St Clements Common is believed to be the only new common established in England during the 20th century. Given to the people of Rushall and Dickleburgh by a local resident Mrs Daphne Buxton, St Clements consists of three small hedged fields. The first is a wildflower meadow with a track for walkers which leads to the second, larger field where community events – barbecues, carol-singing, even plays and music – are held. To its right, is a small strip of land, known as the Stackyard, which is being left relatively wild but which can be visited and enjoyed.
Please note this site is not a Norfolk Wildlife Trust reserve.
Habitat description from the Wildlife in Common Survey
A site consisting of three small semi-improved, neutral grassland meadows surrounded by tall hedges with mature trees. Ditches with hedges/scrub, some of which are seasonally wet, border the site. Some stretches of the ditches are quite deep. A drainage ditch with scrub crosses the site, west to east.
The most species-rich area of grassland is the northern meadow with a small number of bee orchids (
Ophrys apifera), southern marsh orchids (
Dactylorhiza praetermissa) and pyramidal orchids (
Anacamptis pyramidalis) present – all occurring in a damp area in the north east. Also here is false fox sedge (
Carex otrubae) and cowslip (
Primula veris), as well as coarser grassland species such as creeping thistle (
Cirsium arvense), hogweed (
Heracleum sphondylium) and nettle (
Urtica dioica). There is one pond in the north-east corner with mature trees and scrub surrounding it, and little vegetation present in the pond itself.
The largest meadow is maintained as short, amenity grassland for community activities. The smallest meadow is coarser grassland with, in places, dominating nettle, cocksfoot (
Dactylis glomerata), false oat grass (
Arrhenatherum elatius) and increasing blackthorn (
Prunus spinosa) scrub. A small pond has been shaded out by blackthorn and bramble (
Rubus fruticosus agg.) scrub.