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Guide to Brecklands Nature Reserves & Bird Watching.
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A GUIDE TO WALKS, NATURE RESERVES & BIRD WATCHING IN THE BRECKS and BRECKLANDS OF EAST ANGLIA UK.
East Anglia can provide areas of wilderness where the wildlife can be observed almost undisturbed. The coastline is often backed by dunes or marshes, the Breckland to the south has virtually deserted pine forest and sandy heaths.
The Brecks is the hidden heart of East Anglia. It's a colourful world of sandy soil and glowing heather, of ancient history, curious birds and peaceful villages. There's nowhere else like it.
The easy going landscape might have been designed for visitors. It's easy to discover on foot and by bike, with many places suitable for people with disabilities. There are safe places for children to explore and fascinating attractions are spread over wide, welcoming open spaces.
The countryside is rich in ancient history, from flint tools to ornate jewellery. There are Neolithic flint mines at Grimes Graves and fine Tudor architecture at Oxburgh Hall.
The Brecks stretches from south west Norfolk to north west Suffolk and covers about 370 square miles. This geographic area enjoys a semi-continental climate which has helped to create a landscape that is truly unique in Britain and is home many rare birds and flowers. Flint mining, rabbit farming and pine forests have all made their mark on the ancient heathlands.
To find out more about the Brecks, contact the Breck Countryside Project or telephone 01842 765400
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds is the premier organisation in the U.K. Click Here for the R.S.P.B. and to visit their web site.
Thetford Forest is Britain's largest lowland pine forest and its tapestry of pines, heathland and deciduous trees provides a rich and important haven for a whole host of birds, mammals, insects and plants.
Special waymarked trails invite you to discover the landscape for yourself. Whether you prefer to explore independently or in the expert company of forest rangers, you can enjoy walking, easy cycling and peaceful picnic sites. Families will also love the special events, super adventure play area and unusual Squirrel's Maze which is one the largest in Europe.
For more information call Forest Enterprise on 01842 810271
The Peddars Way is an ancient Roman road which was built shortly after the tribal revolt of AD61 led by Boudicca, Queen of the Iceni. The route begins in Suffolk, runs northwards through Breckland and then joins with the Norfolk Coast Path. All in all, the route covers 93 miles and most of it is also suitable for horse riders and cyclists. This area offers many different types of landscape and enjoys a wonderful quality of light with spectacular sunrises and sunsets.
For more information call the National Trail Office on 01328 711533 or e-mail:
For information on other walks contact Breckland Tourism on 01362 656235
The Wensum Valley, which winds its way from north west Norfolk down to Norwich, is another peaceful area for walking, cycling and angling.
The valley floor is a patchwork of flower-rich grazing meadows, reedbeds and flooded gravel pits, criss-crossed by willow lined ditches with the River Wensum meandering from one side to the other. Picturesque old water mills can sometimes be seen from the road.
The landscape of the gently rolling valley slopes - farmland, woodland and small villages provides attractive views at every turn and cycle-friendly lanes and farmhouse B & B's suggest idyllic cycling holidays.
For more information contact the Wensum Valley Project on 01362 861183
This site is an important example of Breckland grass heath. Much of the character of the common has been moulded by changes in agricultural practice over the last 4,000 years. When grazing of the grassland ended and the rabbit populations began to decline, large areas became overgrown with scrub, especially gorse. Now several Breckland plant rarities are found on the common.
The chalk-rich grass heath in the north western part of the site contains a great variety of small flowering plants including stemless thistle, bird's foot trefoil, purging flax, quaking grass, restharrow and kidney vetch.
In the southwest of the common, stone striping or 'patterned ground' is seen where bands of chalk and acid soil are reflected in the vegetation. This feature was formed during the last glacial period.
Acidic grass heaths are well developed on the eastern half of the common. Sand sedge, a plant of sand dunes, often dominates, especially on uneven ground left by small scale gravel workings in the past. Sheep's fescue grass replaces sand sedge as the dominant on the flatter south eastern part of the common.
Bird life includes the whitethroat spotted flycatcher and nightingale and kingfishers can often be seen over the Little Ouse river which runs through the reserve. A number of butterflies have also been recorded including the small and large skipper, comma and green hairstreak.
The common is accessible at all times.
The reserve features a variety of different habitats and encompasses two of Breckland's remarkable natural meres - Langmere and Ringmere. In addition to heathland it also includes deciduous woodland of birch and oak and a pine plantation dating from the time of the Napoleonic war.
The drier heath is covered with a short turf of fine grasses and sometimes heather. Thyme, mignonette, dyers green weed and rue-leaved saxifrage have developed on other areas where traces of chalk appear on the surface. In all there are over 250 species of plants.
The heath is home to numbers of roe deer as well as many species of insects and butterflies. Grass snakes, adders, common lizards and great crested and smooth newts can all be found, as can toads which breed in large numbers in both meres. Wildfowl nest near the meres and some passage waders may be found along the muddy shores. Crossbills nest in the pines and sparrowhawk and woodlark are recorded annually. Wheatears, stone curlews, stonechats and whinchats are all occasional visitors to the reserve.
