Introduction to habitat management

There is virtually no corner of Norfolk that hasn’t been shaped by human activities, and we continue to influence the landscape today. The way that the environment is managed has a huge bearing on its benefits for wildlife and for people. 

A wide range of guidance and resources are available regarding best practice and options for land management. Generally, a decision on how to manage or enhance a habitat should include the following steps: 

• Understanding the current value for wildlife and people. This includes the habitats and species currently present, other benefits such as carbon storage, flood management or wind protection, and the value of any harvest from the area. 

• Considering how to manage what is there to maximise its potential. 

• Considering any enhancement potential. 

We provide information and guidance for a variety of the more common habitat types found across the county below. In addition, toolkits are available to allow land managers to consider how landscape history might help inform current land management decisions and how landscape connectivity can be maximised through land management decision-making.