Newsletter Spring 2020

pring comes very early this year – delivery of environmental benefits. more connected habitat, which is es- at least for this RGCG Newsletter. From now on there will be much dis- sential for the recovery of much de- SWe look back to our articles last cussion on the detail on what the pleted populations of many species Autumn on the award winning Hole benefits might be, the policies for de- since WW2. This was a major feature Farm Hempstead and the Landscapes livery and the payments to farmers. in the Landscapes Review Final Report Review, which looked for changes for There will be a transition period of proposals, to which we made a further AONBs, and in particular the aim of seven years starting in 2021. Central response. For the wildlife aspects, see boosting wildlife. We now have the to this will be the new Environmental the main article. By coincidence this New Agriculture Bill, published on the Land Management Scheme (ELMS), was sent on the same day that the New 17th January, which sets the scene phased in to replace the former land- Agriculture Bill was published. The for farming policies following our de- based subsidies of EU Common Agri- other articles also relate to farming parture from the EU. cultural Policy. and land management, a longstanding The main aim remains unchanged We consider that a targeted ap- interest which will continue. since the first bill in 2018. The sys- proach to ELMS can protect the health tem of direct payment, based largely of our soil and water resource, not just AGM: Natural Surroundings Bayfield on the amount of land, will be re- for wildlife but also the public water on Wednesday 1st July at 2 pm. placed by the use of public money supply. There is also the potential for Meadow flowers and Highland cattle for public goods, in particular for the our wildlife to have more habitat and in view. All members welcome. Restoring ponds in the upper Glaven system Carl Sayer, Helen Greaves, David Downes, UCL

orfolk abounds with ponds in its Thus far two, two and five Bodham- fertile farmland. Farmers invari- Baconsthorpe ponds were restored in Nably call their ponds “pits” re- 2011, 2014 and 2017 respectively, flecting their origins as marl and clay with a number of overgrown ponds workings especially of the 17th-19th in the patch left as controls. One of centuries; marl pits, largely found in the restored ponds, known as Sayer’s North , were once used to de- Black Pit, is especially loved by one rive a lime-rich clay to improve soils, of the authors. All ponds, which were whilst the clay pits of South Norfolk heavily overgrown prior to restora- provided clay for building, in the form tion, especially by willow scrub, were of unfired “clay lump”. In addition, restored by major scrub and mud many ponds were deliberately exca- removal following the Richard Wad- vated to water horses and cattle in the dingham recipe for success. In addi- days before the tractor ruled the fields. tion, two ponds restored in 2011 have Conversations with older Norfolk received subsequent scrub manage- farmers and farm workers over the last ment. The restoration process usually few years reveal that, perhaps until the takes around one day and involves 1960s-70s, Norfolk farmland ponds large-scale removal of woody vegeta- were subject to frequent scrub and tree tion, especially on the south and west management and were generally kept sides of the pond, with some scrub open to the sun. In the Autumn, farm generally left on the east and north workers would trim out the pits just as sides. After the tree work is finished they would cut the hedges. This was mud removal is undertaken from at done partly to provide work for farm la- least half of the pond. In removing the bourers after harvest and to keep them mud care is taken not to disturb the out of trouble; note that after harvest clay base of the pond and also when fights were known in the fields fuelled highly organic seedy layers are seen by beer and cider! But also, in the past, they are left in place – you will see why ponds were important to local culture we do this as you read on. and village childhoods were spent fish- Following restoration, all of the ing and catching newts from them – ponds have responded very quickly people just didn’t want their precious turning from shady, leafy, dark and ponds to get too overgrown. One of the plantless places, into a sunny, plant- authors (Carl Sayer) certainly started filled state (Figure 1). The speed of colo- his pond career by fishing for crucian nisation of plants has been incredible, carp in the Bodham area. Figure 1. Shooting Close Pond (a) which we now know is due to long-lived Inspired by the great Richard Wad- before, (b) during, and (c) two years seedbanks – remarkably, seeds of water dingham of Manor Farm Briston, and after restoration by scrub and sedi- plants that are centuries old can liter- feeding into the Norfolk Ponds Proj- ment removal in September 2014 ally spring back to life when exposed. It ect and the wider work of the RGCG, (Photos: Carl Sayer). seems likely that this longevity of seeds since 2011 the University College Lon- in the deep muds of ponds may make don (UCL) Pond Restoration Research after restoration, with some ponds them even better than the Kew Millenni- Group, has been opening up ponds to in the area left overgrown as control um seedbank at conserving seed diver- the light in the Bodham-Baconsthorpe sites. Surveys have focused on pond sity for water plants (maybe don’t men- area of the Glaven catchment. In this plants, invertebrates (with adult drag- tion this to them though!). Ponds can work much help has been provide onfly surveys painstakingly under- thus act as time-capsules – yet another by RGCG members including Henry taken by the brilliant Bernard Daw- reason to treasure ponds and evidence Crawley (on chainsaw), Ian Shepherd, son), amphibians, fishes, pollinators, that disturbing them, in the way that we Tony Leech and Lorraine Marks. At farmland birds and, thanks to some do, as perhaps beavers, floods and large the same time parallel research has Bodham locals (see below), even mam- herbivores likely did in the distant past, been examining the benefits of manag- mals. We are now at a good point to re- is a good and appropriate thing to do. ing ponds for wildlife. To this effect we veal some key early findings and there Since restoration the pond land- have been surveying ponds before and is a great deal that is positive to say. scape has seen major increases (at

