ISSUE 22 August 2018 Trails, Martineau Lane, Norwich, Norfolk, NR1 2DH Tel: 0344 800 8020 E-mail: [email protected]

This Issue:

Hellesdon Station 1 platform reclamation The Norfolk Trails team have been out working with the Marriott’s Introducing our 3 Way Heritage Trail project to reclaim the old railway platform on Coastal Treasures Trainees the site of where Hellesdon Station once stood. The platform sits alongside Marriott’s Way and had been long forgotten about. Trees Marriott’s Way 4 circular walks and had begun to grow out of the brickwork and the platform was cycle loops entirely covered by ivy. It was completely unrecognisable as a Conservation 5 opportunities by railway platform with only a corner of it visible amongst all the TCV vegetation. Little Ouse Path 6 works continue

Boudicca way 6

Cutting 9 contractors in full swing

Responsive tree 10 work

The tube map is 11 Back

School sessions 12 with the Marriott’s Way Heritage Trail

Honing Station 14 heritage reclamation Where’d the 15

interns go?

Last autumn, the trails team removed some of the trees that were growing on and in front of the platform to prevent them from causing further damage to the brickwork. The platform was completely uncovered and became much more recognisable. This summer, work on the platform recommenced, which involved scraping back all of the vegetation growing on the platform surface and relaying and repointing the brickwork that had become damaged from

www.norfolk.gov.uk/trails the tree growth. 1

Before After

This summer, work on the platform recommenced, which involved scraping back all of the vegetation growing on the platform surface and relaying and repointing the brickwork that had become damaged from the tree growth. A gravel surface was laid down on the platform and the final finishing touch was the installation of a bench and a replica Hellesdon Station sign on the platform. It is now much easier to visualise how the station would have looked when it was in use. The hard work put into the project was celebrated with an open day in June, which showed off the platform work and also allowed people from the local community to get involved with a

number of led walks, cycle rides, biodiversity searches and information gathering about the project. Over 150 people enjoyed the day and gave some great feedback on the platform work that had been carried out. The photo to the left shows some of the people enjoying the newly restored platform.

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Ben Grapes Hello. Fear not, this stern looking chap isn’t a red bearded warrior from a fresh Viking invasion landing at Holme-Next- The-Sea; it’s me, Benjiman Grapes. I’m writing this bio four weeks into starting a new position with the Norfolk Trails Team at County Hall as a trainee. I’ve been volunteering with the team on and off since May 2016 helping with public access infrastructure with the aim of gaining experience and finding work in the field. This is a complete change in career for me as I previously worked as a project manager for a signage company & headed up a dot com framing workshop. The new trainee position has been brought together to install and promote a collection of new walks and cycle routes along the coast line. Just two weeks in and I’ve walked miles along the coast & through neighbouring villages auditing, built a kissing gate, a ligger bridge, installed finger posts and realigned a public footpath to its rightful place. Baptism of fire would be a good description of how quickly and involving this position has been, but then it doesn’t feel like work when you love what you do!

Sam Holden Hello, I’m Sam and I’m one half of the newly appointed Norfolk Trails Trainees for the Coastal Treasures project! I’m half way through studying for an MA in Photography at NUA, where I have been looking at the relationship we have with the Coastline, so working for the Trails team is an amazing opportunity. Even though I’ve only been with the team for 5 weeks I have learnt so much already and I’m really enjoying the infrastructure element of the role, being outdoors and getting to explore West Norfolk. The Coastal Treasures project we’ve been tasked with is going to highlight some really stunning locations (and heritage with help from the Museum Trainees at the Lynn Museum!) and I’m buzzing to get going with it.

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As part of the Marriott’s Way Heritage Trail Project six new circular walks and three new cycle loops have been created and the signage has been installed over the spring and summer.

The walks aim to improve access to the countryside and are now ready to be enjoyed by everyone. For more information on these walks and cycle loops, a walks booklet has been created and will be available to pick up in a number of local businesses along Marriott’s Way. The booklet is available to download from the Marriott’s Way Heritage Trail website and each individual walk is outlined under the ‘Circular Routes’ section. Why not try out one of the new walks during a Marriott’s Way Heritage Trail led walk? To find out more visit the ‘what’s on’ page on the Marriott’s Way Heritage Trail website where free places can be booked. www.marriottsway.info/

As well as all the installation of all the new signage for the new routes, the Trails Team have been out replacing sections of handrails in Aylsham in order to increase safety and improve accessibility to the Marriott’s Way around the area. The works covered two sections of handrail: the first was a complete replacement of the old infrastructure as a lot had been broken off and any remaining material was in a dangerous state of decay. Whilst the second section was a great deal smaller in which we added around 25m of new fence that joined to the existing handrail.

