Blo' Norton and Thelnetham Fens
Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
Thelnetham Fen | |
Location | Norfolk Suffolk |
---|---|
Grid reference | TM 017 788[1] |
Interest | Biological |
Area | 21.3 hectares[1] |
Notification | 1983[1] |
Location map | Magic Map |
Blo' Norton and Thelnetham Fens are a 21.3-hectare (53-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on the Norfolk/Suffolk border. Blo' Norton Fen is in the parish of Blo' Norton in Norfolk and Thelnetham Fen is in Thelnetham parish in Suffolk.[1][2] It is a Nature Conservation Review site, Grade 2,[3] and part of the Waveney and Little Ouse Valley Fens Special Area of Conservation,[4][5] Thelnetham Fen is managed by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust[6] and Blo' Norton Fen by the Little Ouse Headwaters Project (LOHP).[7]
Location
The site is located on the Norfolk-Suffolk border to the south of A1066 Diss to Thetford road and north of the A143 between Diss and Bury St Edmunds. It is 6 miles (9.7 km) west of Diss, 10 miles (16 km) south-east of Thetford and 14 miles (23 km) north-east of Bury St Edmunds. The Redgrave and Lopham Fen SSSI is 2 miles (3.2 km) east of the site.
Ecology
The site consists of areas of calcareous fen wetland and associated carr woodland and meadow along the Little Ouse river which marks the county boundary. It is notable for being an internationally important site for the rare black bog rush Schoenus nigricans and saw sedge Cladium mariscus plant species.[8]
The site supports a "very large number of plant species" on the wetter fen areas.[8] Dominant species tend to be black bog rush Schoenus nigricans, saw sedge Cladium mariscus and purple moor grass Molinia caerulea, with species such as fen orchid Dactylorchis praetermissa, devil’s bit scabious Succisa pratensis, long-stalked yellow sedge Carex lepidocarpa, quaking grass Briza media, parnassus Parnassia palustris and a number of rare mosses also found in these areas.[8]
Other areas of the fen become drier during periods of dry weather and support a different range of plant life. Taller vegetation is more common, particularly reed Phragmites australis and meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria. Different plants are associated with this vegetation, increasing biodiversity to include species such as hemp agrimony Eupatorium cannabinum, purple loosestrife Lythrum salicaria and great hairy willowherb Epilobium hirsutum.[8] Scrub and woodland vegetation has developed throughout the fens with sallow and alder predominant in these areas, although Blo' Norton Fen has some oak and ash woodland.[8]
Surrounding meadowlands and ditches support other species, including, for example, ragged robin Lychnis flos-cuculi, marsh marigold Caltha palustris.[8] Bird species found on the site include snipe and grasshopper warbler[6] and the protected Eurasian water shrew is found in the area.[9]
Management
Management includes the managed cutting of fen vegetation on a four year rotation in order to maintain biodiversity and a range of habitats.[9] The adjacent area of Hinderclay Fen was removed from the SSSI area in 1983 following drainage projects causing the area to dry out.[10] The LOHP has begun to manage the area to return the area to a more semi-natural state, including cutting scrub vegetation and creating ponds on the site.[10]
The fen areas were traditionally used for sites for cutting peat for fuel and for fuelwood.[9] Marked paths, including areas of boardwalk and a footbridge across the Little Ouse, provide access for visitors and the Angles Way path passes through the SSSI.[9]
Access
There is access to Thelnetham Fen from Loggers Lane and Blo' Norton Fen from Fen Road. The fens are connected by a bridge across the River Little Ouse, and the Angles Way footpath runs through Thelnetham Fen.
See also
- List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Norfolk
- List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Suffolk
- Little Ouse Headwaters Project
References
- ^ a b c d "Designated Sites View: Blo' Norton and Thelnetham Fen". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
- ^ "Map of Blo' Norton and Thelnetham Fen". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
- ^ Ratcliffe, Derek, ed. (1977). A Nature Conservation Review. Vol. 2. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. pp. 214–215. ISBN 0521 21403 3.
- ^ "Waveney and Little Ouse Valley Fens". Special Areas of Conservation. Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
- ^ "Designated Sites View: Waveney & Little Ouse Valley Fens". Special Area of Conservation. Natural England. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
- ^ a b "Thelnetham Fen". Suffolk Wildlife Trust. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
- ^ "Blo'Norton Fen". Little Ouse Headwaters Project. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f "Blo' Norton and Thelnetham Fen citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 May 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
- ^ a b c d Blo' Norton Fen, Little Ouse Headwaters Project. Retrieved 2013-01-31.
- ^ a b Hinderclay Fen, Little Ouse Headwaters Project. Retrieved 2013-01-31.