2 RGCG Newsletter least three times more) in the rich- breeding season releases of emerg- ness of aquatic plant species present ing adult stages of Non-biting Midge across the ponds. In particular, a larvae (Chironomidae) and of Mayflies number of rare species have turned (Ephemeroptera) from the ponds in up and even become dominant for a conjunction with the occurrence of short time (typically in post-restora- early successional bramble habitat. tion years 1 and 2), including beauti- Basically birds are able to nest next ful, yet seldom recorded stoneworts to an abundant and incredibly nu- (e.g. Nitella flexilis, Nitella opaca and tritious food source at the restored Tolypella glomerata for all you plant ponds. Jon’s research has showed lovers), which form bright green car- that restored open ponds release up pets on the pond bed. The most com- to 25x more emerging invertebrates mon colonist of the ponds has been than shaded over ponds – they liter- the Broad-leaved Pondweed Potamo- ally operate as insect chimneys. Fi- geton natans that covers the water nally, UCL PhD student Richard Wal- surface with spoon-like leaves (Fig- ton has shown restored ponds, due ure 1c) that are ideal egg-laying lo- to the natural development of beds cations for the Great Crested Newt of different wildflowers around their Triturus cristatus. Indeed, we now edges, to act as hotspots for pollina- know that the later species is pres- tors (Figure 4) with this especially ent and breeding in eight of our re- true of bees and hoverflies. There is stored ponds, compared to just three clearly more to the humble farmland prior to the restoration works. Plus, pond than meets the eye and that is we have seen substantial increases why we are working so hard to bring in Common Frog Rana temporaria the Glaven’s ponds back to life. populations as judged from counts So what is next and what does this of frog spawn clumps. The diversity mean for the River Glaven more gener- of freshwater invertebrate species ally? Well in the future we hope to re- has increased substantially follow- store more ponds in the headwaters of ing restoration with occurrence also other Glaven tributaries. We now have of rare species such as the enormous a pond restoration formula that works Great Silver Water Beetle Hydrophi- and which delivers big benefits for lus piceus (Figure 2) and importantly wildlife and yet to the farmer there is the elegant, and appropriately named very little loss of good farmland – all we Scarce Emerald DragonflyLestes ask for is a buffer around each pond. dryas. In total Bernard Dawson has It might be that the ponds are more recorded a remarkable twenty three important than anyone could possibly dragonfly species (Figure 3) as visit- know for Glaven wildlife, acting like ing upper Glaven farmland ponds stepping stones for various species as after restoration. The pond restora- they crawl, fly and run through the tion work has also been the focus landscape. The ponds effectively form of a British Ecological Society (BES) a corridor of hospitable food-rich ter- funded “Citizen Science” project at ritory that follows the river up to its Bodham (called the Great Twin Pond source. Dig) with local people in the area For more information on the Norfolk monitoring the ponds at Church Ponds Project see: https://norfolk- Farm before and after the restoration pondsbig50.org/ and also check out @ of two ponds over 2016-2018. As well norfolkponds on Twitter. On the afore- as recording changes in water chem- mentioned website you can also find a istry and amphibians to the highest short film made about Briston farmer level, the brilliant Bodham team have Richard Waddingham – the inspiration had camera traps out to help capture for all of the above. mammal visits to the ponds. This has revealed some pretty exciting find- Note: ings, including evidence of Red Deer The Norfolk Ponds Project is a partner- visiting one of the restored ponds in ship of several NGOs including Univer- late summer 2019 as water started Figure 2. Specimen of the rare and sity College London, Norfolk Wildlife to disappear from the main Glaven enormous Great Silver Water Beetle Trust, Norfolk Farming and Wildlife tributary stream. At this time the re- captured from a restored farmland Advisory Group, Norfolk Rivers Trust, stored ponds provided some of the pond near Baconsthorpe National Trust, Norfolk Biodiversity only drinking water in the area. (Photo: Carl Sayer). Partnership, Norfolk Non-native Spe- But there is more! Research by cies Initiative and Norfolk County Jonathan Lewis for his UCL PhD Figure 3. Broad-bodied Chaser drag- Council. In 2019 the project won the (now Dr Lewis of Norfolk Rivers onfly(Photo: Bernard Dawson). Norfolk Campaign for the Protection of Trust) has shown restored Bodham- Rural England Best Campaign Award Baconsthorpe ponds to support dou- Figure 4. Riot of wild flowers (in this as well as the Chartered Institute of ble the number of farmland birds case Hairy Buttercup) at a restored Ecology and Environmental Manage- compared to neighbouring scrubbed Baconsthorpe area pond, June 2019 ment NGO Impact Award. Now that is over ponds. This is due to huge (Photo: Carl Sayer). a lot of acronyms!