Left - Section 1 handrail. Complete replacement of a r o u n d 1 5 0 m o f infrastructure.

Right - Section 2 handrail, Approximately 30m, replacement close to Tesco, Aylsham. 4

North Walsham conservation group

Date Site Activity Details of Timings and Locations Wed 22nd Honing Old Repairs and repainting of the old 12.40pm roadside by Train Station; 1pm August Station station buildings. on site at Weavers Way car park, Station Road between Meeting House Hill Road and Corner Common Road, Briggate, near Honing, NR28 9QX (TG 316 276).

Wed 29th Felmingham Getting ready for this site’s open 12 noon Cromer Cadogan Road car park, 12.20pm on August Railway day, tidying up the station building roadside by North Walsham train station, 12.30pm Cutting and platform. (approx) on site at Weavers Way car park, opposite Papworth’s Fruit Farm, Church Road, Felmingham (off B1145), NR28 0LL (TG 251 286).

Wed 5th Honing Old But it’s getting seriously close to 12.40pm roadside by North Walsham Train Station; 1pm September Station the Open Day now! Repairs to the on site at Weavers Way car park, Station Road between old station buildings, path Meeting House Hill Road and Corner Common Road, construction, etc. Briggate, near Honing, NR28 9QX (TG316276).

Wed 12th Honing Old Getting ready for the Heritage 12.40pm roadside by North Walsham Train Station; 1pm September Station Open Day. Painting, strimming, on site at Weavers Way car park, Station Road between fixing… Meeting House Hill Road and Corner Common Road, Briggate, near Honing, NR28 9QX (TG316276). Sat 15th Honing Old It’s the station open day, Weavers Way car park, Station Road between Meeting September Station celebrating the heritage, the hard House Hill Road and Corner Common Road, Briggate, work from all the volunteer’s over near Honing, NR28 9QX (TG316276). the last year . This is a free family event and will have experts around all day to share the stories of the station and of its importance within the railway network. Wed 19th Pigneys Raking up the meadows is a vital 12.40pm roadside by North Walsham train station; 1pm September Wood part of habitat management for on site at Pigneys Wood nature reserve car park, Hall wildflowers, which here include Lane, Knapton, NR28 0SH (TG 296 321). [Please note the snake's-head fritillary. NOT the Hall Lane in North Walsham].

If you would like to volunteer or find out more information regarding other volunteering groups across the county, visit https://www.tcv.org.uk/eastern/tcv-norfolk

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The trails team currently has a contractor out on the Little Ouse path delivering further access improvements on this route. This next tranche of work is being delivered between Brandon and the Little Ouse river sluice which will provide better access to both the sluice area and the sport and recreational facilities beyond the area. This route between Santon Downham and Brandon has been the most improved route on the Norfolk Trails Network with a series of access improvements being delivered including:  New bridge  New bridle way steps  New surface improvements  New signage

The Little Ouse Path is one of a number of trails in the Breckland region that range in size from 1.7 miles to 17miles in length. To explore the range of routes available or find out more information on any of the trails that cross Norfolk, Visit our webpage at

https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/out-and-about-in-norfolk/norfolk-trails

The picture to the right shows the path during the construction. The improvements will increase access year round to a larger number of persons and allow greater usage with less impact on the environment.

The Trails Team have been working hard over the last months to improve access and signage across the entire 36 miles of the Boudicca Way. We are happy to say that the entire route has been resigned from Diss station all the way to Norwich with 129 sets of signage covering addition of route waymarking discs, waymarker posts, larger finger posts and urban fingers that we attach to posts in urban areas. Along the route we have also been improving accessibility. This means that we have tried where possible to increase the accessibility. This could be changing steps or stiles to ramps or gates, improving surface conditions to allow for aided movement etc. (Continued on next page)

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The most recent works to have been completed are those in Stubbsgreen, Shotesham. The works here were to reinstate the path to the definite map location and working with land owners, we were able to complete the work, even in the blisteringly hot weather!

Here, as the photos show, was incredibly overgrown to a point that you wouldn’t think the path was supposed to go through at this point. The team opened up the hedge, installed signage and a new wheelchair accessible boardwalk bridge that has a perfectly shaped Ash tree trunk that just happens to make what may be one of the nicest natural handrails in the county (claimed by our intern Matthew) and carried out vegetation clearance in order to open up the route and ensure the most accessible route.

Couple this with future works that are happening in the locality not too far in the future and with the whole route having been completely re-signed from Diss to Norwich, we are very happy to have such an accessible walk. Not all sections are completely wheelchair friendly, but we have taken every measure that we can within project constraints to improve the access as much as is possible.

