads Warden Matt Gooch (cap) is with James Knight, MD of the Waveney River Centre. Sonya Duncan Copyright: Archant 2017Suffolk Wildlife Trust have received a donation from Waveney River Centre to help secure part of Carlton Marshes. Broads Warden Matt Gooch (cap) is with James Knight, MD of the Waveney River Centre. Sonya Duncan Copyright: Archant 2017 (Image: Archant 2017)

'This is an opportunity to restore a magnificent wetland landscape in the UK's most nature-rich National Park and the fact that businesses like Waveney River Centre and the community as a whole are supporting us is nothing short of fantastic.'

The relationship between the Trust and Waveney River Centre goes back to 2013, when the centre introduced a gifting scheme offering visitors the chance to add £1 or more on to their booking fee to support the work of Suffolk Wildlife Trust at Carlton Marshes through Love The Broads.

James Knight, who runs Waveney River Centre with wife Ruth and her parents Len & Hazel Funnell, said: 'In 2012, we re-established the historic pedestrian ferry link so that our guests could explore 'the Broads in miniature' at Carlton Marshes.

'We're incredibly excited at the new opportunities which will come with the expansion of the reserve and are delighted to support this project which will create a major attraction for visitors to the southern Broads.'

Norwich Evening News: Suffolk Wildlife Trust have received a donation from Waveney River Centre to help secure part of Carlton Marshes. Broads Warden Matt Gooch (cap) is with James Knight, MD of the Waveney River Centre. Sonya Duncan Copyright: Archant 2017Suffolk Wildlife Trust have received a donation from Waveney River Centre to help secure part of Carlton Marshes. Broads Warden Matt Gooch (cap) is with James Knight, MD of the Waveney River Centre. Sonya Duncan Copyright: Archant 2017 (Image: Archant 2017)

The public appeal to create the nature reserve in the Broads, which has been publicly backed by Sir David Attenborough, was launched in October last year after the HLF approved the Trust's initial plans for the land purchase.

The HLF has awarded the Trust a development grant of £246,300 to work on the detailed plans necessary to secure a full grant of £4m for the project. The Trust's appeal will go towards match funding that grant.