Norfolk Wildlife Trust
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The Norfolk Wildlife Trust (NWT) is one of 46 wildlife trusts covering Great Britain, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man and Alderney.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Founded in 1926, it is the oldest of all the trusts. It has over 35,500 members and eight local groups and it manages more than fifty nature reserves and other protected sites.Template:Efn It also gives conservation advice to individuals and organisations, provides educational services to young people on field trips and organises entertainment and information events at nature reserves.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The NWT reserves include twenty-six Sites of Special Scientific Interests, nine national nature reserves, twelve Nature Conservation Review sites, sixteen Special Areas of Conservation, twelve Special Protection Areas, eleven Ramsar sites, two local nature reserves, four Geological Conservation Review sites and five which are in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Norfolk is a county in East Anglia. It has an area of Template:Convert<ref name=eb>Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref> and a population as of mid-2017 of 898,400.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The top level of local government is Norfolk County Council with seven second tier councils: Breckland District Council, Broadland District Council, Great Yarmouth Borough Council, King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council, North Norfolk District Council, Norwich City Council and South Norfolk District Council.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The county is bounded by Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Lincolnshire and the North Sea.<ref name=eb/>
Key
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Public access
[edit]- FEE = Fee charged for access
- FP = public access to footpaths through the site
- PL = public access at limited times
- YES = public access to the whole or most of the site
Other classifications
[edit]- LNR = Local nature reserve
- NCR = Nature Conservation Review
- NNR = National nature reserve
- Ramsar = Ramsar site, an internationally important wetland site
- SAC = Special Area of Conservation
- SPA = Special Protection Area under the European Union Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds
- SSSI = Site of Special Scientific Interest
Sites
[edit]| Site | Photograph | AreaTemplate:Efn | LocationTemplate:Efn | Public access | Classifications | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alderfen Broad<ref name=alder>Template:Cite web</ref> | Alderfen Broad | Template:Convert | Norwich Template:Coord Template:Gbmappingsmall |
YES | Ramsar,<ref name=broadram>Template:Cite web</ref> SAC,<ref name=broadssac>Template:Cite web</ref> SPA,<ref name=broadspa>Template:Cite web</ref> SSSI<ref name=Alderfen>Template:Cite web</ref> | This area of fenland peat has open water, carr woodland and reedswamp. Breeding birds include the great crested grebe, water rail, common grasshopper warbler and reed warbler.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Barton Broad<ref name=bart>Template:Cite web</ref> | Barton Broad | Template:Convert | Norwich Template:Coord Template:Gbmappingsmall |
YES | NCR,<ref>Ratcliffe, p. 307</ref> NNR,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Ramsar,<ref name=broadram/> SAC,<ref name=broadssac/> SPA<ref name=broadspa/> SSSI<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | The Broad was created in the Middle Ages by digging for peat and the River Ant was later diverted through it, which allowed navigation. It has diverse aquatic plants and fish, and the surrounding fens have nationally rare plants and invertebrates.<ref name=bart/> |
| Booton Common<ref name=boot>Template:Cite web</ref> | Booton Common | Template:Convert | Norwich Template:Coord Template:Gbmappingsmall |
YES | SAC,<ref name=nvfsac>Template:Cite web</ref> SSSI<ref name=" boo" >Template:Cite web</ref> | The common has diverse habitats, including wet calcareous fen grassland, acid heath, tall fen, alder woodland and a stream. Wet hollows are floristically rich and there are a variety of breeding birds.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Cley Marshes<ref name=cley>Template:Cite web</ref> | Cley Marshes | Template:Convert | Holt Template:Coord Template:Gbmappingsmall |
Template:Abbr | AONB,<ref name=nnaonb/> GCR,<ref name=nngcr/> NCR,<ref name=rat10/> Ramsar,<ref name=nncram/> SAC,<ref name=nncsac/> SPA,<ref name=nncspa/> SSSI<ref name= nnc >Template:Cite web</ref> | This is the NWT's oldest reserve, purchased in 1926 as a bird sanctuary. It has saline lagoons, a shingle beach, grazing marshes and reedbeds, which support many wintering and migrating wildfowl and waders.<ref name=cley/> |
