Fans of the beautiful Norfolk coast can now see more of it thanks to the publication of a 66-page full colour book 'Walk with me'.

Eastern Daily Press: At the launch, L-R, Brian Long (partnership chairman), Estelle Hook (partnership manager, Dr Marie Strong (deputy chairman), Richard Shepherd (chairman NNDC) with Mrs Shepherd. Picture: Mike Strong.At the launch, L-R, Brian Long (partnership chairman), Estelle Hook (partnership manager, Dr Marie Strong (deputy chairman), Richard Shepherd (chairman NNDC) with Mrs Shepherd. Picture: Mike Strong. (Image: Archant)

It has been produced to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the coast being designated an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB).

About 60,000 copies of the Norfolk Coast Guardian, a free guide to the coast, have also been produced.

A year of celebrations to mark the occasion was kick-started at the Norfolk Wildlife Trust's Cley Marshes visitor centre on Sunday, April 8.

A host of photographers and poets were involved in producing the book, which has an introduction from author and journalist Patrick Barkham, a map of the coast and a section on the history of designation and the area's habitats.

David North, the trust's head of people and wildlife, said the coast had 'beguiled' him since he moved to the area.

He said: 'It's always changing - the tides and the light are different. One of the big changes over the 50 years has been the growth of tourism. Just a few birdwatchers visited then, but there were over 100,000 visitors at Cley last year.

'Norfolk leads the way in nature conservation. We have an amazing coast and I particularly want to inspire young people to take care of this coast in future years.'

The coast is managed by the Norfolk Coast Partnership whose communications manager Lucy Galvin said being a nationally protected area had made people more aware of how special it was.

She said: 'There would be no Coasthopper bus, Norfolk Coast cycle way or Dark Sky discovery sites, if we had not become an AONB. There's a wildness about the coast compared to crowded parts of the country.'

On Sunday, April 8, 1968 the coast, from King's Lynn to Winterton, joined national parks such as the Lake and Peak Districts as one of the UK's most treasured places. Inscribed in law as an area of outstanding natural beauty, it became part of a family of protected areas stretching across Europe and the world.

copies of the book, guide, commemorative cards and posters are available from www.norfolkcoastaonb.org.uk/shop/