North Norfolk's winter skies and natural wonders will be celebrated an upcoming wildlife festival at the Norfolk Wildlife Trust's Cley Marshes natural reserve.

Eastern Daily Press: with Ben Garrod identifying fossil brought in by the public at last year's Cley Calling. Pictured are Myla, Juniper, Anneli and Alice Brewer. Picture: MARK BULLIMOREwith Ben Garrod identifying fossil brought in by the public at last year's Cley Calling. Pictured are Myla, Juniper, Anneli and Alice Brewer. Picture: MARK BULLIMORE (Image: Archant Norfolk 2016)

Cley Calling - Winter Skies run from Thursday, December 7 to Sunday, December 10 to give visitors the chance to encounter the region's wintering wildfowl, enjoy music and take part in family activities.

On the Friday, the festival will feature a concert by the North Norfolk Sinfonia, which also played at Cley Church in summer last year.

The salon orchestra of 12 will be performing Viennese and British light classical music using a variety of string, brass and woodwind instruments, as well as a grand piano.

Guests will be able to enjoy a three-course dinner and a glass of wine as the orchestra performs classics including The Blue Danube and festive hits such as Sleigh Ride and Die Fledermaus.

Keith Hobday, orchestra leader and conductor, said: 'North Norfolk Sinfonia are really looking forward to joining NWT for this special event.

'We are delighted to have the opportunity to perform beautiful music in an equally beautiful landscape.'

Throughout the festival staff and volunteers will lead guided walks around the reserve, and at a special 'sound recording' workshop on the Saturday visitors will even be able to capture the sounds of Cley's secretive residents hiding away in the depths of reedbed such as bearded tits and bitterns.

Also on Saturday, families can battle it out to see who can hand-make the most Christmas crafty creations using natural materials.

The festival will come to close on Sunday with 'magical' storytelling by Paul Jackson, who will be reading a collection of stories to celebrate winter, entitled 'When it's so cold that words freeze in the air'.

Mr Jackson has been storytelling for 24 years and is chairman of the national Society for Storytelling.

He has visited more than 2,000 schools across the county, impressing his audiences with his tales interwoven with the melodic tunes of the harp and flute.

For more information and to book tickets go to www.cleycalling.com or call the Cley Marshes Visitor Centre on 01263 740008.