Heathland
habitats  |
Breckland in Norfolk is a haunting landscape comprising a mixture of forest,
arable farmland and heath land as well as a Ministry of Defence training ground.
Nature lovers can enjoy spring with wildlife watching and kettle
pond dipping. | | Langham
Mere in winter. Photo c/o Norfolk Wildlife Trust |
The
grass-heathland is rich in birds, insects and specialist plants, all of whom have
adapted to its very specific environment. The area was formed when Stone
Age farmers cleared the original woodland to grow crops, moving to new areas when
the soil was exhausted. This sporadically cultivated land became known
as 'breck', hence the name Breckland. As a result in framing practices,
the area has light, sandy, chalky soil, an ideal habitat for rabbits who love
grazing on it. Rabbit warren  The
rabbits were introduced by the Normans for meat and fur, and the industry was
so big that the area was split into enclosed warrens with warreners looking after
them.
Visitors can still see one of the warrener's lodges built in the
15th Century. Myxomatosis wiped out rabbits in the 1950s with the result
that grasses and bushes grew on the heath land. Today grazing by the rabbits
is crucial to the survival of the wildlife at Weeting Heath and they are actively
encouraged. The reserve is fenced in to prevent rabbits destroying crops
on adjacent arable land. Stone Curlews  One
of the star attractions of the reserve is the Stone Curlew, a bird which has become
rare in recent years due to the loss of heathland habitats.
These strange
looking birds can be recognised by their streaky brown mottled plumage and knobbly
knees.
Stone Curlews love the dry, stony ground, but only if there's no
vegetation, so grazing rabbits provide the perfect habitat for keeping down the
grass. Weeting Heath Reserve is a good place to view the Stone Curlew, a
strange-looking bird with an eerie call. The birds are also perfectly camouflaged
here, apart from their large yellow eyes. The Stone Curlew breed on the
reserve, laying their eggs in shallow scrapes in the soil. Kettle
lakes  The
Breckland landscape is characterised by a two types of unusual lakes - Pingo or
kettle lakes, and fluctuating meres.
Only six fluctuating meres have been
identified in the UK, all them in this area.
The meres tend to be full
in summer and dry in winter, providing a unique habitat for specialist plants
and animals. Interesting examples of nature which is attracted by the mere
include wild flowers and beetles. | 
