Frenze Beck - work in progress

Much progress has been made at Frenze Beck, near Diss, where a small, wetland wildlife paradise is being created.

Volunteers and school pupils have been working with South Norfolk Council’s Countryside team on a variety of jobs, such as planting 300 metres of hedging over the last few weeks.

Mike Bentley, Countryside Manager, South Norfolk Council, said everything is going well:

“It’s great to see the enthusiasm and care of our volunteer workforce. The hedging will draw birds and other wildlife into the area to nest.”

Steve Hammond, Countryside Ranger, explained more:

“We have scraped out two reed beds so far - which is vital because some 56 species in Norfolk depend fully or partly on reed beds and the associated fens to survive: birds such as the Bittern, Bearded Tit, and Marsh Harrier, moths such as the Small Dotted Footman and the Reed Leopard and mammals such as otters, water shrews, water voles and harvest mice.

“The team has also built a bank around Frenze Beck to screen the area from the surrounding developments. And we have begun to prepare the ponds for dipping platforms, to give a fantastic view of the wildlife in its own environment.

“Everyone is working so hard – but we are already seeing some of the fruits of our labours.”

Mike Bentley added:

”The site is really starting to take shape now and we are well on course to finish ahead of time. There is still some way to go, but this is what I hoped for at Frenze Beck. The reserve is being created and is becoming a truly community-based project.”

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