Swardeston Common

Further information

Habitats: Until about 40 years ago, the Common was open grazed grassland with scattered gorse bushes. After grazing stopped, the scrub has developed into scrubby woodland and enclosing thickets, dominated by hawthorn and blackthorn.

Management: Cattle were free to graze the Common up until 40 years ago, which kept the scrub to a minimum, and also provided small quantities of milk to the local area. When the cattle were removed, the scrub was free to grow to maturity, forming the thick areas of scrub across the Common. Today, South Norfolk Council and the Norwich Fringe Project cut back the scrub to stop it encroaching onto the grassland, and the grass is cut each year.

Flora and fauna: The grassland contains large numbers of grass species, including sheep’s sorrel (Rumex acetosella) and common bent (Agrostis capillaries), and common twayblade (Listera ovata), bee orchid (Ophrys apifera) and southern marsh orchid (Dactylorhiza praetermissa).

Look out for:

Spring: Fox (Vulpes vulpes), Bat (Chiroptera)

Summer: Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla), Whitethroat (Sylvia communis), Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca)

Autumn: Great Crested Newt (Triturus cristatus)

Winter: Muntjac Deer (Muntiacus montanus)