This project is funded by Broadland District Council through the Future for Nature Fund
The Parish Council is pleased to announce that we have been awarded a £5,000 Future for Nature Fund Grant from Broadland District Council. This funding will support the first year of a five‑year restoration project in the Woodland Walk, aimed at improving biodiversity, enhancing habitats, and ensuring this area continues to thrive for both wildlife and the local community.
What’s happening in 2026
During January and February, The Conservation Volunteers will begin essential habitat restoration work, including:
- Coppicing selected areas to rejuvenate woodland structure
- Clearing overgrown bramble where it is suppressing woodland ground flora
- Removing invasive yellow archangel, which spreads rapidly and displaces native species
- Retaining marked areas of bramble to preserve valuable nesting and shelter habitat for birds, small mammals, and invertebrates
All works are scheduled to take place before the bird‑nesting season to avoid disturbance to wildlife.
Habitat creation
Wood from the winter coppicing is being staked and left in habitat piles within the Woodland Walk. These provide:
- Shelter for small mammals such as hedgehogs and voles
- Overwintering and breeding sites for insects
- Moist, shaded microhabitats that support fungi, mosses, and other decomposers
These features are an important part of creating a healthy, functioning woodland ecosystem.
Why this work is needed
The aim of the project is to restore the woodland to a wildlife‑rich and ecologically valuable green space. This involves:
- Creating a more diverse woodland structure
- Encouraging a wider range of bird and insect species
- Allowing native wildflowers and ground flora to return
- Maintaining key habitat features such as bramble thickets, deadwood, and varied light levels
By balancing selective clearance with habitat retention, the woodland will support a richer and more resilient ecosystem.
Before pictures
After January / February initial works
Flowering in April 2026
Surveys and monitoring
A botanical survey will take place in the spring to assess:
- The presence and condition of native woodland plants
- Areas where ground flora is recovering
- Locations where further invasive species control may be needed
- Opportunities to enhance biodiversity in future phases of the plan
This survey will help guide the next steps of the five‑year programme.
Survey and Guided Family Walk: Friday 29th May from 11.30am
Flowering in May 2026