Spring 2020 3 Landscapes Review Maps For The Proposed Extension Of The Norfolk Coast AONB And A Nature Recovery Network

Dr Ian Shepherd

his document supplements the these two river systems. The award ment in their respective connectivity eight page evidenced main pro- came from a bid made by the Norfolk raises the prospect of a strategy for a Tposal on landscape, planning and Coast AONB, but as well as resulting Nature Recovery Network from north wildlife. It visualises the connectivity in the success of innovative projects, to east coast. The main hurdle is over- in ecological terms. It can also be read it was a welcome recognition that riv- coming the headwaters ‘break’ be- ‘standalone’ by those with a specific er systems have to be managed on a tween the two rivers flowing north and interest on this topic. A response was whole catchment basis. the two others flowing to the east. made to the review consultation pro- The long term maintenance of these Connectivity between the north and cess, and most importantly, having improvements depends on further re- east rivers is already helped by the absorbed the recommendations made ductions in what has always been a presence at the headwaters of Glaven in the Review Final Report. We there- problem, the risks from arable run- and Stiffkey with habitat of hedge- fore were able to make a more coher- off; over recent decades not just soil row, scrub, grassland and woodland; ent and focussed document than was loss, but the nutrients and pesticides but usually there is the predominance possible to achieve in answering the that come with it. On the Glaven in of intensive arable agriculture. This 24 consultation questions. The evi- particular, major advances have been could be targeted for improvement by dence comes from two sources. These achieved in the lower and middle conversion of some of the arable land are planning, landscape and water re- reaches, mainly by use of large field to these habitats, again by a selective source experience in CPRE, and rivers margins. However the problem stub- use for ELMS. This is especially the and biodiversity with the River Glaven bornly remains in the upper reaches of case for crops such as potatoes and Conservation Group, for 30 and 20 the two rivers. The remedy lies with the sugar beet, on a slope, and close to a years respectively. I also add that the additional priority that would be given ditch, tributary or the main river. Over author is one of five community repre- by the Environmental Land Manage- a period of time there will be sediment sentatives for the North Norfolk Coast ment Scheme (ELMS) being applied movement from the upper reaches to AONB. to high risk fields and high risk crops, the sea. So this approach both reduc- The core objectives have not changed especially at the river headwaters. So es pollution from arable run-off to the with the need to justify the proposed we see here an exemplar approach for river system and also strengthens the AONB variation in area on the basis the Glaven and Stiffkey to the benefit ecological network. From a climate of the landscape value, and crucially of wildlife. change view, tree and hedgerow plant- would also result in a major boost for The benefits do not stop there. The ing is part of the locational triple func- wildlife; and more so again by opening ‘raw’ water for domestic water supply tion for river ecology, connectivity and up the opportunity for a Nature Re- is either abstracted as surface water climate change. In as far as aquifers covery Network which links the North from rivers and the treatment involves are concerned there is, by virtue of less coast to the East through our river settling out of silt in lagoons; and nu- intensive arable land a reduction in systems. We focus here on biodiversity trients and pesticides carried with it the diffuse pollution by rainwater and and land management. make significant challenges for water the percolation of rain water through The whole of the North Norfolk Coast companies to be compliant within le- the soil. carries the highest designations for gal requirements. The ELMS approach Since 2011 restoration work on wildlife sites – Ramsar, Special Area of would also see less diffuse agri-chem- farmland ponds, inspired by a local Conservation, and Special Protection ical pollution in the aquifers, with ab- farmer in the area between Glaven Area. The Blakeney Lagoon and Blak- straction by borehole being also the and Bure headwaters, the very sig- eney Point, and west to Scolt Head, are major source for ‘raw water’ nificant contribution that these can at the centre of the AONB coastline. Our river systems are the most im- make only became fully recognised in The largest and most important of the portant and significant in the wider 2016. The colonisation by wildlife can North Norfolk chalk rivers, Glaven and ecological network. In the network the be very quick, whether lost in the past Stiffkey, both flow into the sea, via the weakest point is at the headwaters by back-filling, or neglect and loss of coastal lagoon at Blakeney Point. How- of two adjacent river systems. In this sunlight by encroaching trees and the ever the current AONB boundary cuts case we are talking of the Glaven and accumulation of rotting leaves and silt. both their catchments in half. Much of Bure; and the Stiffkey and Wensum. There will remain a seed bank, and the award of a Defra Catchment Resto- The Glaven and Stiffkey flow into the cleaning out brings it back to life. With ration Fund of £1.3m in 2012-15 was north coast; the Bure and Wensum the aquatic plants other species follow. spent on major restoration projects on flow into the east coast. An improve- The benefit extends to providing the