| Cockshoot Broad<ref name=cock>Template:Cite web</ref> | Cockshoot Broad | Template:Convert | Norwich Template:Coord Template:Gbmappingsmall |
YES | NCR,<ref name=ratbure>Ratcliffe, pp. 55–56, 209</ref> NNR<ref name=burennr>Template:Cite web</ref> Ramsar,<ref name=broadram/> SAC,<ref name=broadssac/> SPA<ref name=broadspa/> SSSI<ref name=bure>Template:Cite web</ref> | The water quality of this broad is very high and it has large beds of water lilies, which provide habitats for many insects, including red-eyed and variable damselflies.<ref name=cock/> |
| East Winch Common<ref name=winc>Template:Cite web</ref> | East Winch Common | Template:Convert | King's Lynn Template:Coord Template:Gbmappingsmall |
YES | SSSI<ref name=ewin>Template:Cite web</ref> | This site is mainly wet acid heath on peat, and it is dominated by heather and cross-leaved heath. There are many wet hollows, which have diverse fen and mire flora, and areas of young woodland.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| East Wretham Heath<ref name=wret>Template:Cite web</ref> | East Wretham Heath | Template:Convert | Thetford Template:Coord Template:Gbmappingsmall |
YES | NCR,<ref>Ratcliffe, p. 131</ref> SAC,<ref name=brecksac>Template:Cite web</ref> SPA,<ref name=breckspa>Template:Cite web</ref> SSSI<ref name=" ewr" >Template:Cite web</ref> | The principal ecological interest of this site lies in areas of Breckland grassland and two meres, which are supplied by ground water and fluctuate irregularly. These conditions have led to unusual plant communities which are tolerant of alternate wetting and drying, such as reed canary grass and amphibious bistort.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Foxley Wood<ref name=fox>Template:Cite web</ref> | Foxley Wood | Template:Convert | Dereham Template:Coord Template:Gbmappingsmall |
YES | NCR,<ref>Ratcliffe, p. 59</ref> NNR,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> SSSI<ref name=foxsssi>Template:Cite web</ref> | This is the largest area of ancient woodland in the county. The flora is diverse, with more than 250 species recorded, and invertebrates include several rare butterflies, such as the purple emperor and white admiral.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Hethel Old Thorn <ref name=heth>Template:Cite web</ref> | Hethel Old Thorn | Template:Convert | Norwich Template:Coord Template:Gbmappingsmall |
YES | This is the smallest wildlife trust nature reserve in Britain, consisting of one ancient hawthorn tree, which may date to the thirteenth century. In 1755 its girth was recorded as Template:Convert and it has now decayed to a much smaller size, but it is still healthy.<ref name=heth/> | |
| Hickling Broad<ref name=hick>Template:Cite web</ref> | Hickling Broad | Template:Convert | Norwich Template:Coord Template:Gbmappingsmall |
Template:Abbr | AONB,<ref name=nnaonb>Template:Cite web</ref> GCR,<ref name=nngcr/> NCR,<ref>Ratcliffe, pp. 170–71</ref> NNR,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Ramsar,<ref name=broadram/> SAC,<ref name=broadssac/> SPA,<ref name=broadspa/> SSSI<ref name=utb>Template:Cite web</ref> | This is the largest of The Broads, and it has large breeding populations of waterbirds. Rare insects include the swallowtail and Norfolk hawker dragonfly, and there are mammals such as red deer and Chinese water deer.<ref name=hick/> |
| Hoe Rough<ref name=hoe>Template:Cite web</ref> | Hoe Rough | Template:Convert | Dereham Template:Coord Template:Gbmappingsmall |
YES | SSSI<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | This is a mixture of grassland and wet fen. Around 200 species of invertebrates have been recorded, including the rare great crested newt. Notable plants include green-winged and early marsh orchids.<ref name=hoe/> |
| Holme Dunes <ref name=holm>Template:Cite web</ref> | Holme Dunes | Template:Convert | Hunstanton Template:Coord Template:Gbmappingsmall |
Template:Abbr | AONB,<ref name=nnaonb/> GCR,<ref name=nngcr>Template:Cite web</ref> NCR,<ref name=rat10>Ratcliffe, pp. 10–11</ref> NNR,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Ramsar,<ref name=nncram>Template:Cite web</ref> SAC,<ref name=nncsac>Template:Cite web</ref> SPA,<ref name=nncspa>Template:Cite web</ref> SSSI<ref name=nnc/> | This site provides a refuge for many migrating birds such as northern wheatears, wrynecks, yellow-browed warblers and barred warblers. Other fauna include natterjack toads, butterflies and dragonflies.<ref name=holm/> |
| Honeypot Wood <ref name=hone>Template:Cite web</ref> | Honeypot Wood | Template:Convert | Dereham Template:Coord Template:Gbmappingsmall |
YES | SSSI<ref name=" hwl" >Template:Cite web</ref> | This is an ancient coppiced wood on calcareous soil. It has a rich ground layer, which is dominated by dog's mercury, and other flora include greater butterfly-orchid and broad-leaved helleborine. A total of 208 plant species have been recorded.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Lolly Moor <ref name=lol>Template:Cite web</ref> | Lolly Moor | Template:Convert | Dereham Template:Coord Template:Gbmappingsmall |
