History
| 1904 | Built as a holiday home by Edward Thomas Boardman, a Norwich architect |
| 1916 | Property extended in preparation for full time occupation by the Boardman family |
| 1966 | Property sold by Christopher Boardman to Norfolk County Council |
| 1968 | Norfolk County Council opened their 'County Residential Education Centre' |
| 1982 | Norfolk County Council announced closure of How Hill. Public outrage provoked a vigorous "Save It" campaign |
| 1984 | House and gardens purchased by Norwich Union Insurance Group, and estate purchased by the Broads Authority. How hill trust registered as a Charity and opened for business |
| 1987 | How Hill's basic facilities improved and renovated |
| 1988 | The friends of How Hill was established |
| 1999 | Freshwater Ecology Centre opened |
| 2002 | The Freehold of How Hill acquired by the How Hill Trustees |
| 2004 | How Hill's Centenary year |
Objectives of the Trust
- To provide environmental education, principally about the nature and habitats of the broads, for children of school age
- To provide courses for adults at weekends and other times of the year when schools are unable to send children
- Conservation of the broadland environment
- Preservation of How Hill as a landmark property
Tenure
- House and gardens fully owned by the Trustees. Fields, woods and water gardens (27 acres)
- Held on 7 year renewable lease from the Broads Authority, Access Agreement to the balance of the estate
Publications
- Annual accounts and report. The How Hill Story (1988)
The House
- Listed Grade II, one of the largest thatched houses in East Anglia, a fine example of an "Arts and Craft" house.
- 13 bedrooms (44 beds), Lincoln Ralphs Room (lecture room), Lady Mayhew's Room (lounge), Boardman Room (seminar room), dining room and kitchens
- Separate Freshwater Ecology Centre & Laboratory
The Gardens
- Formal gardens, celebrated as an exceptional example of Edwardian horticulture, with terraces and fine yew hedges
- Water gardens, with azalea as, exotic trees, and native aquatics
The Estate
- 360 acres: National Nature Reserve, bisected by River Ant. All the main Broadland habitats are represented, including calcareous reed fens, sedge fens, meadows, woodlands. Crome's Broad and other areas of open water
- Three drainage windmills
- Key species include swallowtail butterflies in May & June, otters marsh harriers and bearded reedlings throughout the year, bitterns in winter
Established
- Registered Charity Number 289171, established by Trust Deed, in April 1984, 12 Trustees chaired by Nick Price, FRICS
Staffing
- Full time : Director, Centre Manager, Education Officer, Centre Assistants (2) Seasonal Centre Assistants (Summer), Gardener (2)
- Part time : Kitchen staff (4), Cleaners (2)
