The common is an important wildlife site, and because of this it was designated as a Local Nature Reserve in 1984. The common contains a number of wildlife habitats, but of particular value are the remaining areas of open heathland which require careful management if they are to survive. For a number of years the long term management aim was to reintroduce grazing, which is recommended as by far the best way of preserving the habitat. In 2006 Litcham Common Management Committee put forward firm proposals for the erection of stock proof fencing to enable grazing by a hardy breed of native ponies.
The purpose of the fencing is to stop livestock straying off the common, particularly onto the road. However the Management Committee made it clear that there is absolutely no intention to restrict public access to the common, with gates or stiles to be erected at all the usual access points, and Litcham Parish Council has throughout been kept fully informed of the plans, and asked for its views on the location of the fencing.
Due to concerns about potential problems caused by walkers or dogs coming into contact with the livestock, the grazing animals to be used have been chosen with great care; the decision was made to buy four gelding Dartmoor ponies, as they are hardy and “people friendly”.
Litcham Parish Council approved the plans for fencing put forward by the Management Committee at a meeting on 16th October 2006. (click on map to to see larger image).
Subsequently the Management Committee submitted a formal application to the Secretary of State, which was approved on 12th February 2007. (click here to download PDF of of the Secretary of State’s consent).
Fencing was erected around the western part of the common in May 2008 and the ponies arrived in June 2008. The area to the east of the road is still to be fenced at some point in the future.

Please contact one of the following if you would like further information, or have any questions or comments:
Tim Angell (Litcham Common Management Committee): 01328 700045
Sarah Cureton (Norfolk County Council Countryside Officer): 01553 778 018

The following information was originally provided in the form of a pamphlet in 2006, for the benefit of villagers and other people who use the common

Why does Litcham Common need managing?
Litcham Common is predominantly a heathland site.  Heathlands are open areas with few trees, often dominated by heathers and gorse.  These plants thrive on nutrient-poor soils where most plants would not be able to survive.  Early man cleared the woodland from Litcham Common and the rest of Norfolk around 4000 years ago.  Subsequent grazing and other management kept the areas as open heathland with unique assemblages of plants and animals.
In relatively recent times there has been a dramatic loss of heathlands worldwide as the land has been used for agriculture, forestry and building development. In Britain over 70% has been lost since 1830. Litcham Common is a small remaining fragment of what was previously 500 acres of heathland in the parish, and now amounts to just over 60 acres in total. Despite suffering considerable scrub encroachment over the past 60 years, the site still retains a wealth of important wildlife species.Natural succession means that without management to control invasive species such as birch and bracken, heathland will revert to woodland.  If this happens many rare plant and animal species would face further population declines.
A photograph taken by the RAF in 1946 shows the common with virtually no trees (see introduction page), and demonstrates the dramatic increase in tree cover which has taken place since World War Two.
Because of its high nature conservation value, Litcham Common was designated a Local Nature Reserve in 1984. .  

Why Introduce Grazing?
At the moment the spread of invasive species on Litcham Common is controlled by labour intensive mechanical and manual means.  The general consensus amongst nature conservation agencies is that grazing is the best management option for most heathland sites. Following discussions with conservation organisations it has been concluded that an ideal long-term management regime for Litcham Common would be to introduce grazing animals. There are a number of advantages of grazing over other forms of heathland management including:•    Sustainable method of restoring the heathland vegetation structure and diversity.
•    Research on other sites suggests that grazing animals do a better job at keeping heathland in good condition, than mechanical means ever could.
•    Traditional management practice
•    Adds to the aesthetic quality of the site
•    Raises the general profile of the site and the level of awareness and appreciation of the ecological value.
•    Reduces the risk of fires

What kind of animals will graze the Common?
The proposal is to use Dartmoor ponies, or another hardy native breed.  There is also the option of having short term grazing by cattle or sheep, although due to animal welfare and safety issues this is seen as less likely.

How many animals?
Numbers will initially be small, probably three or four ponies.  Exact numbers will be determined in consultation with conservation bodies such as Natural England and the Dartmoor Pony Trust.