YES | This site has wet grassland, scrub and alder carr. Flora include cowslip, lesser celandine, southern marsh orchid, marsh helleborine and common twayblade.<ref name=lol/> | |
| Lower Wood, Ashwellthorpe<ref name=low>Template:Cite web</ref> | Lower Wood | Template:Convert | Norwich Template:Coord Template:Gbmappingsmall |
YES | SSSI<ref name=lwa>Template:Cite web</ref> | This ancient wood on chalky boulder clay has a diverse ground flora with uncommon species such as wood spurge, early-purple orchid, common twayblade, ramsons, water avens and woodruff.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Martham Broad<ref name=mart>Template:Cite web</ref> | Martham Broad | Template:Convert | Great Yarmouth Template:Coord Template:Gbmappingsmall |
YES | NNR,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Ramsar,<ref name=broadram/> SAC,<ref name=broadssac/> SPA,<ref name=broadspa/> SSSI<ref name=utb/> | This reserve is composed of two shallow broads divided by the River Thurne, together with fen, reedbeds and marshes. There are a number of bat species and breeding birds include bearded tits, common terns, Cetti's warblers and marsh harriers.<ref name=mart/> |
| Narborough Railway Line<ref name=nar>Template:Cite web</ref> | Narborough Railway Line | Template:Convert | King's Lynn Template:Coord Template:Gbmappingsmall |
Template:Abbr | SSSI<ref name=nr >Template:Cite web</ref> | This nineteenth-century embankment is probably the most ecologically diverse chalk grassland site in the county, with many flowering plants which attract a wide range of butterflies. There is also a variety of mosses and molluscs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| New Buckenham Common<ref name=new>Template:Cite web</ref> | New Buckenham Common | Template:Convert | Norwich Template:Coord Template:Gbmappingsmall |
YES | SSSI<ref name=" nbc" >Template:Cite web</ref> | This unimproved grassland is traditionally managed by grazing. It has the largest colony of green-winged orchids in the county, and there are a stream and pool which have aquatic plants.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Pigneys Wood <ref name=pig>Template:Cite web</ref> | Pigneys Wood | Template:Convert | North Walsham Template:Coord Template:Gbmappingsmall |
YES | LNR<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | This wood has 40 different species of trees, most of which have been planted since 1993, but there is a 450-year old oak. There is also a range of birds, butterflies and dragonflies. Mammals include otters, water voles and European badgers.<ref name=pig/> |
| Ranworth Broad<ref name=ran>Template:Cite web</ref> | Ranworth Broad | Template:Convert | Norwich Template:Coord Template:Gbmappingsmall |
YES | NCR,<ref name=ratbure/> NNR<ref name=burennr/> Ramsar,<ref name=broadram/> SAC,<ref name=broadssac/> SPA,<ref name=broadspa/> SSSI<ref name=bure/> | Many species of birds can be seen from the floating Broads Wildlife Centre such as great crested grebes, wigeons, gadwalls, kingfishers and cormorants. There are also areas of woodland and reedbeds.<ref name=ran/> |
| Ringstead Downs<ref name=ring>Template:Cite web</ref> | Ringstead Downs | Template:Convert | Hunstanton Template:Coord Template:Gbmappingsmall |
YES | AONB,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> SSSI<ref name= ringsssi >Template:Cite web</ref> | This is a dry chalk valley which was carved out by glacial meltwaters It is species-rich as it has never been ploughed, and it is the largest surviving area of chalk downland surviving in the county. The butterflies are diverse.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Roydon Common and Grimston Warren<ref name=roy>Template:Cite web</ref> | Grimston Warren | Template:Convert | King's Lynn Template:Coord Template:Gbmappingsmall |
YES | NCR,<ref>Ratcliffe, pp. 130–31, 212–13</ref> NNR,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Ramsar,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> SAC,<ref name=roysac>Template:Cite web</ref> SSSI<ref name=" roysssi" >Template:Cite web</ref> | The common is described by Natural England as "one of the best examples in Britain of a lowland mixed valley mire". It has diverse habitats, including wet acid heath, calcareous fen and dry heath on acid sands. There are rare plants, birds and insects, including the black darter dragonfly.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Salthouse Marshes<ref name=sal>Template:Cite web</ref> | Salthouse Marshes | Template:Convert | Holt Template:Coord Template:Gbmappingsmall |
