Visitors from both organisations enjoyed a guided tour of the common – an area rich in wildlife and valuable as a place of conservation but unknown to many locally.

Reepham Lions president Brenda Gostling said: “This is a hidden gem; it’s a beautiful haven for both people and wildlife. We are very fortunate to have this on our doorstep, and it’s a privilege to be able to help to keep it safe for visitors to enjoy.”

Since the Countryside Stewardship funding received by the trustees is needed for cutting and baling the fen, as well as managing the ponds, the two local organisations have agreed to meet the costs of the bridge. The simple but strong structure made of durable, natural materials is now in place.

Reepham Rotary president Arthur Hawes said: “We are always delighted to help other local organisations serving the public. We were very pleased to contribute.”

Whitwell Common is a spring-fed valley fen in the Blackwater tributary of the River Wensum. It is situated approximately two miles to the south west of Reepham at the junction of Whitwell Road and Nowhere Lane.

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This year’s Whitwell Common open day will be held on Saturday 1 July from 11 am – 4 pm, which coincides with Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s Norfolk Commons Week (1–7 July).

Highland cattle maintaining the open fen by grazing on Whitwell Common. Photo: Richard Taylor

“We’ve lived in Reepham for more than 30 years and we had no idea about this place” is a comment frequently made by visitors to previous open days. (Of course, you can visit Whitwell Common at any time.)

Commons in Norfolk were once “commonplace” and were often very extensive. For example, the common at Brisley, either side of the B1145, still grazed by sheep, is the county’s biggest.

More than 25% of Norfolk’s land area may at one time have been common land, and the names of former commons and greens, now long gone, still feature in place names.

Norfolk commons are wonderfully diverse: coastal commons of dune and tidal saltings; Broadland commons of marsh and fen; even some that have become tightly mown village greens.

Whitwell Common is one of the few remaining open fen habitats typical of Norfolk river valleys: it has been a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) of national importance since 1954.

Spring-fed, it never dries out, which enables several species of orchids and wildflowers to flourish.

The common also supports many bird species, including water rail, snipe, barn owl and kingfisher.

The quiet visitor can often spot a deer, 60 metres distant, standing stock still after it has picked up the smell of a human.

Nowadays, rare breed cattle are “employed” in late summer and autumn. They graze the open fen and chew small scrub, and are a link with past centuries and much appreciated by visitors.

The history of British commons is a long and sometimes tragic story of enclosures, when land, formerly used “in common”, was fenced and ordinary people’s ancient common rights, to graze animals, gather firewood or dig peat, were removed.

Some commons in Norfolk were enclosed between the 14th and 18th centuries, but large areas survived until the parliamentary enclosures between 1760 and 1860.

Whitwell Common locals retained some benefits until the 1930s, such as the right to graze small, fixed numbers of animals, and a person referred to as a hayward was retained to maintain the open habitat.

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Various species of wildflowers and orchids should be flowering on Whitwell Common in time for the open day on Saturday 2 July.

The event will feature guided tours led by Lin Garland, chair of the trustees, to help visitors discover the various treasures of the common, including wildflowers and orchids.

There will also be demonstrations of woodland crafts throughout the day with food from the firepit (meat and vegetarian options available).

The common, a Site of Special Scientific Interest, can be found by following Whitwell Road out of Reepham, past Whitwell Station, under the bridge to the junction with Nowhere Lane (NR10 4RF).

If arriving by car, please follow the signs to a suitable parking place. Enter by the kissing-gate next to the old telephone box (now an information kiosk) and follow the signs.

The open day is suitable for children and adults; boots are recommended. There is no charge for entry, but donations will be welcome.

For further information, telephone 07342 262109.

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The disused structure, which was purchased four years ago for £1, stands directly outside the nature reserve and makes an excellent information point for sightings and also houses books to use within the Common.

The telephone box has been decorated with paintings by Reepham-based artist Sue Johnston, who, together with Lin Garland, chairman of the trustees of Whitwell Common, officially opened the information centre on Saturday 21 August, with sponsorship from Original Cottages.

Local wildlife filmmaker and writer Piers Warren said: “Many people living in Reepham have never visited Whitwell Common, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) to the left of the twisting Whitwell Road and the splendidly named Nowhere Lane, which together link Reepham to the A1067 Fakenham Road.

“Even those who know it well or pass it every day will have wondered about the apparently abandoned BT telephone box – until now.”

Decorated with illustrations of wildflowers and birds, the information hub features leaflets, books and notices – including recent sightings – which the trustees hope will help visitors enjoy and understand more when they visit the Common.

Designated an SSSI in 1965, Whitwell Common is one of the few remaining open fen habitats typical of Norfolk river valleys.

Up until the 1930s, villagers had a right to graze cattle and a retained “hayward” maintained the open habitat.

The Common now provides opportunities for walkers, naturalists and photographers to find rare flowers, watch birds and observe the magnificent, but gentle, rare breed cattle that help maintain the fen habitat by eating surplus vegetation.

“Above all, it’s a special place where visitors of all ages can enjoy the flora and fauna and escape the distractions and stresses of everyday life,” said Mr Warren.

To watch a short film by Piers Warren of the opening celebration of the new information kiosk, click HERE

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Whitwell Common is managed by a board of voluntary trustees who oversee its conservation and maintenance.

Applicants need to reside within five miles of the common, which is situated approximately 2½ miles south of Reepham on Whitwell Road.

Trustees are responsible for organising the seasonal maintenance plan and managing funds to finance the work.