4 RGCG Newsletter stepping stones across an otherwise Map 1. The Natura 2000 map shows Map 4 shows the detail of the inhospitable habitat (the NPPF words). the location of the Ramsar, SAC and Glaven river system and the major The combination of such measures SPA sites along the north coast, and projects on it. A big uplift in these makes for a strengthened ecological also the inland SACs and came from the Defra CRF grant. network from the north coast to the Sculthorpe Nature Reserve. Blakeney Note these are at risk while ara- ‘flow-east’ pathway of the Bure and Point is central here; the Glaven and ble run-off events still persist. The the Wensum/Yare across the Broads Bure are not shown. headwaters of the Bure are clos- National Park to the east coast. These est at top right hand side, the area rivers, and with them the Broads, do Map 2 is the Norfolk Coast AONB. Due between Lower Bodham and Ba- suffer greatly from arable run-off, and to scale there is only the main river consthorpe Castle. All projects are have much exposure because they shown; however it shows well the Bure reported in the twice yearly News- have much larger catchments than and Wensum/Yare going through the letters of the River Glaven Conser- Glaven and Stiffkey. This is in spite Broads National Park, and the flow vation Group, Spring and Autumn. of the efforts of the National Trust on into the coastal lagoon, These are held on the RGCG web- the Bure and a group of farms collab- and the sea on the east coast. To the site. Newsletter articles are coded orating on the upper Wensum; and the north are the Winterton-Horsey Dunes by S=Spring and A=Autumn. The SAC status of the Wensum bringing SAC, within the AONB eastern outlier. number is the last two digits of the extra resource. But the aim of a Nature The western AONB outlier has a large year. We reference some projects as Recovery Network raises the priority to area of mudflats (Ramsar), examples. Project 1. A07, pages 1, boost support through land manage- Bog (SAC) and Roydon 4-6; see also S10, page 6 for a case ment and ELMS funding. Common (Ramsar). study of RGCG, RCEP pollution re- Finally we make the point that there port. Project 2. A10, pages 5-10, are other SACs on this wildlife highway Map 3 centre shows the intertwining river restoration by sculpting new that are water dependent bodies. There Stiffkey and Glaven river catchments, sections of channel, and weaving in is the unique mix of wetland plants at and some information on this. To the to sections of the existing channel. Holt Lowes, and the wonderful nature west is the River Burn which has no Project 6b. A14 pages 1 and 6-10. reserve at Sculthorpe Moor. The net- close connections inland; but indi- New river of 1.2 km length. Project 9, work would connect the many north rect along the shoreline and marshes Selbrigg Pond. A17, pages 5-8. Re- coast sites of high wildlife designa- to the Glaven and Stiffkey corridor. pair of the retaining wall without tions to the wider countryside inland We look to extend the AONB to the loss or damage to pond and wet to the east coast. This includes County full catchment area of these two riv- woodland habitat. Project 11. A16, Wildlife Sites, such as the chalk rivers, ers, not the just the current north- pages 1-2 Farmland Ponds. Also ponds and lakes as well as other hab- ern half. The Glaven catchment area article at pages 4-50 on water, soil itats. As is well recognised individual is 92 sq km, including the Thornage and agriculture. Lead via Norman high designated sites are at the risk of Beck,the main tributary sub-catch- Lamb MP to an interaction with deteriorating by isolation in the longer ment at 15 sq km. The Stiffkey catch- Michael Gove in late 2017, refer- term, and more so with the impacts of ment area is 135 sq km, including ence MC2017/1234/MH. Norman climate change. Connectivity is key to the Binham Stream tributary area of Lamb ZA30251-JK their survival in the future. 36 sq km.

