Award-Winning Sustainable Tourism in Norfolk

Ed is a full-time arable farmer who inherited his father’s fascination with Africa and in particular, the many antelope and gazelle species which he discovered there. Proud to be able to name every species of British duck by the age of four, Ed has long been an admirer of Sir Peter Scott and his generation of maverick conservationists. Now a father himself, Ed would like to pass on the genius of nature’s complex systems to the next generation but recognises that it will take much more than a few individuals to ensure that our planet’s precious biodiversity can survive. That’s why Ed is so passionate about establishing Watatunga’s education work and ensuring that young people are empowered to tackle the challenges ahead.

With a background in agriculture, a seven-year stint in the city and a busy farm to run, Ed has not followed a conventional route into conservation. However more recent trips to Africa with his sister Annabel, an internationally renowned wildlife artist, made him increasingly aware of the pressure that habitat loss and hunting were exerting on many of the species he had grown to love. Ed is also involved in an international collaboration to reintroduce the Great Bustard to the U.K. and is proud to have the only Norfolk specimens of this little known bird which went extinct in the U.K. in 1832.

Anna has a track record of getting young people outside and having fun. Having trained as a primary school teacher, she has taught in locations as diverse as the Ecuadorian Amazon, Croydon, Lambeth and Rome and in each setting has been a passionate advocate of outdoor learning.

Anna co-founded Watatunga with her husband Ed in 2020 and currently manages everything to do with the visitor experience on site. From Forest School to safari stays, Anna is committed to making sure that visitors leave Watatunga filled with optimism and having had a fantastic time at the reserve.

Sustainability is of key importance to Anna’s vision for Watatunga, whether that’s sourcing the freshest local produce for catered events or making sure the t- shirts we sell have an ethical supply chain, attention to detail is her forte.

With her two mini-rangers in tow, Anna turns her hand to all aspects of the business but is happiest when planting veg or harvesting apples in the spectacular walled garden of the Stable Cottage, one of the holiday lets onsite.

Molly has always been very passionate about deer & antelope and believes that if people understood how fascinating and complex they are, they would be just as captivated by them as she is. She is a strong advocate of keeping animals in complex environments that mirror their wild habitats, & giving animals choice and control over in captive environments.

Molly is the reserve operations manager, responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the animal collection, staff & visitor experiences & implementing future strategic plans for the development of Watatunga. She also oversees the education, research and conservation aspects of Watatunga and enjoys tailoring what we do here at WWR to the relevant school curriculums. You may see her presenting at conferences about our work here or even see her guest lecturing!

She joined the team in 2023 & has worked in multiple zoological collections with a wide range of different taxonomic species. She has a bachelor’s degree in Zoo Biology and a Masters degree in Animal Nutrition. Molly also sits on the BIAZA Nutrition working group.

When Ellen was five years old, she decided that she wanted to live in the African bush. Working at various safari lodges in Malawi and Zambia, Ellen gained a Zambian Guide’s License and delighted in taking guests from all corners of the globe for unforgettable wildlife experiences in some beautiful and wild settings.

Coming back to U.K. to complete a Master’s degree in conservation, with the intention of working abroad again, she fell in love with a Norfolk lad and stayed put instead. After working in membership and community engagement at the BTO (British Trust for Ornithology) and the RSPB, the pull of the outdoors and a busy son to occupy led Ellen to qualify as a Forest School Leader.

Ellen cares passionately about facilitating a love for nature in people of all ages and firmly believes “People protect what they love”. She feel that the conservation importance of Watatunga, and the amazing wildlife it showcases, makes us do just that. 

Miranda grew up loving every aspect of nature. From identifying butterflies in her garden to hand rearing rescued lambs.
Her love of nature was what inspired her to move to Cornwall and gain her degree in Zoology with professional placement. During her degree, Miranda discovered her obsession with insects. This led her to work in multiple entomology based jobs from Bee inspector to Lab Technician.

Miranda spent every summer throughout her degree, doing fieldwork, where she gained a passion for working outdoors.
After falling for a navy man, she followed him to Norfolk where she stumbled across Watatunga and immediately wanted to work there.
Miranda loves talking about her passion with the public and sharing her love of nature and insects with all our guests.

This year, Miranda will be carrying out ecological surveys across Watatunga to measure biodiversity throughout the reserve.