Helping Seals Thrive
The Atlantic Grey seal colony at Horsey and Winterton is one of Britain’s great wildlife spectacles. The flat beaches, shallow waters and high dunes offer seals an ideal location for giving birth. The work of Friends of Horsey Seals (FoHS) to protect the seals from disturbance and injury is vital for the long-term survival of the colony.
Photo by Laura Lake
Emergency?
If you see any seals in difficulty, please contact the FoHS Rescue Team on 07706 314514
or the RSPCA on 0300 1234999.
27th September 2021
Friends Of Horsey Seals 2022 Calendar – Out Now!
This year, we have created a special Friends of Horsey Seals 2022 Calendar. It is full of wonderful images by photographers who have visited Horsey and Winterton over the past year.
16th January 2022
FoHS Seal Counts – Week 11 – 12th January – Winterton to Somerton
Lovely sunny, clear and cold but not windy. Seals fewer in number but still range from the Diamond gap up to Somerton gap.
7th January 2022
FoHS Seal Counts – Week 10 – 5th January – Winterton to Somerton
Weather: Dry with a lively cold NW breeze. High tide. All numbers of seals greatly reduced from last week…
1st January 2022
FoHS Seal Counts – Week 9 – 29th December – Somerton Gap
Weather: cloudy and rainy morning. Seals reducing in numbers, but still all along the main beach and between groynes with lots of weaned pups on paths and dunes.
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Message from our chairman…
Thank you for visiting our website. As we pass our tenth anniversary, I would like to reflect on the impact our work has had on the Atlantic Grey Seal colony at Horsey and Winterton.
Hopefully the recent restrictions may have given us a little time to reflect on the importance of our natural world. We all have a role to play in protecting the environment, not only for future generations but also for the long-term survival of our wildlife.
Despite the difficulties the pandemic caused, we managed to successfully achieve our aim to protect our growing colony of grey seals from unnecessary human disturbance. Recently the number of pups born at Horsey and Winterton exceeded a record 2,500. We helped to erect a highly successful chestnut paling fence at Winterton, funded by Natural England, which formed a viewing corridor to keep visitors and seals apart. Our FoHS seal rescue team, trained by the RSPCA, now responds to more than 140 calls outs to sick and injured seals a year.
I want to express my sincere thanks to our 350+ qualified volunteer seal wardens who turned out over the pupping season, whenever the restrictions allowed, and worked so hard in all weathers.
We also look forward to welcoming back those wardens who were shielding or protecting vulnerable people and were unable to volunteer this year.
As a small charity run by volunteers we rely on the generosity of local businesses and individuals for their donations to help fund what we do. So, sincere thanks to all our donors, including our Friends, whose annual subscriptions help us pay our way.
I also want to thank our partners for their help and support, including Natural England and the RSPCA East Winch Wildlife Centre, and in particular the proprietors of both the Horsey and Winterton car parks for allowing us free access throughout and their very generous donations at the start of the season.
Both common and grey seals are protected species and 40% of the world’s Atlantic Grey seal population lives around our UK shores. That is why it is important that we help them to thrive. We thank you for your interest.
