The Norfolk Tortoise Club

04/06/2026

📢 Important Membership Update 📢

Following our recent website migration, automatic renewals have not transferred to the new system.

⚠️ Please keep an eye out for an expiry email when your membership is due for renewal. This will explain how to renew under the new programme.

🎉 Renew within 14 days of expiry and you'll receive 25% off a Silver Membership.

Member benefits include:
✅ 20% off tortoise health checks
✅ Free entry to Open Days for Silver Members and above
✅ And more!
Find out more at www.tortoiseclub.org/membership

We recommend renewing before our 11th & 12th July Open Day to ensure your discounts are active.

Questions or unsure of your membership status? Get in touch and we'll be happy to help!

02/06/2026

🌿💜 Plant of the month: Fuchsia 💜🌿
Fuchsia spp.

🔍 How to Identify
These plants have rounded, slightly serrated leaves and a striking lantern-shaped flower that ranges from a pinky-red to white. They are commonly grown in people’s gardens.

🐢 For Tortoises
Fuchsia flowers are best fed in moderation, as they contain structures called raphides that can be harmful in large quantities. They can be planted in pots in enclosures, so the amount your tortoise can access is restricted!

💡Tip!
You can purchase fuchsias as small plug plants from most garden centers. Once you get them home, repot them into organic topsoil that is safe for your tortoises and remove all the flowering heads, if there are any, as the plant may have been fed fertilizer. The next time it flowers, you will be able to feed this on to your tortoise!

28/05/2026

☀️🐢 It’s HOT Out There! 🐢☀️

With these temperatures, it’s important to help your tortoises stay cool, hydrated, and safe in the heat.

✔️ Ensure they always have access to fresh, clean water
✔️ Offer regular soaks to support hydration
✔️ Lightly mist your tortoise and enclosure to help with cooling through evaporation
✔️ Make sure there are plenty of shaded areas and cooler hiding spots available throughout the day
✔️ Check outdoor enclosures for areas that may become dangerously hot in direct sun
✔️ Feed during the cooler mornings or evenings when appetites are usually better
✔️ Consider feeding foods with high water content such as opitunia cactus or cucumber

Remember, tortoises can overheat surprisingly quickly, especially in enclosed sunny spaces like greenhouses and cold frames.

When in doubt: provide shade, airflow, and hydration. 🌿💧

26/05/2026

26/05/2026

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYtfR5ICNb1/?igsh=MWluMnA0dXF0NWJiZg==

26/05/2026

We want to hear your successful rehoming stories!🐢

If you have rehomed a tortoise from Norfolk Tortoise Club, you could be in for a chance to feature on our social media 🥳

Email us your tortoise’s story and photos of where they live to:
[email protected]

24/05/2026

19/05/2026

🌿🐢 Creating a Natural Tortoise Enclosure 🐢
A great enclosure isn’t just secure, it should encourage natural behaviours like exploring, grazing, basking and hiding.

Here are a few simple ways to enrich your tortoise’s space:

🌱 Hiding spots
Use upturned flowerpots, low shrubs, logs or planted areas to give your tortoise places to retreat and feel safe.

☀️ Basking areas
Create a south-facing spot, ideally with a gentle slope, to catch the morning sun and help your tortoise warm up and get moving.

⛰️ Mounds and terrain
Add small hills and uneven ground to encourage movement, build muscle tone, and keep them active.

👀 Top tip:
Get down to your tortoise’s level and look around. Can they see straight across the enclosure? Add visual barriers (plants, logs, features) to break up sightlines and prevent pacing or circling.

A naturalistic setup leads to a more active, enriched, and healthier tortoise.

If you’ve made it to the end of this post, we’d love to see a picture of you down at tortoise-level!

12/05/2026

🌸Spring edible flowers!🌸
Try growing these 5 flowers to bring some colour to your tortoise's feed plate...

❗Remember to always feed in moderation and part of a varied diet!

10/05/2026

A glimpse of our wonderful open day...

Are these ancient family pets immortal? Join us as we take you to a VERY special place… 🤯

*LINK TO WATCH IS BELOW IN THE COMMENTS 👇