This long, thin six hectare site follows the path of the old North Walsham to Mundesley railway line and contains within it the Knapton Cutting Butterfly Reserve.
The butterfly reserve (the first section you enter from the car park) is an interesting mixture of neutral and acid grassland which along the railway floor and sandy embankments supports a diversity of flowering species such as black knapweed, yarrow, sheep’s sorrel, primrose, oxeye daisy and particularly of note hoary cinquefoil and the small-flowered catchfly, which is classified as Endangered in the United Kingdom.
Further along, the main body of the railway cutting is dominated by young oak woodland and the old railway bed supports primroses, wood avens, herb Robert and lords-and-ladies.
Along the cutting, which continues over the Dilham canal, there are also areas on each side of deciduous and wet woodland. Here you can find tree species such aspen, birch, hazel, sycamore, holly and in places mature oak and alder. Woodland the east is bordered by Pigney’s Wood community woodland.
Habitats - Acid grassland, Neutral grassland, carr woodland, broad-leaved woodland
When to Visit - Early in the year to see the primroses in flower, or June and July to spot the small flowered catchfly at its best.
Associated Groups - Norfolk Trails Team
Get Involved - If you would like to help carry out practical conservation work on this County Wildlife Site please get in touch with
Mark Webster from The Conservation Volunteers.
Submit a Wildlife Sighting - Your wildlife records are important to us and we would love to know what wildlife you see when visiting this site. To submit a wildlife record for this site
click here.
Website -
Norfolk County Council