The reserve is open from 9am to dusk daily
Foxley wood is the largest remaining area of ancient woodland in Norfolk. In the past, trees such as hazel and small-leaved lime were coppiced to provide for fuel and poles for broom handles. It is hoped to re-establish this tradition within Foxley.
Other trees include holly, midland hawthorn and the rather uncommon wild service tree as well as a number of oak standards which were traditionally grown for ship timbers and timber-framed houses.
In spring, primroses and violets make an attractive display, with dog's mercury, herb Paris and large numbers of bluebells carpeting some areas. Wild garlic can be readily identified by its distinctive smell. A number of fungi can also be found including sulphur tuft and the poisonous death cap.
A feature of the wood is the network of wide grassy paths originally used for riding on and removing timber and now supporting a variety of wildflowers including water aven, bog stitchwort, bugle and tufted hair-grass. There are also foodplants for several species of butterfly including meadow brow, comma, orange tip, white admiral and speckled wood. Rabbits graze along these paths and hares, weasels and foxes may also be seen.
Goldfinch, sparrowhawk and greater and lesser spotted woodpeckers breed here. Marsh, willow and long-tailed tits are also present and garden warblers may be seen during summer months.
The reserve is open from 10am to 5pm daily except Thursdays.
This reserve was once part of Hoe Common and includes one of the finest examples of unimproved grassland in Norfolk as well as woodland and mossy heaths. Light summer grazing now controls invasion by scrub and bracken and ensures a rich flora including plants such as eyebright, green-winged orchid and yellow rattle. Butterflies include orange tip, meadow brown and common blue.
The large grassy mounds in the meadow are anthills, nests of the yellow meadow ant. These support a variety of plants including thyme-leaved speedwell and mouse-eared hawkweed, and the ants are a valuable food source for birds such as the green woodpecker. Other birds include the willow warbler and whitethroat.
In some areas even aged birch scrub has developed with abundance of crab apple trees blooming in springtime. Derelict pig houses are a reminder of the time when pigs were allowed to forage here and the crab apples may have originated from swill fed to them. The woodland includes an oak thought to be over 300 years old and foxgloves are plentiful in the shade.
A small tributary of the river Wensum runs alongside the reserve and a pond creates an additional habitat. The broad-bodied chaser dragonfly may be seen and newt and adder are present, though secretive.
Visitors are asked to keep to waymarked paths. No dogs are allowed as cattle graze the meadow. The site is accessible at all times.
This small ancient woodland has a long history of traditional management of coppiced hazel and field maple with oak and ash standards.
Crab apple, blackthorn, buckthorn, spindle, willow and guelder rose make up a varied scrub layer. Ground flora includes herb Paris, creeping Jenny, broad-leaved helleborine, greater butterfly orchid and the adder's tongue fern.
Bunkers and concrete pathways built for bomb storage during the war have created additional habitats. The old paths also enable easy access by wheelchair users.
The wood is open to visitors at all times and is particularly attractive in spring.
The common provides the visitor with interesting walks through secondary oak and birch woodland and across open grassy heathland. The heath, which is dominated by purple moor-grass with clusters of ling heather and cross-leaved heath, is grazed by sheep in the summer. Other plants include woodrush, heath bedstraw and various sedges. Some interesting grassland species include harebell, sweet vernal grass and crested dog's tail.
The small copper, gatekeeper, tortoiseshell, peacock, ringlet and skipper butterflies can be seen in the summer months flying with the cinnabar moth.
Management of the developing fringe woodland to improve age structure and habitat has been adopted. Boxes have been erected to encourage owls, tits, flycatchers, nuthatches and tree-creepers to nest and bats to roost.
Visitors are asked to keep to the paths and to keep dogs under close control. The common is accessible at all times.
This reserve, although small, has mixed habitats and contains a surprising number of plant and animal species, many of which are fast becoming uncommon. The shallow ditches across the open area of the reserve are probably the remains of mediaeval ridge and furrow ploughing and the hedgerows along the lane nearby are considered to be of Tudor origin and of considerable interest.
The site is well known for the number of orchid species present, especially the large numbers of twayblade. Other species include marsh helleborine, southern marsh orchid, common spotted orchid and fragrant orchid.
The fen contains many of the species associated with this habitat including a large number of butterflies. The wet grassland prides ample food for the larvae of the ringlet and gatekeeper butterflies.
The wood contains both scrub and tree species including guelder rose, spindle, wind cherry, wild plum, alder buckthorn and buckthorn and is home to a number of birds including several species of tit. Long-tailed and great tits are particularly common.
Visitors are welcome to enter the reserve but should keep to the paths and keep dogs under control. There is a short nature trail and the reserve is a good site for educational parties.
The railway line was constructed in the 19th century but is now disued. The embankment is composed of chalk ballast and supports one of the best examples of chalk grassland in the county.
