Brecks Options Study Presentation
The Final workshop for the Brecks Options Study - Findings and Recommendations - took place on the 5th December. More
Zack Maskill, from Manchester, approached BFER offering to research and write a blog post about the fascinating landscapes of the Brecks. We are thrilled to have such an interest in the Brecks far and wide, and tasked Zack to share his discoveries about what makes the Brecks so special and the importance of its natural habitats. Read Zack’s article to gain a snapshot about the brilliance of the Brecks and find out more on brecks.org.
If you would like to write a blog post for BFER, we would love to hear from you! Contact our Volunteer and Engagement Officer Nicole (nicole.hudson@suffolk.gov.uk) to find out more.
Discover the wonders of the Brecks!
“Breckland is an expansive area covering Suffolk and Norfolk that spans more than 500 miles. It is one of the most beautiful areas of the British Isles, boasting a whole array of habitats ranging from fens to agricultural land to wooded areas. Part of what makes the Brecks a brilliant environment for nature is the special geology with chalk beds and flint fields. Not only are the geological features interesting, but also the history of the Brecks makes it a place well worth a visit.
Heathland
Grass-heaths such as Thetford Heath are spread around and are havens for wildlife. Although heather is perhaps a less important species on a grass-heath, which as its name suggests, is an important habitat rich in acid grass species diversity.
This is due to rabbits which are on the rise thanks to the Shifting Sands project. Shifting Sands is a great multi-partnership project, led by Natural England and supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. While this project seeks to restore rabbits to sensitive sites and create guidance for conservation managers, the jury is still out on the extent of any greatly significant, or lasting recovery. The rabbits theoretically should help prevent the heath from reverting to grassland by keeping the grass short so that plants such as wormwood can grow.
Wormwood is essential to species such as the rare wormwood Moonshiner beetle (Amara fusca) which has a bronze, brown wing case. These feed on the seeds of the wormwood plants.
If you are lucky, in the summer there are a host of rare insect species which may be spotted within the grasslands. In particular, you may see the White-letter hairstreak (Satyrium w-album) butterfly fluttering about. This species lays its eggs on the mature elm. You will usually see it foraging among bramble flowers, displaying its brown underwings but this butterfly is quick!
Another species to look out for is the Dingy skipper (Erynnis tages), a small grey and brown butterfly. The caterpillar feasts on bird’s foot trefoil, a delightful yellow meadow plant.
However, one of the lesser-known insects is the parasitic Weevil Wasp (Cerceris quinquefasciata), which uses weevils as food for its young.
These heaths have become an important stronghold for some of the rarest moths in the UK such as the Lunar yellow underwing (Noctua orbona). A lot of these insects depend on rare plants. For example, the Basil Thyme Case-bearer (Coleophora tricolor) who’s young feed on basil thyme and later move onto grasses. This species group (Coleophora) gets its name from the habit of weaving a silk net around the flowers of the thyme. The heaths also provide the food plant for the Grey carpets (Lithostege griseata), a plain white moth that flies between May and July. These two species only occur in the Brecks. Disturbed ground and open grasslands ensure there is an ideal habitat for these insects.
Forest
In the heart of the Brecks is Thetford Forest, which is the largest lowland woodland in the UK. A range of different trees are present including Corsican pine, Larch, and Weymouth pine. Butterflies and moths such as Mother Shipton (Callistege mi) are at home in these trees, and many birds including the Brambling and the Siskin may be found chattering away. Occasionally, you can find non-natives like Muntjac deer (Muntiacus reevesi) running about. They are recognisable by their greyish brown and small stocky body. Trees are a perfect nesting place for rare bats too. Barbastelles and Noctules frequent Thetford, feeding on the many moths that are around.
Waterways
The Brecks are one of the only regions of the UK to have what are called pingos. Pingos are depressions formed more than 10 thousand years ago by permafrost conditions. They are essentially small spring-fed pools. You can see them along the pingo trail at Thompson Common.
Pool frog (Pelophylax lessonae) introductions were carried out around 2005 into the pingos and were quite successful. Along with this, many ponds were restored. These frogs are noticeable with their green dorsal stripe and brown body. The pingos are a rare habitat, attracting dragonflies and damselflies such as the Emerald green (Chalcolestes viridis). Also, you will see peacock butterflies fluttering around and even the odd swan.
At Thompson Common, it is a bird watchers paradise. Nightjar can be heard with their churrling call. Also, there are hobbies, kingfishers, and nuthatches to be seen. Otters are a favourite with their round furry nuzzles which they snake through the water. However, some such as water soldier (Stratiotes) have started to become rampant. While it is a native plant, it grows abundantly and will swamp water sources. This is beneficial to displace invasive species such as Canadian pondweed but not for the other pond plants.
References
https://www.breckland.gov.uk/visiting-breckland
https://naturebftb.co.uk/projects/shifting-sands/
https://butterfly-conservation.org/butterflies/dingy-skipper
https://butterfly-conservation.org/butterflies/white-letter-hairstreak
https://butterfly-conservation.org/events/norfolk-field-trip-to-cranwich-heath
https://butterfly-conservation.org/sites/default/files/basil_thyme_case-bearer-psf.pdf
https://ukmoths.org.uk/species/lithostege-griseata/
https://www.buglife.org.uk/bugs/bug-directory/wormwood-moonshiner/
https://www.buglife.org.uk/bugs/bug-directory/five-banded-weevil-wasp/
https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/20842212.well-know-thetford-forest-10-interesting-facts/
https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/mammals/muntjac-deer
https://ruralhistoria.com/2023/06/15/pingos/?utm_content=cmp-true
https://ukmoths.org.uk/species/lithostege-griseata/https://british-dragonflies.org.uk/species/emerald-damselfly/https://www.visiteastofengland.com/attraction_activity/nwt-thompson-common
