1.5 Ghost Pingo Excavation update - September 2023
In August 2023 four ghost pingos were excavated on two separate privately owned landholdings in the Brecks close to Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s Thompson Common nature reserve. More
The Friends of Thetford Station were awarded a grant from the Brecks Fen Edge & Rivers Landscape Partnership scheme this week. The funding, which comes indirectly from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, will go towards designing and installing two new interpretation panels that will help raise awareness of the fascinating history of the station, and the successful work of the group to encourage nature onto the site.
Figure 1: Nick Dickson BFER Scheme manager, presenting the grant cheque to members of the Friends of Thetford Station
One panel will accompany the hybrid Common Swift/Bat boxes and solar powered Swift call device installed last year as part of the Breckland Community Green Grant Scheme. This panel will also contain information about other unusual and rare species that make the Brecks their home.
Figure 2: The recently installed Swift nest boxes, solar powered calling device, and info panel locations.
The other panel is to display information about the architectural importance of Thetford Railway Station in the context of the cultural history of the area.
The overall aim is to provide a point of interest to anyone who uses or visits the Railway Station with an emphasis on celebrating the importance of the Station buildings and the work of local conservation groups.
Fiona Rhind, from Friends of Thetford Station says “we are extremely grateful to the BFER and LP for the opportunity to install these Interpretation Panels. To be part of a wider scheme that celebrates this unique region is very exciting, and we can start improving the appearance of the Station buildings from the approach from the town.”
Nick Dickson, BFER Scheme Manager says “We’re delighted to support another great Friends of Thetford Station project. The boards will not only help draw people’s attention to heritage on our doorstep, but also improve the overall appearance of the building and hopefully encourage more people to use the Railway, a great sustainable travel option for visiting the wider Brecks landscape.”
Greater Anglia’s Customer and Community Engagement Manager, Alan Neville, said, “I’d like to thank our station adopters at Thetford for the incredible work they are doing to support biodiversity locally and make the station an attractive and welcoming place – not only for people but for wildlife too.”
If you’d like to discuss your project idea with a member of the team, or just need more information please email bfer.admin@suffolk.gov.uk or visit: 4.6 3rd Party Grant Fund
