Norton Heath

The common is surrounded on all sides but one by minor roads, but despite this it remains undisturbed. The canopy beneath the oak is very sparse with only the occasional hawthorn, holly, blackthorn or hazel surviving beneath the heavy shade. The ground flora is almost non-existent with bramble dominating. There are a few sycamores of varying ages in the northern section of the site.

There are numerous ponds across the common as a result of gravel extraction undertaken in the first part of the 20^th century. These ephermal ponds are for the most part shaded by the oaks and are prone to drying out when the water table drops in the summer months. Southern hawker and broad-bodied chaser dragonflies have been noted around the large central pond which was cleared in the late 1990’s.

At the southern end of Norton Heath, adjacent to the café there is an area of unimproved grassland. This area was cut and removed until the early 1990’s. However since this time it has been cut, but not removed. Also scrub is encroaching and reducing the overall size of the grassland.

Countrycare’s involvement with the common. Since 1988, Countrycare has undertaken small scale works on the common involving pond works, tree felling and tree planting. In 2002, access improvement works were undertaken that saw the construction of board walks and revetments to give easier access across the common from east to west.

It is Countrycare’s desire to see the common declared as the district’s 10^th Local Nature Reserve. Consultation with Natural England began in 2007 and is ongoing. It is hoped this may become a possiblity in the next couple of years.

The aim of LNR status has influenced further management of the woodland covering the common. Thinning of oak trees has been undertaken in the centre of the common over the last  few years and this is now being monitored to see what happens.

During the summers of 2007, 2008 and 2009 ground flora surveys have been undertaken to determine if a heathland community could be restored within the woodland glades. The early signs are very encouraging with gorse plants and a number of other rare plants reappearing where the light is reaching the woodland floor. Following further thinning works in December 2008 and surveying in 2009 monitoring will now continue in 2010 before any more major works will be considered.

New Finds in Norton Heath

July 2010: In a recent survey both Ling Heather and Marsh Pennywort were found on the site. These are both heathland plants and therfore a promising sign for the heathland restoration work that has been carried out so far.

  Ling Heather                                            Marsh Pennywort

  Gorse

See below to links to this and further information about the Common.