Cranwich Camp is an important grassland habitat, managed by the Brecks Heath Partnership 1/4
The former military base is one of the strongholds for Spanish catchfly 2/4
This project will involve a combination of habitat interventions, such as changes to the grazing regime 3/4
Key Breckland species will have a better chance of survival, woodlark photo by Chris Mills 4/4

£43,500 grant to enable habitat restoration for rare breeding birds


Tuesday 01 March, 2016


Norfolk Wildlife Trust has secured a £43,500 grant from Biffa Award to encourage rare Breckland plant and invertebrate specialists on Cranwich Camp, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Cranwich Camp is an important grassland habitat which provides crucial breeding habitat for nightjars and skylarks. The former military base is one of the strongholds for Spanish catchfly and for breeding woodlarks.  Managed by Norfolk Wildlife Trust on behalf of the Brecks Heath Partnership - a partnership between NWT, Forestry Commission and Natural England - the project will also provide the habitat conditions for breeding stone curlews.  

This project seeks to expand on the success of recent restoration trials and will involve a combination of habitat interventions, such as changes to the grazing regime, controlling weed growth and the expansion of the rabbit population at the camp, to increase the range of rare Breckland plants and animals. Protecting and expanding populations of the key plant and invertebrate species at the site will enhance the quality and connectivity of the Breckland environmental networks.  By improving site conditions, the key Breckland species will have a better chance of survival and potential to expand amongst linked habitats.

The project was awarded funding under Biffa Award’s Rebuilding Biodiversity theme. Biffa Award is a multi-million pound fund that helps to build communities and transform lives through awarding grants to community and environmental projects across the UK, as part of the Landfill Communities Fund.  

John Milton, Head of Reserves said: “Cranwich Camp has enormous potential for a number of rare Breckland specialities, having trialled ground disturbance already at this site and seen impressive results in the thousands of Spanish Catchfly plants that followed. Grazing with ponies rather than sheep is taking this site to a whole new level in grazing, and is likely to simulate the conditions that have led to the site being one of the most important in the Brecks.

Brendan Joyce, NWT Chief Executive said: “This project at Cranwich Camp is a huge benefit to our wider and ongoing Brecks Heath Partnership, which is working to recreate, restore and sustain our heathlands across the Brecks as well as improve public access to our heathland heritage. We are delighted to receive this very important support from Biffa Award.”

Gillian French, Biffa Award, said: “This project is a great example of how the Landfill Communities Fund can support rebuilding biodiversity. The efforts at Cranwich Camp to reintroduce breeding stone curlews are truly inspiring.”
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