Work on a project to encourage more visitors from Australia and Germany to the Broads has begun.

Eastern Daily Press: Ashtree Farm Mill Picture: Christopher HillAshtree Farm Mill Picture: Christopher Hill (Image: Archant)

A grant, which was awarded to National Parks England by the Discover England Fund, forms part of an initiative aimed at attracting more visitors from the two countries to England's national parks.

It comes at a time when the Broads is in the running to be named the UK's top national park.

The Broads was nominated along with Snowdonia, Northumberland, Exmoor and New Forest national parks in BBC Countryfile's National Park of the Year awards.

Members of the public are now asked to nominate their favourite with voting open until March 5.

Broads Authority chief executive John Packman said one of the benefits of being a member of the national park family was that they were included in projects such as this.

He said: 'We are proud that the Broads is one of eight national parks to receive Discover England funding to develop a range of new and immersive experiences that will enable Australian and German visitors to enjoy the real England – the quintessential, the extraordinary and the exceptional – side by side with some stand-out, internationally renowned, iconic places.

'These experiences can only be appreciated from within our national park landscapes and will help visitors delve deeper into rural English life and connect with local people, history, culture and cuisine.'

Mr Packman said the new 'English National Park Experience Collection' will represent a unique offering to visitors from the two countries through the development of easily accessible and bookable experiences, joined with quality accommodation and transport offerings.

Germany and Australia represent the two largest international visitor markets for England's national parks.

'Work has started with a meeting of representatives of Broads Tourism, Visit Norfolk and the Broads Authority to begin the process of creating the experiences that will be offered from the Broads National Park to complement the rest of the collection,' said Mr Packman.

To vote for the Broads in the BBC Countryfile National Park of the Year awards visit: BBC Countryfile Magazine Awards 2018: National Park of the Year