Involvement of the local community and schools, where possible, plus the use of social media, are other aspects of the tasks undertaken.

For more information, email Lin Garland, Chairman, Whitwell Common Trustees or Daphne Ludgate, Secretary.

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The film, which is still in its draft version, records the latest achievements for this Site of Special Scientific Interest near Reepham as a result of a £25,000 Biffa Award grant.

See our earlier stories:

• Highland cattle grazing on Whitwell Common
• Grant to help reintroduce grazing on Whitwell Common

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Excitement mounted as onlookers gathered to see the arrival of the animals on Thursday 10 August– the first animals to graze the Common for more than 50 years.

This was the moment when years of planning came to fruition of an idea first mooted by Tony Ivins, a former chairman of the trustees of Whitwell Common, some 30 years ago.

Thanks to the efforts of present chairman Lin Garland, treasurer Mike Eastwood and Norfolk County Council ecologist Ed Stocker, a Biffa Award grant of £25,000 has made it possible to open up the drainage ditches, provide culverts for the cattle to cross and fencing to contain them.

The award has also allowed the trustees to restore the three ponds on the site, improving their biodiversity.

The assembled onlookers included Whitwell Common trustees, former chairman Anthony Footitt, Peter Lambley, who was involved in much of the earlier renovation of the Common, representatives of Reepham Town Council and local residents who frequent the Common.

Upon release from the pen, the two handsome beasts wandered off, oblivious to all the fuss. They immediately started to do their job – tackling the vegetation and trimming the trees. They will be regularly checked for health and welfare, but an emergency phone number is on display on the Common should any problems occur.

All parts of the walk are accessible and the cattle are used to people. However, the trustees ask that dogs are kept on leads to prevent any stress to the cattle.

The grazing area will be carefully monitored and, depending on rainfall, it is hoped the animals can stay on the Common until October.

Daphne Ludgate

See our earlier stories:

• Grant to help reintroduce grazing on Whitwell Common
• Managing Whitwell Common to improve biodiversity
• Whitwell Common management plan moves forward

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Following the walk, bacon butties and hot or cold drinks will be provided, before the opening of the moth traps. These will have been set the night before and members of the Norwich Moth Group will identify the treasures found within.

The event is free, although any donations towards the cost of breakfast will be appreciated. Be prepared for an early start and wear waterproof footwear.

The walk will start from the main entrance to Whitwell Common by the old telephone box.

Directions to Whitwell Common

Leave Reepham on the Whitwell Road, past the high school on the right. Follow the road for approximately 1½ miles. After the S-bends and the high brick wall on the right, the wooden gate to the Common will appear, shortly afterwards, on the left. Take care when parking as space is limited.

If approaching from the A1067, turn down Nowhere Lane, continue past Blackwater cross country course and over Fiveways crossroads. Once over the narrow water arch, you will soon see the gate on the right-hand side.

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Daphne Ludgate

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The grant will be used to carry out the work needed to restore the rare fen habitat and reintroduce grazing to this Site of Special Scientific Interest, said Lin Garland, chairman of Whitwell Common trustees.

It is hoped the improved drainage, along with a carefully planned grazing programme, will help to expand the wildflower meadows and increase the biodiversity of the site.

The funds will also make it possible to reinstate the three ponds, creating a haven for frogs, toads, newts and many other species.

Ecologist Ed Stocker of Norfolk County Council, which, along with Natural England, oversees the site, said: “The Biffa Award grant will help us to move forward with the management and conservation of Whitwell Common at a time when future funding is uncertain and may be difficult to secure.”

Reepham Town Council provided more than £2,570 as a third-party contribution to enable the trustees to complete their application for the Biffa Award grant for the conservation fencing project.

Details of the timing of the work have yet to be announced.

See our earlier stories:

• Managing Whitwell Common to improve biodiversity
• Whitwell Common management plan moves forward

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Greg Bond (right) examining the moth traps

Neil Chadwick from the Hawk and Owl Trust at Sculthorpe led the walk, accompanied by Lin Garland, chairman of the trustees, Ed Stocker from Norfolk County Council and Dave Weaver from Natural England.

The birds were identified both by their songs and sightings, and among the many species present were sedge warblers, reed buntings, chiffchaffs and a whitethroat.

On returning from the walk at around 8 am, all were greeted by the aroma of freshly cooked bacon and many bacon rolls were devoured. Hot drinks were also appreciated before the opening of the moth traps, which were set up the night before.

Greg Bond, an expert on the subject, led us through the precious finds and educated us about the different types of traps that had been used, their technical details and purchase costs.

Owing to the unsuitable weather conditions and early time of year, there were only a handful of moths to observe. But the emerald carpet (green background with marbled pattern), Quaker (covered in a golden sheen) and Hebrew character were memorable examples of a huge group of insects rarely seen by most people.

Lin Garland had set up bat recording equipment on the nights of 1-3 May. This records each bat’s high frequency calls, which are then analysed and identified. The results were fascinating and many were surprised by the list of bats found, including common pipistrelle, soprano pipistrelle, noctule, Natterer’s and brown long-eared bats.

The equipment is available to borrow from the Hawk and Owl Trust for anyone interested in surveying a particular area; the results are then included in the Norfolk Bat Survey. There were also leaflets from the Bat Conservation Trust available.

The open morning certainly illustrated the diversity of species to be found on the site and reinforced the special status of Whitwell Common to all who attended.

Daphne Ludgate, Trustee, Whitwell Common

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