Map 1

Spring 2020 5 Map 2 Map 4 (opposite)

Map 3

6 RGCG Newsletter Projects

1 Little Thornage Meadow 2006 7 Thornage Beck 2012-2013 Channel restoration and flood plain re-connection. Stream channel restoration.

2 Hunworth Meadow 2010 8 Upper Glaven 2009 ongoing Channel restoration. Silt prevention.

3 Water Lane tributary 2015 ongoing 9 Selbrigg Pond 2014-2015 Signal crayfish removal. Desilting and repair of retaining dam.

4 Thornage 2015 ongoing 10 Bayfield lower meadow 2015 White-clawed crayfish re-location to River Stiffkey. Flood plain re-connection.

5 Mill 2012-2013 11 Farmland pond restoration The project started in Fish pass and channel restoration. 2011, and gained recognition in 2016 with an award from the WWT. Enabling ecological connection with 6 Bayfield Lake Bure catchment. a) De-silting. 2012 b) Channel diversion from tunnel to surface (1.2km). 2014

Spring 2020 7 Glaven Farmers Group

Regular meetings of local Glaven farmers are facilitated by the Nor- folk Farmers Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG). There are many similar groups around the coun- try, and the facilitator and training costs are met by Natural England. The Glaven Group is facilitated by Charlie Ennals. The idea is to bring farmers and land managers together to work collaboratively on improving the natural environment on a land- scape scale, learning from each other and other experts to deliver better soil health, water quality and wildlife. These are some of the most im- portant priorities for the wellbeing of the River Glaven and the RGCG is delighted that this Group is active. The aims of the River Glaven Con- servation Group have always rec- ognised that river conservation is a non-starter without the friendly co- operation of riparian land owners. The most important aspect of the group is that it provides a forum for local farmers to meet and talk about farming issues and practices which Highland Cattle return to the Glaven you wish to meet them, they are very can have a beneficial environmen- friendly despite the intimidating horns. tal impact. With the major changes Highland Cattle have made a welcome Of course, dogs must be on leads and foreseen in the Environmental Land return to conservation grazing on the won’t be quite so welcome by the cows. Management Scheme (ELMS) short- Glaven meadows between Bayfield and Michael and Mandy Jobson who own ly to be introduced by the DEFRA, Glandford. Since recent (2015) work the herd hope to extend conservation payment by environmental benefit to improve the meadows by selective grazing locally and have some hardy are likely to be most received by bank lowering (which improves flood Herdwick Sheep that we are introduc- farmers who are good at the sort of control), and the creation of freshwater ing to another riverside meadow. land management that this group scrapes for birdlife, there has been a Co-incidentally, the cattle having discusses. need to manage the meadow growth, eaten the meadow well down led to Mi- As has been highlighted frequently which is too wet for most cattle and chael and Mandy finding a dead Per- in our Newsletters, reducing silt in- sheep. egrine Falcon in the grass there. As gress into the River is vital to main- Highland cattle are ideally suited reported in the local press, this was tain the health and biodiversity of a to rough grazing and can maintain a a male juvenile fledged from Cromer Chalk stream like the Glaven. Vari- balance, preventing reversion to Alder Church, which had flown into the ous ways that farmers can help with and Sallow scrub that would be unde- power cables running across the val- this are known and are part of the sirable for wildflowers etc. Fortunately ley and broken its neck. Learner driver ongoing work of this Group. An ex- two local shepherds with an interest in fast car! Perhaps another reason to ample of this is Hole Farm Hemp- in conservation grazing, have acquired bury cabling in an AONB, as has been stead, which in 2018 received the six lovely cows who are now chomping undertaken nearby recently for visual FWAG annual reward (see previous their way through the meadows below benefit. Newsletter) Natural Surroundings. The footpath to Glandford crosses the meadow. If Henry Crawley Henry Crawley

River Glaven Conservation Group We aim to work in Henry Crawley Chairman 01263 713306 friendly collaboration email: [email protected] with landowners and Ian Shepherd Secretary 01263 713370 farmers, conservation [email protected] organisations and Anne Rolfe Treasurer & Membership Secretary 01263 741125 relevant public bodies. [email protected] Web site www.riverglaven.co.uk