Record number of grey seal pups born at Orford Ness

Orford Ness recorded 430 grey seal pups this pupping season, nearly double last year's 228, and the National Trust says the colony has grown each year since seals first arrived in 2021.

Orford Ness on the Suffolk coast has recorded a record 430 grey seal pups this pupping season. The site is a remote shingle spit that was formerly used for Cold War weapons testing and is now managed by the National Trust. Seals first arrived at Orford Ness in 2021 when visitor access was reduced, and breeding has occurred there for five consecutive years. Pup numbers have risen each season from the initial arrivals. Key facts: - Observers counted 430 pups this season and noted a peak of 803 adults; last season's pup count was 228. - Annual pup counts reported were 25 in 2021-22, 66 in 2022-23, 133 in 2023-24, and 228 in 2024-25, showing steady growth since 2021. - The seals are thought to have spilled over from established Norfolk colonies such as Blakeney and Horsey, making Orford Ness the first breeding grey seal colony in Suffolk. - The National Trust says the shingle habitat and available fish stocks appear to be supporting the colony, and the site is closed from the end of October until spring to coincide with the pupping season. - Rangers monitor the population from a distance using telescopes and binoculars and say counts may become estimates as the colony expands and animals move around. Summary: The rise to 430 pups marks a notable increase in breeding activity at Orford Ness and indicates the site is supporting an expanding grey seal colony. National Trust staff continue remote monitoring and caution that, as the colony grows, counts may become estimates rather than exact totals.