Dersingham Closed Common (CWS 457)

A large rolling area of common land, extensively criss-crossed by paths and popular with local communities. The site shares borders with two other County Wildlife Sites (Dersingham Open Common 458 and Jocelyn’s Wood 468) as well as Dersingham Bog SSSI. Several additional County Wildlife Sites within a short radius means there is a valuable connected network of wildlife-friendly sites within the local landscape.
Previously ericaceous heathland, the site now consists predominantly of secondary woodland, bracken and small glades of dry heath/acid grassland, as well as a network of ditches which further enhance this site’s habitat diversity.
Dense areas of silver birch and oak woodland occupy large areas of the site. Open glades are dominated by bracken and in wetter patches, purple moor-grass and soft rush can be spotted.
Most of the heathland and acid grassland can be found in the east of the site and within rabbit-grazed glades and path edges. An open area of dry heath / acid grassland in the eastern corner is floristically diverse, supporting wavy hair-grass, sweet vernal-grass, heath woodrush, heath rush, sharp-flowered rush, common ling heather, gorse, tormentil and slender St John’s-wort. A more northerly patch of similar habitat supports comparable species, as well as heath bedstraw and sheep’s sorrel.
Along the southeast border path and flanked by marshy grassland, rare toad rush, oval sedge, green-ribbed sedge and marsh pennywort are found. Making an appearance within the semi-improved grass verge bordered by Lynn Road are bird’s-foot trefoil, lesser stitchwort, white clover, self-heal, and yarrow.
Other wildlife to look out for include reptiles and amphibians such as the common lizard, grass snake and common frog, as well as a healthy diversity of invertebrates such as bees, butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies. The Common also boasts a varied and interesting range of fungi in the autumn.
Best time to visit
In order to see the site at its most botanically diverse and for the greatest range of invertebrates and reptiles, the best times to visit is late spring to summer. The heather will still be in flower into late summer / early autumn. Autumn is the best time of year to see the fungi.
Is there a group associated to this site?
No
Can people get involved in managing the site?
No
Is there a website for this site?
No