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 | | | | Planting
Thetford forest is the largest lowland pine forest in Britain (22,000ha)
Planting was started in the 1920's as a strategic timber reserve. It is now home for endangered wildlife such as woodlark and nightjar. In the early years, the species predominantly planted was Scots pine.
Now the favoured species is Corsican pine which grows more quickly and is more resistant to disease. But Scots pine is still planted, partly for conservation reasons, since some of the forest wildlife prefers it.
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| | | | | Wildlife
From a wildlife point of view the most important parts of the forest are the open areas within it. Along the rides and tracks, long narrow strips of heathland survive.
They have splendidly disturbed ground that makes ideal conditions for plant rarities such as smooth rupturewort and purple-stemmed cat’s tail.
Invertebrates, too, like the habitat: at one site in Santon Street 40% of all British sand wasp species have been recorded.
The large, clear-felled areas and very young plantations are attractive to woodlarks, and nightjars can be heard ‘churring’ there on warm summer evenings.
Other wildlife living in the forest include red, roe, fallow and muntjac deer.
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| | | | | Further information
Skipper, K. and Williamson, T. (1997) Thetford Forest. Making a Landscape, 1922 – 1997 (Norwich, Centre of East Anglian Studies, UEA)
Forestry Commission website www.forestry.gov.uk
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