Wildlife in Norfolk > Nature Reserves > East Wretham Heath

East Wretham Heath

East Wretham Heath was established as a nature reserve by the Norfolk Naturalists Trust in 1939, and is among the largest and most varied of important wildlife sites in Breckland.

The two remarkable fluctuating meres are found only in the Brecks and support a number of rare species. The reserve also includes a substantial area of heath, as well as mature woodland, scrubland and open water with marshy grassland.

A large part of the reserve was ploughed during World War II and farmed for almost twenty years, but is now grazed by sheep and rabbits and is slowly reverting to grass heath.

Click here to download the reserve leaflet for points of interest (0.5mb).

Dog Policy:
Open Access, but walkers must observe reserve signage and information as restrictions (no dogs) apply in some areas (Compartment C4). In other areas please keep dogs on a short lead March-July to avoid disturbance to ground-nesting birds. Outside this period walkers are requested to keep dogs under tight control or on a lead to avoid disturbance to livestock when present.



Post code:IP24 1RU


 

Opening times

Season Opening Days Opening Hours
Year round Everyday Dawn till dusk

Prices

There is no charge for access to this reserve



Directions and Transport

NWT East Wretham Heath is located 5km north east of Thetford. Leave Thetford on the A1075 towards Watton. After 5km turn left into the nature reserve car park. 

Facts

Type: heath, meres and woodland
Size: 143 Hectares
Designation: SSSI, SAC, SPA
Map reference: OS Landranger 144
Grid reference: TL 913 887


Did you know?

NWT acquired this site in 1940, making it the first nature reserve to be established in Breckland. Poor soil quality is fundamental to the flora and fauna seen here. The area has very sandy soils and gets more sun and less rain than almost anywhere else in the country. We have been experimenting with new ways of keeping the soil fertility low, and turf stripping is proving a useful technique with which to remove surface nutrients from the topsoil and give typical heathland flora a chance to re-establish itself.

Between 1942 and 1970 the nature reserve was requisitioned for military training and used as an airfield. The crumbling runways now provide ideal conditions for mosses and lichens.



Facilities

Information board, way-marked trails and hide. Reserve leaflet.

 

Visitor centre


 



What to look for

Spring/summer

early forget-me-not, sheep’s sorrel, mossy stonecrop, heath bedstraw, harebell, lesser stitchwort, viper’s bugloss, great mullein, wall bedstraw, brown argus and Essex skipper butterflies, adder, grass snake, redstart, willow warbler, woodlark, tree pipit, wheatear.

Autumn/winter

fieldfare, redwing.

Year round

gadwall, teal, shoveler, curlew, snipe, little grebe, skylark.

Adder

This species can be seen in: » Spring » Summer » Autumn » Winter

Lapwing

This species can be seen in: » Spring » Summer » Autumn » Winter

Skylark

This species can be seen in: » Spring » Summer » Autumn » Winter


Swallow

This species can be seen in: » Spring » Summer » Autumn » Winter

Woodlark

This species can be seen in: » Spring » Summer » Autumn » Winter

Stoat

This species can be seen in: » Spring » Summer » Autumn » Winter


Grass Snake

This species can be seen in: » Spring » Summer » Autumn » Winter

Harebell

This species can be seen in: » Spring » Summer » Autumn » Winter


Events at this reserve


There are no events currently scheduled for this reserve, see the events list for a full list of events


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