Wildlife in Norfolk > Nature Reserves > Thompson Common

Thompson Common

NWT Thompson Common is a rich mosaic of habitats ranging from damp low-lying grassland studded with small pools, to fen, scrub and woodland. The 140 hectares of the nature reserve lie in a shallow valley with a large lake, Thompson Water, at its western end. This intricate mix of wetlands, woodlands and grasslands supports a tremendous diversity of wildlife including many rare plants and insects.

Famous for its pingos, a series of 300 or so shallow pools with a dazzling array of water plants, it is one of the most important sites in Europe for water beetles and in the UK for dragonflies.

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

Dog policy:
Dogs on leads on the Pingo trail and in the presence of livestock





 

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 Thompson Common is 6 km south of Watton. Leave Watton on the A1075 to Thetford road. Just before Stow Bedon, look for the Great Eastern Pingo Trail car park located behind the lay-by as the road bends to the left.

Entrance is from the car park via a kissing gate.
 

Facts

Type: unimproved wet and dry grassland and heath with pingos, scrub and woodland
Size: 140 Hectares
Designation: SSSI, SAC, CWS
Map reference: OS Landranger 144
Grid reference: TL 941 966


Did you know?

The pingos here were formed about 9,000 years ago during semi-frozen conditions at the end of the last ice age. NWT Thompson Common is one of the best-preserved pingo sites in Britain.

We care for the pingos by clearing surrounding scrub and woodland, maintain a mixture of open water, fen, grassland, woodland, heath and scrub and graze open areas with ponies and sheep.
 



Facilities

The Great Eastern Pingo Trail, an 8-mile circular walk around the pingos. Information board. Reserve leaflet.
 

 

Visitor centre


 



What to look for

Spring/summer

water violet, marestail, marsh pennywort, fen pondweed, bogbean, marsh orchid, marsh cinquefoil, heather, quaking grass, salad burnet, dwarf thistle, scarce emerald, hairy and emperor dragonfly.

Great Diving Beetle

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

Norfolk Hawker

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

Common Pond Skater

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


Turkeytail

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

Muntjac

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

Common Pipistrelle Bat

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


Meadow Saxifrage

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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