On the top of the embankment a diverse grassland flora including thyme and marjoram, has developed whilst scrub grows on the banks with woodland at either end.
Several chalkland species are abundant including carline thistle, stemless thistle, purging flax, autumn felwort, eyebright, small scabious, kidney vetch and ploughman's spikenard.
In the borrow pits on one side of the embankment, several orchid species thrive including twayblade, southern marsh and common spotted orchid.
The line has a diverse butterfly population which includes several locally scarce species such as dingy skipper, grayling, green hairstreak, purple hairsteak, brown argus and larger numbers of commoner butterflies.
The site is accessible at all times.
This common has provided valuable grazing land since the late 12th century and has never been ploughed. It is a rare survivor of a once common type of flower-rich meadow and now contains one of the largest colonies of green winged orchids in Norfolk. These may be seen in abundance during May and June.
In wetter dykes and hollows there are dense beds of water crowfoot. Amphibious yellow cress is also abundant and a variety of aquatic plantlife is home to numerous invertebrates and amphibians.
Well-developed hawthorn scrub provides good cover for nesting birds including lesser whitethroat, willow warbler and chiffchaff. Lapwing and snipe are seen on the wet grass in winter.
New Buckenham Common has open access.
This is an internationally important site of 123.5 hectares with a variety of habitats including sedgebeds, reedbeds, wet heaths, open water and woodland. The reserve is the largest remaining tract of valley fen in England providing a home to numerous plants and animals which have become rare in the last thirty years. The reserve is rich in fenland plants such as marsh cinquefoil and grass-of-Parnassus and is also one of only two known British sites for the fen raft spider.
The site is open all year but best in spring and summer (bring an insect repellent if visiting late June/early July) and there is a car park at the end of a marked lane.
This valley mire site contains a variety of flowering plants including grass-of-Parnassus, great sundew and marsh helleborine.
On the lower part of the reserve the common reed is particularly abundant.
These former gravel workings have been flooded to form deep and shallow pools with islands, creating an interesting and varied habitat and an attractive site.
The pools are surrounded by birch and willow scrub with some mature trees and gorse bushes. Numerous plant species, including hound's tongue and evening primrose, have colonised the banks and gravel.
The reserve attracts a number of waders and waterfowl, including greylag, Canada and Eqyptian geese, mallard, tufted duck and gadwall. Sand martin and kingfisher nest in the banks.
There is a small path around the pools and a public right of way at the edge of the reserve which give good views over the pools below. The pools are accessible at all times.
This reserve consists of a mix of grassland, scrub and woodland and contains a number of pingos - shallow ponds which were formed towards the end of the last Ice Age.
There are a large number of wetland plant species including greater spearwort, marsh marigold, marsh orchids and ragged robin and the pools are full of aquatic plants such as pondweed, amphibious bistort, bogbean and stoneworts. Water violets in the pingos are outstanding in mid to late May.
At the western end of the reserve lies Thompson Water, a large shallow lake which is used by wintering waterfowl and waders on passage. Its reed fringe is home to breeding sedge and reed warblers and reed bunting.
The reserve is home to roe deer and also attracts a number of common birds. Coot, moorhen and various ducks can be found on the larger pingos.
The reserve is accessible along the Great Eastern Pingo Trail. Park at the NCC car park at Stow Bedon.
Traditionally this ancient and historic wood was the setting for the legend of the Babes in the Wood. It was mentioned in the Domesday Book and mediaeval boundary banks are still visible.
This is almost certainly one of the few remnants of the wildwood that once covered much of lowland Britain. The plants and animals living here provide a direct link with those in the prehistoric forest.
The underwood has been managed in the traditional way as coppice with oak standards and consists mainly of hazel and bird cherry with some ash, field maple, dogwood, spindle, willow and holly. A number of woodland birds may be found here including woodcock, the beautiful golden pheasant and lesser and greater spotted woodpeckers.
The wood is particularly beautiful in early summer with large numbers of bluebells, primrose, early purple orchid and yellow archangel in flower. This is also the only Norfolk site where the yellow star of Bethlehem can be found and its flowers can be seen in March.
Wayland wood is open to visitors at all times.
The National Trust - Blickling, Norwich, Norfolk, Tel: 01263 733471
Nature Conservancy Council - 60 Bracondale, Norwich Tel: 01603 620558
Norfolk Ornithologists Association - Aslack Way, Holme-next-the-Sea,
near Hunstanton Tel: 0148525266.
Royal Society for the Protection
of Birds - 65 Thorpe Road, Norwich Tel: 01603 661662 / 700880
Suffolk Wildfowl Trust - Park Cottage, 32 South Entrance, Saxmundham
Tel: 01728 603765
The Norfolk Naturalist Trust - 72 Cathedral Close, Norwich. Tel: 01603
625540
The Wildfowl Trust - Slimbridge, Gloucester Tel: 0145389333
The Broads Authority,
Thomas Harvey House,
18 Colegate,
Norwich, Norfolk NR3 1BC
Tel: 01603 610734