Couple this with planned future works, we are extremely happy with the the level of accessibility on Boudicca way.

(continued on next page)

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With all the new improvements to signage and accessibility, why not walk part of the route at and explore parts of 's stunning landscapes? For those more hardy walkers looking for a challenge, maybe a full route walk over a day or two is more for you! Take the train all the way out to Diss and walk the route back!

If you think that’s mad, then you’re probably right, but a group of students and teachers from Norwich High School for Girls decided to do just that!

The group walked the entire route in one day to raise money for Plan International UK.

They smashed it and despite the aches and pains, completed all 36miles in one go! They gave some great feedback on how great the signage was and how lovely the walk is, passing through all manner of landscapes.

To support their efforts why not head to their donation page https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ Kirsty-von-Malaise1

email: [email protected] Twitter: @NorfolkTrails @walkthetrail Facebook: NorfolkTrails

If you need this document in large print, audio, Braille alternative format or different language please contact the Norfolk Trail office and we will do our best to help.

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As part of the management of the Trails network the team has 3 contractors out cutting our trails and ensuring they are in the best condition of users. The trails network is over 1200 miles long and our contractors can’t be everywhere at once hence we are getting through the first cut before we start on the second cut at the end of July / start of August. The contractors are working through each of the cutting contracts in order to deliver a great walking experience. The first cut has just about been completed in time for us to get out again to start the second cut. The second cut should be completed in the next few weeks so if there is a section of our network that you know is yet to be cut, please be patient for a little while as it will be done soon. As part of the cutting contract the trails team often receive reports of trees down or blocking access. Last week the team went out on the Nar valley route to clear 6 reported trees. This turned out to be an under reporting with 10 trees requiring clearing. It took 2 chainsaw operators and 6 staff to get the route cleared of trees to allow the cutting contractors to get out onto site to carry out their works.

Before After

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As well as making sure that the cutting contractors are in place and the works are carried out in a timely fashion to ensure that the network is clear for everyone to enjoy, we also carry out reactive tree work to trees, limbs of trees or branches that have fallen onto or may fall onto, through weather conditions, disease or human interaction, any of the paths and trails we manage.

We often receive invaluable reports from members of the public regarding these matters, to which we aim to correct the problem as soon as we can. The more dangerous the problem the sooner we will have the issue dealt with. A few weeks ago we received a report of 6 trees that were in some way

blocking or causing issue on the Nar Valley. Unfortunately for us, this turned out to be less than what was there and in total 10 trees were cleared and using 5 members of our team, armed with 2 chainsaws, winches and lots of other safety equipment to rid the area of some small softwood trees (pictured below) and 2 extremely challenging yew trees that had been wind thrown and were lying in very precarious positions (above). These works allowed the cutting contractors to access the area and carry out the vegetation cuts.

If you see any trees or any other such issues along any of the Trails network, pass on this information to us via our contact email on [email protected]

Before After tree works and cutting carried out. 10

Following the success of the Norfolk Trails Tube Map we have been looking at creating some of these based on a more local trails network starting from local towns The first area we have looked at is the Great Yarmouth area. The simplicity and accessibility of the original idea really translates onto some of our routes and provides complicated information in a really simple format. Please let us know what you think of the idea and the tube maps and what areas you’d like to see in this format!

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The Marriott’s Way Heritage Trail project has been going for just over a year now, during which time we have worked with 12 different schools to deliver nearly 70 sessions for pupils around the county. Whether riding the brake van at Whitwell Station, or building nests for clay creatures in Costessey, it has been fantastic to see so many young people out on Marriott’s Way A member of Aylsham High School's Eagles decides on a suitable loca- and engaging with the historic and natural tion for his Geocache environment. The next academic year will bring many more learning opportunities, but with this one behind us, and after a very busy summer term, it’s good to reflect on what’s happened so far. This year has seen ongoing work with two high school nurture groups, who have worked extremely hard all year on everything from habitat management tasks to Geocaching trails. We are often told these days that children are becoming ever more insulated; staying indoors more than ever and amused only by technology. If anything has challenged that this year for me, it has been the endless capacity for play and exploration demonstrated by these year 7s on their visits to Marriott’s Way. Pupils from primary schools around Norfolk have also travelled to Whitwell Station, for sessions on Victorian engineering, WW2, and poetry. As part of these days, children have the chance to ride in railway carriages or wave from the brake van; a definite highlight for many of them. For other schools, walking to their nearby stretch of Marriott’s Way has enabled a greater understanding of the local area and provided inspiration for artwork, poetry and natural investigation. Whether using natural materials to create land art in Aylsham, performing railway poems on Anderson’s Meadow, or going pond dipping in Costessey, the path holds endless opportunities for creativity and scientific enquiry. Next academic year, we will be working with a final year Biological Sciences student from UEA to deliver Field Studies Council-inspired day courses for schools across the county. The sessions on offer will include: team challenges, pond dipping, environmental art, minibeast investigation, shelter building and woodland tree

Whitwell Station through the eyes of a year 2 ID.

