Heathland

Lowland heath occurs across Norfolk on the terraces above river valleys and on the sand and gravel ridges around Cromer and to the north-west of King’s Lynn. Heathland is also a component of the distinctive Brecks heath, in which a mixture of soil types gives rise to acid loving heathland plants growing intermingled with species more commonly found on alkaline chalk soils.

Plant species typical of Norfolk heathland includes heather, bell heather and cross-leaved heath, gorse and western gorse. On a few wet heaths, such as NWT Buxton Heath and NWT East Winch, marsh gentian can be found, along with the insect eating sundews.

Adders and common lizard are also associated with heathlands, along with a wide range of birds, including stone curlew, wood lark and nightjar.

Heathland played an important role in Norfolk’s economy from the Middle Ages, being used for grazing or “sheep walk” - reflecting Norfolk’s prime position in the wool trade. Some heath, especially to the west and north of Norfolk was wood pasture, with grazing under trees. Faden’s Map of Norfolk (1797), shows swathes of heath stretching virtually unbroken from Cromer into Norwich, encompassing Mousehold Heath.

As wool became less important to the rural economy of Norfolk, much heathland was lost, some to conversion to arable land and some to neglect, the lack of grazing leaving it to slowly convert to woodland. The planting of conifer plantations to provide home-grown timber in the wake of World War I and the drastic decline in rabbit populations, following the introduction of myxamytosis in the 1950’s, also contributed to the loss of heaths; many had been kept from developing into scrub and woodland by the pressure of rabbit grazing.

There are many challenges faced by the managers of the remaining fragments of heathland in Norfolk today: sites that have scrubbed over or developed bracken require expensive restorative work, sometimes involving the stripping of humus rich top soils. The regular cutting of heathland swards, to prevent scrub developing, is expensive and in the long run, grazing is a much more sustainable option. However, fencing for stock is also expensive and it is not easy to find livestock suitable for grazing lands that yields little in the way of nutrients; juggling grazing with public access brings another set of challenges. These obstacles to management are further compounded by many heaths being small, isolated fragments of the once larger areas.

The Norfolk ecological network maps and the North Norfolk Heaths Re-creation Strategy (English Nature 2002) identify some key areas for expanding heathland in Norfolk. In recent years, some good heathland sites have been developed on former mineral workings, where the bare, nutrient poor soils are excellent for establishing heathland plants. However, re-creating heathland on arable land is fraught with difficulties, as the build up of nutrients added to render the soils suitable for agricultural use, hinders the development of heathland.

Tomorrow’s Heathland Heritage Project

Norfolk Wildlife Trust has recently been successful in entering seven former forestry sites into Natural England’s Higher Level Stewardship Scheme (HLS), providing capital and annual payments over ten years totalling in excess of £1m.

The heathlands were all key sites in the Tomorrow’s Heathland Heritage project: a scheme run for nine years by Norfolk Wildlife Trust, English Nature (now Natural England) and Forestry Commission. The aim was to maintain and restore over 6,000 hectares of heath in Breckland.

The initial work, between 2001 and 2006, was funded mostly by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Environmentally Sensitive Areas scheme and involved archaeological and ecological surveys, clearance of standing tree crops, fencing, vegetation management to control weed species and the development of sustainable grazing regimes.

Last year, Norfolk Wildlife Services were commissioned to review the condition and management of the sites. The review found that, in spite of the initial work, there were still serious management challenges facing the sites over the next few years, including over 100ha of the invasive grass wood small reed (Calamagrostis epigejos) needing control; over 60ha of forestry stumps requiring clearance; nearly 30ha of bracken to manage; and 50ha of scrub control to be carried out. The review also identified the need to address grazing issues including under-grazing, additional fencing and livestock requirements and the development of enhanced opportunities for sustainable grazing management by the Flying Flock and local graziers.

Head of Nature Reserves for Norfolk Wildlife Trust, Matt Bradbury is delighted with the HLS agreements: “This much needed funding has allowed us to recruit a full time Project Officer on a three year contract. The project will now take on a new lease of life and many of our long held aspirations for these sites can finally be achieved.”

In November Andy Palles-Clark was appointed as Heathland Project Officer. Andy had previously worked for the Trust as Weeting Heath Summer Warden and is now based at Forestry Commission Office in Santon Downham. He is responsible for delivering a practical work programme, recruiting volunteers, promoting public and educational access, coordinating monitoring and research, and liaising with project partners.

Andy is looking forward to the challenge: “the funding will also allow some further development of the NWT ‘Native Breed’ Shetland sheep flock, which will be strengthened to address the various grazing issues. It is also intended that research will be commissioned to improve the ongoing sustainability of grazing on these sites.

“The restoration work will benefit many species, including nightjar, stone curlew, woodlark, purple-stem cat’s tail, Spanish catchfly, tower mustard, spiked speedwell and rabbits!”

If you would like to volunteer to assist with practical work, monitoring and/or wardening on these sites, please call Jo Prendergast, NWT Volunteer Coordinator on 01603 625540.

The sites, all owned by Forestry Commission, are: Brandon Park Heath, Cranwich Camp, Cranwich Heath, Middle Harling Heath, Santon Warren, Hockwold Heath and Warren Hills.