Will there be unsightly fencing?
The site will be made stock proof by the construction of a perimeter fence where necessary.  Great care will be taken in erecting the fencing to avoid this spoiling the look of the common, for example by placing this away from the road edge. The majority of the fence line will be obscured by scrub so will have little visual impact. A holding pen will also be required, and this will be sited in a position where it will be visually unobtrusive and restrict access as little as possible.

Will the fencing restrict public access?
There is absolutely no intention to restrict access; the public will still have exactly the same rights of access as they do now. Gates and stiles will be erected at all the existing places where people gain entry onto the common. Any suggestions for the location of extra access points, and comments on the type of access (such as stile, ‘kissing’ gate or field gate), will be gratefully received.

Who would be responsible for the animal’s welfare?
It will be the responsibility of the owners to properly care for their animals.  There are two options with regard to ownership, either Litcham Common Management Committee (LCMC) will graze its own stock, or a licence will be given to a grazier to keep ponies on the Common.  An emergency telephone number will be displayed on site, which members of the public can call if they notice a welfare issue.  A supply of clean drinking water will be provided for the animals.

Who else will be involved?
A vet will be retained to look after the animals as the need requires. It is hoped that local people will become interested in the ponies and the project, and consideration will be given to suitable training for volunteer helpers if appropriate. The two schools in Litcham will also be approached with a view to exploiting the educational opportunities.

Will it cost a lot of money?
The initial capital costs of fencing and water supply will be quite high, but grant aid can be applied for, for example from the Heritage Lottery Fund.  The intention is that grant funding will also be obtained for the ongoing annual costs, for example under the Single Farm Payment scheme.

Will dogs scare the ponies?
The appropriate breed of pony with a calm temperament will be chosen.  They will be free ranging, and so able to run away from dogs if necessary. The byelaws covering Litcham Common state that dogs should be under proper control and prevented from worrying any animal.  It will be ensured that dog owners are aware of their obligations in this respect. The ponies will only ever be grazing one side of the road at a time, so dog owners will always have the option of walking their pets on a part of the common where there are no ponies.

What if people are scared of the animals?
Some people may be fearful of the close proximity of large animals. Usually these fears are totally unfounded, but in order to minimise any risks involved the ponies used are likely to be yearling geldings supplied by the Dartmoor Pony Trust. Dartmoor ponies are used to both humans and dogs and co-exist on Dartmoor with very few problems.

What if there was a fire on the Common?
The Fires that occasionally occur on Litcham Common are fairly small in proportion to the size of the site.  This means that the ponies will have plenty of areas to escape to.

Would motorcycles illegally using the common scare the ponies?
On Litcham Common the ponies will be free to run away.  The construction of the perimeter fence will enable us to install entrances that restrict motorcycle access.

Is there a risk of the ponies being stolen?
Un-broken horses are not worth much so it is unlikely that anyone would bother stealing them.

Is the presence of acorns on the Common a danger to the ponies?
Acorns are toxic to ponies and cattle. The Dartmoor Pony Trust has advised that hardy native breeds tend not to eat acorns, particularly if there is other food available. There are oak trees on Dartmoor but the Trust is only aware of one case of poisoning in the past ten years; this did not involve a Dartmoor pony. Should the acorns ever prove to be a problem then the ponies will need to be removed for a period during the acorn season.

Has grazing been reintroduced to any sites which are similar to Litcham Common?
There are no exact parallels, but a similar project has been undertaken at Turbary Common, a 100 acre heathland Local Nature Reserve on the edge of Bournemouth, which is next to a large housing estate. Bournemouth Borough Council introduced six Exmoor ponies approximately 30 months ago. The Senior Community Parks & Countryside Officer has reported that initially there was strong opposition from a minority of local residents. However, the project has subsequently turned out to be a great success and very popular with locals, to the extent that there would be an outcry if the ponies were removed now. The ponies have thrived and proved ideal for the management of the site.

See also Annual Reports to Parish Council for : 2005 - 2006 - 2007 -  2008 -  2009  - 2010