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Clay creature creations by year 2s from St. Michael's C of E Infant School, Aylsham Some schools have worked to create heritage trails and guidebooks for their own local stretch of Marriott’s Way. After walking their proposed routes, researching historical and environmental information, and creating illustrations for their guides, we might just have found some future Norfolk Trails employees… It’s been a brilliant year on Marriott’s Way, with so much more to come. I’m endlessly grateful for the opportunity to go outside with these young people, and to witness every time the huge value of learning outdoors, and the perpetual wonders of nature, even - or maybe especially - when it’s almost on your doorstep. As usual, the kids say it best, so I’ll sign off with some quotes from the year 1 pupils of St Michael’s C of E in Aylsham, which happen to encapsulate pretty succinctly my own favourite things about Marriott’s Way.

For more information about any of our learning offer, please visit marriottsway.info/learning

Comments from three year 1s about their experiences learning on Marriott's Way

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Works on Honing station continued from30th July to 2nd August when I went out to site to work with a digger contractor to scrape all the vegetation out from along the old track bed between the two platforms and to add around 40 tonnes of aggregate material onto sections of the carpark surface and on access points that we graded out.

These few days have added to what we have already carried out at the station previously. This included felling and thinning a portion of the tree population that were in horrid spots or which obscured the heritage that is in place.

As well as us performing the large scale reclamation using machinery and tending to the projects that that were dependant on large numbers of trails officers, The Conservation Volunteers have been working tirelessly on Wednesday afternoon’s week in, week out to complete other jobs on the station. TCV have been painting the platform tops and the old hut that stands atop the platform, reclaiming some of the old railway ballast that was uncovered underneath the vegetation on the track bed, opening up an old cattle pen that exists at the station along with many other jobs to have the station ready for its open day on 15th September.

The open day is a free family event that will have numerous people with wealth’s of knowledge on the station and the railway. Why not come along to learn about the railway, see the work that has been carried out and enjoy a picturesque walk along the Weavers Way. The event runs from 11am to 3pm. For more information to come, stay tuned by following our social media sites.

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On Saturday 27th May a wildlife Bio blitz took place on the Marriott’s way at Hellesdon Station, with the focus on learning more about the wildlife on the trail.

The site extends north from the station, between the Marriott’s Way to the south and the River Wensum in the north and supports a wide range of habitats which include woodland, rivers edge and grassland allowing a wide variety of species to be recorded. This included species more typical of wet, riparian habitats such as Kingfisher, Dragonflies and Damselflies and Southern Marsh Orchids which formed a striking display in the wet meadows. In the broadleaved woodlands, Ferns, Wood Avens and Wood Dock were recorded on the ground, with species such as Chiffchaff, Cole Tit and Robin seen in the canopy. Where the railway used to be, drier grasslands were abundant with early summer flowers including Wild Carrot, Ox-eye Daisy, Yellow Rattle and Chalk Knapweed. Across the site Butterflies were well recorded with twelve species being seen in total, many during the guided butterfly walk which took place led by Butterflies County Recorder Andy Brazil. Species seen included Speckled Wood, Ringlet and Large, Small and Essex Skipper.

Gall recorder Anne Hickley, also reported much of interest at the site seeing nineteen gall species which was many more than she was expecting and came from many different host species such as Oak, Hazel and Nettle.

Many thanks to all those who attended and contributed records and expertise.

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This year you’ve probably seen a fairly large presence by both of our interns Oli and Matthew on social media, within this newsletter or maybe you’ve bumped into them whilst they’ve been out on the trails.

Sadly though, we say our fond farewell to both as their time at Norfolk Trails has come to an end as they both heads back to university to finish their degrees in Environmental Science.

From the quiet and shy interns that walked in the door to the independent, reliable and all around great guys that are now leaving us, I believe I can speak on behalf of the entire team when I say there’ll be a gap left where they, as well as previous interns have all played such a big part in the team, giving us plenty of laughs or breaking the odd thing along the way.

A huge good luck to them both in finishing their degrees and in the ventures they choose to pursue afterwards! They’ve written us a small piece each showing what they’ve been a part of.

