Booton Common

Long grass and green trees at Booton Common

Booton Common (credit: Richard Osbourne)

Booton Common

A natural treasure trove of wildlife and rare plants, Booton Common lies in a tributary valley of the River Wensum, close to the town of Reepham.

Location

NWT Booton Common is 1km south east of Reepham in mid-Norfolk. From Bawdswell turn to Reepham on the B1145. Once in Booton village turn left 50m before the turning to Cawston. The track to the nature reserve is immediately on the left. Caution - there is limited roadside parking. Entrance is via public footpath.
Reepham
Norfolk
NR10 4NT

OS Map Reference

TG 111 228
A static map of Booton Common

Know before you go

Size
8 hectares
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Entry fee

Free
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Parking information

Limited parking in The Street (turn left 50m before the minor road to Cawston)
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Grazing animals

You may come across ponies grazing this site during your visit. Please follow the signage.
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Walking trails

A looping path through the alder woodland, and open mire areas. See map below for more details.

Reserve map

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Access

Paths on this site are access grade 3. Please visit our Accessibility page for more information.

Dogs

image/svg+xmlAssistance dogs only

When to visit

Opening times

Dawn till dusk, every day, all year round

Best time to visit

All year round

About the reserve

Booton Common’s rich fen and wet heathland is home to several unusual plants for East Anglia including adder’s tongue, marsh helleborine, and grass-of-Parnassus. The reserve is a small relic of the wet meadows that would have once run up and down many of Norfolk’s rivers in the past. 

Take a short stroll along the circular path to explore this important area of wet meadowland. The wet, alder carr woodland that borders the common contains a number of plants that are usually found only in ancient woodland.  

In mid-summer, the fragrant orchid with its pink-purple flowers can be found on the reserve. It is one of the few orchids that has a sweet smell, similar to the scent of oranges. 

Contact us

Norfolk Wildlife Trust
Contact number: 01603 625540
An illustrated map of Booton Common

Seasonal highlights

Spring

Plants: bogbean, common twayblade. 

Summer

Plants: adder’s tongue, marsh orchid, fragrant orchid, grass-of-Parnassus.