52°22′12″N 0°57′40″E / 52.37°N 0.961°E / 52.37; 0.961
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- Alderfen Broad
- Alderford Common
- Ant Broads and Marshes
- Aslacton Parish Land
- Badley Moor
- Barnham Cross Common
- Beeston Cliffs
- Beetley and Hoe Meadows
- Blo' Norton and Thelnetham Fens
- Booton Common
- Boughton Fen
- Breckland Farmland
- Breckland Forest
- Breydon Water
- Bridgham and Brettenham Heaths
- The Brinks, Northwold
- Broad Fen, Dilham
- Bryant's Heath, Felmingham
- Bure Broads and Marshes
- Burgh Common and Muckfleet Marshes
- Buxton Heath
- Calthorpe Broad
- Cantley Marshes
- Castle Acre Common
- Cawston and Marsham Heaths
- Cockthorpe Common, Stiffkey
- Coston Fen, Runhall
- Cranberry Rough, Hockham
- Cranwich Camp
- Crostwick Marsh
- Damgate Marshes, Acle
- Decoy Carr, Acle
- Dereham Rush Meadow
- Dersingham Bog
- Didlington Park Lakes
- Dillington Carr
- Ducan's Marsh
- East Harling Common
- East Ruston Common
- East Walton and Adcock's Common
- East Winch Common
- East Wretham Heath
- Eaton Chalk Pit
- Edgefield Little Wood
- Elm Road Field, Thetford
- Felbrigg Woods
- Field Barn Heaths, Hilborough
- Flordon Common
- Forncett Meadows
- Foulden Common
- Foxley Wood
- Fritton Common, Morningthorpe
- Gawdyhall Big Wood, Harleston
- Geldeston Meadows
- Great Cressingham Fen
- Great Yarmouth North Denes
- Grime's Graves
- Gunton Park Lake
- Hall Farm Fen, Hemsby
- Halvergate Marshes
- Hardley Flood
- Hedenham Wood
- Hilgay Heronry
- Hockering Wood
- Holly Farm Meadow, Wendling
- Holt Lowes
- Honeypot Wood
- Hooks Well Meadows, Great Cressingham
- Horningtoft Wood
- Horse Wood, Mileham
- Hunstanton Cliffs
- Islington Heronry
- Kelling Heath
- Kenninghall and Banham Fens with Quidenham Mere
- Leziate, Sugar and Derby Fens
- Limpenhoe Meadows
- Lower Wood, Ashwellthorpe
- Ludham - Potter Heigham Marshes
- Mattishall Moor
- Middle Harling Fen
- Narborough Railway Embankment
- New Buckenham Common
- North Norfolk Coast
- Old Bodney Camp
- Old Buckenham Fen
- Ouse Washes
- Overstrand Cliffs
- Paston Great Barn
- Poplar Farm Meadows, Langley
- Potter and Scarning Fens, East Dereham
- Potter's Carr, Cranworth
- Priory Meadows, Hickling
- Pulham Market Big Wood
- Redgrave and Lopham Fens
- Ringstead Downs
- River Nar
- River Wensum
- Rosie Curston's Meadow, Mattishall
- Roydon Common
- Scoulton Mere
- Sea Mere, Hingham
- Sexton Wood
- Shallam Dyke Marshes, Thurne
- Shelfanger Meadows
- Sheringham and Beeston Regis Commons
- Shotesham Common
- Shotesham-Woodton Hornbeam Woods
- Sidestrand and Trimingham Cliffs
- Smallburgh Fen
- Snettisham Carstone Quarry
- Southrepps Common
- Stanford Training Area
- Stanley and Alder Carrs, Aldeby
- Stiffkey Valley
- Swangey Fen, Attleborough
- Swannington Upgate Common
- Swanton Novers Woods
- Sweetbriar Road Meadows, Norwich
- Syderstone Common
- Thetford Golf Course and Marsh
- Thompson Water, Carr and Common
- Tindall Wood, Ditchingham
- Trinity Broads
- Upper Thurne Broads and Marshes
- Upton Broad and Marshes
- Warham Camp
- The Wash
- Wayland Wood, Watton
- Weeting Heath
- Wells Chalk Pit
- Westwick Lakes
- Weybourne Cliffs
- Whitwell Common
- Winterton-Horsey Dunes
- Wiveton Downs
- Wretham Park Meres
- Yare Broads and Marshes
- Bawsey
- Beeston Cliffs
- Bilsey Hill
- Blackborough End Pit
- Bramerton Pits
- Breckland Forest
- Briton's Lane Gravel Pit
- Broome Heath Pit
- Caistor St Edmund Chalk Pit
- Catton Grove Chalk Pit
- Cranberry Rough, Hockham
- Dersingham Bog
- East Runton Cliffs
- East Walton and Adcock's Common
- Glandford (Hurdle Lane)
- Glandford (Letheringsett Road)
- Gooderstone Warren
- Grime's Graves
- Grimston Warren Pit
- Happisburgh Cliffs
- Heacham Brick Pit
- Holkham Brick Pit
- Hunstanton Cliffs
- Hunstanton Park Esker
- Leet Hill, Kirby Cane
- Morston Cliff
- Mundesley Cliffs
- North Norfolk Coast
- Overstrand Cliffs
- Setchey
- Sidestrand and Trimingham Cliffs
- St James' Pit
- Stanford Training Area
- Wells Chalk Pit
- West Runton Cliffs
- Weybourne Cliffs
- Weybourne Town Pit
- Wiggenhall St Germans
- Winterton-Horsey Dunes
- Wiveton Downs
- Wretton