Thetford Heath National Nature Reserve is an excellent example of Breckland grass heath.
Numerous rare plants are found on the site including Breckland thyme, perennial knawel, wall bedstraw and sickle medick. Notable numbers of nationally scarce lichens also occur. Intensive habitat improvement has recently led to the return of dingy skippers. The site is also notable for its rare geometric landforms, patterns produced by the sorting of soil moving during repeated freezing and thawing at the edge of glacial areas.
Heathland birds
A number of birds can be encountered on the heath throughout the year. These include Eurasian curlew, common buzzard, green woodpecker, linnet, yellowhammer and skylark.
Access
Thetford Heath is 3km (2 miles) south of Thetford between the A11 and A134. The reserve’s southern boundary is the minor road connecting the villages of Barnham and Elveden. Access is not possible during summer months but the site can be viewed from the public right of way shown on the map at all times. Between 31 October and 1 March open access is allowed.
Spring
Birds - Woodlark, wheatear, little owl, ring ouzel
Insects - Dingy skipper, small copper, brown argus, common darter
Winter
Birds - Fieldfare, redwing, green and greater spotted woodpeckers, bullfinch, little owl
Mammals - Roe and muntjac deer, stoat, fox, rabbit