Oli Gray

I’ve had an absolutely fantastic year with Norfolk Trails as one half of their “UEA Year in Industry” position. It’s been incredibly useful for my degree and I’ve learnt so many transferrable skills. From filming the Google Street View on the National Trails, to falling in a ditch when installing a sign post on Boudicca Way, I’ve had so many experiences with the team which I’ll always remember!

One of my main projects during the year was re-signing and promoting Boudicca Way. Installing over 125 pieces of new signage required us all to pull together as a team to get the job done, and is a brilliant example of how we’ve worked together to deliver a big project! Most of the leaflet has been designed and the team are putting the finishing touches to it before printing. As well as promoting walking on this route, we’re really looking forward to engaging with local businesses on or near the Boudicca Way, so look out for that too!

A highlight for me was the Beeston Bump resurfacing project (and not just because I was on Annual Leave during the snowy period!). Watching the helicopter deliver all that aggregate was really immense, and it’s so good to know the path I helped to build will be well used for years to come!

Finally I’d like to thank the whole Norfolk Trails team for this fantastic opportunity I’ve had over the past year! Thank you! 16

Matthew Mulligan

Beginning to write this, my last piece of work before I tidy the mess of papers in my locker, on my last day as an intern is a little sad. Somewhat naively I came to the position and didn't know just how much I’d enjoy the job or how valuable the skills I’d gain would be. Now at the end of my placement I can say that every day I have learnt something new, be that on presenting to a stakeholder group, how to drive machinery, legalities of the work or just remembering to take holidays.

I can definitely say ;that countryside management is broadly a career I’d love to follow, quite a drastic change to career aspirations of being a pilot before I started the job! Having been given the opportunity to work on so many fantastic projects throughout my year has allowed me to find a new found appreciation for forestry and is now something I hope to pursue. Its hard to determine whether this is because I love being outside, whether its for the interest in the science behind industrial forestry or whether I just really like playing with machinery. Either way, I wouldn’t have found the path if it weren’t for this year and the team.

Other projects I was lucky to be involved with were the Beeston Bump resurfacing, Google Trekking the National Trails— Coast path and Peddar’s Way, signing all over the county, heritage works along the multitude of routes on old dismantled railways or my main project looking into green infrastructure within Wymondham.

A huge thank you to all of the team and all of the extended environment team that answered my thousands of questions or accidental breaking of a windscreen with a signpost. It’s been a pleasure to work alongside such highly skilled and great people.

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NBIS EVENTS by Nicola Dixon

NWT Workshop Grasshoppers and Crickets, Saturday 25 August 2018, 10.30- 15.30, Sheringham Park National Trust (with ) They provide a soundtrack to the summer, but how much do you know about these fascinating insects? There are 27 native species of grasshoppers and crickets (Orthoptera) in Britain and around half of these occur in Norfolk. This workshop focuses on the identification and ecology of the group, with both indoor and outdoor sessions. Cost £24. For further information and to book go to https://tinyurl.com/ybh35bry

Holkham Pines to Gun Hill & back, Sunday16 September, 10:30 – 14:00, Holkham National Nature Reserve, Lady Anne's Drive, Wells-next-the-Sea, NR23 1RG. General natural history including migrant birds, with Andy Bloomfield: see some of the rich wildlife featured in Andy’s Holkham NNR talk to the Society in January this year. Park (free to NNNS members) and meet near the far end of Lady Ann’s Drive at TF 890447 (nearest postcode: NR23 1RJ). For Information on this and other NNNS events please visit https://tinyurl.com/y8bt3s6m

SYWG Pond Wildlife Workshop, Sununday 23 September, 12:00 – 16:00, Wheatfen Broad - Ted Ellis Trust, Surlingham, Norwich, NR14 7AL. Join the South Yare Wildlife Group for an afternoon workshop on the wildlife found in ponds. Cost: Non-members £10; members £6. Booking essential: 01508 538157 For Information on this and other NNNS events please visit https://tinyurl.com/y8bt3s6m

Fungi Workshop, Saturday 29 September, 10:00 – 16:00, Ted Ellis Trust, Wheatfen Tutor: Tony Leech After an introduction and advice on how to approach identification, we will make a short foray to collect specimens for identification. Field guides will be available together with guidance in using them. Cost £15. Book at [email protected]. For Information on this and other NNNS events please visit https://tinyurl.com/y8bt3s6m

email: [email protected] Twitter: @NorfolkTrails @walkthetrail Facebook: NorfolkTrails

If you need this document in large print, audio, Braille alternative format or different language please contact the Norfolk Trail office and we 18