YES | AONB,<ref name=nnaonb/> GCR,<ref name=nngcr/> NCR,<ref name=rat10/> Ramsar,<ref name=nncram/> SAC,<ref name=nncsac/> SPA,<ref name=nncspa/> SSSI<ref name=nnc/> | This site has grazing marsh and small pools. Birds include snow buntings, Lapland buntings, little egrets, shore larks and barn owls.<ref name=sal/> |
| Scarning Fen <ref name=scar>Template:Cite web</ref> | Scarning Fen | Template:Convert | Dereham Template:Coord Template:Gbmappingsmall |
YES | NCR,<ref>Ratcliffe, pp. 213–14</ref> SAC,<ref name=nvfsac/> SSSI<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | This small reserve has chalky valley mire, carr and grassland. Twenty-nine nationally scarce invertebrates have been recorded, and it is the only site in the county for the small red damselfly. There are a number of rare plants, including liverworts and mosses.<ref name=scar/> |
| Sparham Pools <ref name=spar>Template:Cite web</ref> | Sparham Pools | Template:Convert | Norwich Template:Coord Template:Gbmappingsmall |
YES | These former gravel pits are now pools which have several islands. Wildfowl include shoveler, gadwall, mallard and tufted duck. Sand martins and kingfishers breed on the banks and common terns on the islands.<ref name=spar/> | |
| Syderstone Common<ref name=syd>Template:Cite web</ref> | Syderstone Common | Template:Convert | King's Lynn Template:Coord Template:Gbmappingsmall |
YES | SSSI<ref name=sydsssi>Template:Cite web</ref> | The common has heath and grassland areas in the valley of the River Tat. Pools on sand and gravel provide suitable habitats for five species of breeding amphibians, including the nationally rare natterjack toad.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Thompson Common<ref name=thom>Template:Cite web</ref> | Thompson Common | Template:Convert | Attleborough Template:Coord Template:Gbmappingsmall |
YES | LNR,<ref name=gept>Template:Cite web</ref> NCR<ref>Ratcliffe, pp. 138–39</ref> SAC,<ref name="nvfsac"/> SSSI<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | This grassland site in the valley of a tributary of the River Wissey has a number of pingos, damp and water filled depressions formed by the melting of ice at the end of the last glaciation. It also has a lake called Thompson Water which, together with its surrounding reedswamp, is important for breeding birds.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Thorpe Marshes <ref name=thor>Template:Cite web</ref> | Thorpe Marshes | Template:Convert | Norwich Template:Coord Template:Gbmappingsmall |
Template:Abbr | This site has a lake called St Andrew's Broad, which hosts waterbirds such as great crested grebes, cormorants, tufted ducks, gadwalls and grey herons. There are also flower rich marshes, and dragonflies and damselflies inhabit the many dykes.<ref name=thor/> | |
| Thursford Wood<ref name=thurs>Template:Cite web</ref> | Thursford Wood | Template:Convert | Fakenham Template:Coord Template:Gbmappingsmall |
YES | The oak trees in this wood are some of the oldest in the county, and some may be over 500 years old. The site also has a variety of woodland birds, as well as many ferns and fungi.<ref name=thurs/> | |
| Upton Broad and Marshes<ref name=up>Template:Cite web</ref> | Upton Broad and Marshes | Template:Convert | Norwich Template:Coord Template:Gbmappingsmall |
YES | NCR,<ref>Ratcliffe, pp. 172, 306–07</ref> Ramsar,<ref name=broadram/> SAC,<ref name=broadssac/> SPA,<ref name=broadspa/> SSSI<ref name=upsssi>Template:Cite web</ref> | This is described by Natural England as "an outstanding example of unreclaimed wetland and grazing marsh". Its rich invertebrate fauna includes eighteen species of freshwater snail, and an outstanding variety of dragonflies and damselflies, including the nationally rare Norfolk hawker.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Wayland Wood <ref name=way>Template:Cite web</ref> | Wayland Wood | Template:Convert | Thetford Template:Coord Template:Gbmappingsmall |
YES | SSSI<ref name= waysssi >Template:Cite web</ref> | This semi-natural wood on wet calcareous boulder clay is managed by coppicing. Breeding birds include woodcocks, lesser spotted woodpeckers and nuthatches.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Weeting Heath<ref name=weet>Template:Cite web</ref> | Weeting Heath | Template:Convert | Brandon Template:Coord Template:Gbmappingsmall |
Template:Abbr | NCR,<ref>Ratcliffe, p. 135-36</ref> NNR,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> SAC,<ref name=brecksac/> SPA,<ref name=breckspa/> SSSI<ref name= weetsssi >Template:Cite web</ref> | This grass and lichen heath is grazed by rabbits. It has a high density of breeding birds, including stone-curlews. One arable field is reserved for uncommon Breckland plants.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
See also
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[edit]External links
[edit]Template:Norfolk Wildlife Trust Template:The Wildlife Trusts Template:Authority control