Litcham Common
MANAGEMENT
The Common is actively managed for wildlife, with a particular emphasis on maintaining and restoring
the areas of open heathland, a rare and important habitat once widespread in Norfolk.
In the early eighties the late William Foster of Lexham Hall became so concerned about the state of the common that he contacted Norfolk County Council for help. This led to Litcham Common being declared a Local Nature Reserve in 1984 in recognition of its important wildlife and landscape value.
A committee, made up of local residents and representatives from Lexham Hall Estate, Litcham Parish Council and Norfolk County Council, was set up to oversee the management of the common. Unfortunately, Norfolk County Council is no longer represented on the committee, following budget cuts in 2011. In order to replace the lost funding an application has recently been submitted to Natural England for Litcham Common to be entered into the Higher Level Stewardship Scheme.
The main management objective is to increase the area of open heathland and reduce the areas of scrub (particularly birch). However, significant areas of woodland and many of the established trees will be kept so that as wide a variety of wildlife habitats as possible is retained. Four Dartmoor ponies have been grazing the western half of the common since June 2008, and it is hoped that they will be able to graze the entire site once cattle grids are installed on the Dunham road in 2012. The ponies’ job is to keep the existing open areas clear of scrub, and maintain a diverse range of plants.
In September 2001 a ten year plan was published by Norfolk County Council, which identified the main areas of trees and scrub to be cleared by 2011. A new ten year plan is in the process of being drawn up.
The importance of the common to local people is also recognised with the provision of a car park, benches and the regular maintenance of the footpaths. Visitors to the common can enjoy many wild flowers such as heather, devils bit and harebells. Their continued presence bears testimony to the work carried out since 1984.
The Management Committee is very grateful to all those who help look after Litcham Common, in particular the volunteers who regularly check the ponies, and the members of Litcham Common Conservation Group who turn out once a month to help with tasks such as scrub clearance and picking up litter.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
A W A R D S
CPRE AWARD
On the 11th of November 2010 Litcham Common Management Committee was presented with an award for the Grazing Scheme. The judges made a presentation about the Common in which they paid tribute not only to the importance of the site as a nature reserve, but also to the way in which local people have become involved in a variety of ways. We are the proud owners of a certificate, now on display in the Jubilee Hall, and a brass plaque which will be displayed on the common once the information board has been repaired.
Award certificates were also collected by Neil Foster on behalf of Lexham Hall Estate, and Sarah Cureton on behalf of
Norfolk County Council, in recognition of the important roles they have each played in reinstating grazing on the Common.
NBP AWARD
On 12 July 2011 the Management Committee was presented with the Community Biodiversity Site Award at the Norfolk Biodiversity Partnership’s annual awards ceremony. The chief judge made the following comments:
‘I think the other judges felt that it was an excellent, well-rounded project with clear biodiversity aims
(and achievements) and ample evidence of public participation, both in carrying out the actual work and being able to take advantage of the benefits. The excellent website was also remarked upon. From my own point of view, it was the re-introduction of grazing to the common that I was most impressed by... The fact that your group has succeeded in re-introducing grazing and you now, once again, have a living, working common will be a great encouragement to others.’
__________________________________________________________________________________________
The Mangement Committee are....
Neil Foster - Landowner
Sarah Cureton - Volunteer
Tim Angell - Conservation Group Representative
Mike Oldfield - Parish Council Representative
John Jones - Honorary Warden
Dave Wheal - Local resident
John Mitchell - Local resident
Contact: Tim Angell 01328 700045
Set up to oversee and implement a management plan when Litcham Common was declared a Local Nature Reserve, under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. The committee meets twice a year, and presents a report to the Annual Parish Meeting (see below for links).
The management plan must be reviewed at least every ten years, and the last ten year plan was created in January 2001.
Support
The Management Committee is grateful for the support and advice received from a number of organisations, including:
The Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust - Grazing Animals Project (GAP) - Larking Gowen (Chartered accountants) - Natural England - Norfolk County Council - Norfok Biodiversity Partnership - SITA Trust and the Norfolk Wildlife Trust.
Links to more Information.....
...and a Map (to go with above) showing position of Cattle Grid and proposed changes to fencing.
Managements Committee's Annual Reports to Annual Parish Meeting: 2005 - 2006 - 2007 - 2008 - 2009 - 2010 - 2011
Secretary of State: Litcham Common Fencing Scheme Consent (PDF 249k)
NCC Ten Year Plan for the Common, by Raz Woolacott 2001 (PDF 80k)
If you would like further information, or have any questions or comments please contact :
Tim Angell (Litcham Common Management Committee): 01328 700045
