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Newsletter for Breaking New Ground Landscape Partnership Scheme June 2015

A newsflash for project partners and participants with news items , project updates, special features and forthcoming events.

LtoR: Nick Dickson (BNG); (BNG); NickDickson LtoR: Treasure Hunt Projects Round-up

and David Yates ( Trails). (Norfolk Yates and David Last month has had a with a Twist Masterclass Macro particularly creative theme Breaking New Ground with 4 projects offering (BNG) is pleased to inspirational workshops. It

Kirsty Webber

announce the first - began with the first ‘Macro

SWT

People's Pot grant of Masterclass’ at Barnham

2015 - The Cross Common, and the

-

Walton

Watercolours I BA I Watercolours Munzee Heritage Trail. first of the second run of watercolour workshops Delivered by Norfolk Trails, this project will bring from the Iceni Botanical

an innovative digital treasure hunt to the heart of Artists. Then came the Suffolk Walking Festival, Thetford town. Participants will be able to learn which included the first more about the fascinating history and landscape of Patterns Landscape environment inspired art Thetford and make new discoveries. workshops from the A Munzee is a ‘Quick Reference’ (QR) code Brecks Landscape discretely hidden in an urban area - on a lamppost,

Patterns project. Mid-May in a shop window, on a sign etc... ‘Treasure hunters’ saw the second Sandlines download a free app onto their smartphone to creative writing workshop capture the Munzees and score points... but not (take a look at their monthly blog on the BNG before answering a special quiz question. The app website). All were a great success, despite the very features an interactive map, built-in compass and changeable weather! uses GPS to help find each Munzee. The trail is due An improvised art activity featured at the launch to be launched this summer. event for Wings Over Office Update The Brecks (see project The first quarterly claim of the year has been focus). Here children submitted to HLF; thanks again to Rebekah for all were encouraged to fill in her hard work particularly as she was just about to a Goshawk silhouette with items from the forest. start maternity leave! Just before she left, the BNG team met up with other Landscape Partnership In other news The People's History of Thetford Schemes in the area, at the Welney WT Centre. It Forest project has begun with a call for volunteers was a great chance (see project focus). to share ideas and This month will be a little quieter in the office due best practice, though to staff holidays, but there will still be plenty of we were deeply activities going on (see forthcoming events). jealous of the view Reminders from the meeting  Next Claim Deadline: 30th June room.  Next Board Meeting: 1st July

Project Focus

People’s History of Thetford Wings Over The Brecks (C4) Forest (B1) Lights, camera, action….

Thetford Forest is the largest man made pine forest in Visitors to nature reserve and High the UK and is the country’s most significant land-use Lodge are being treated to some amazing footage from change. Established in the 1920s by the Forestry live nest cameras. Commission, it is now valued for recreation and wildlife as well as its timber resource. ‘Sock Cam’ went live on Friday 24 April and captured some interesting behaviour from Lapwings and Stone Share your story Curlews. The latter is one of the most sought after The People’s History of Thetford Forest Project aims to birds in the Brecks and for many an emblem of seek out the people who have lived and worked in the the Brecks landscape. Forest, employed in a variety of roles and allied trades. The project will record their stories, memories, knowledge and experience alongside those in equivalent roles today, to compare changes in working practices and conditions.

© Forestry Commission ©Forestry

At High Lodge, live images are being streamed into the cafe from a nearby Goshawk nest.

Goshawk chick © Ian SmithIan chickGoshawk©

The Project also needs volunteers to be trained in oral history interviewing, editing and typing up recordings and in cataloguing archival materials, to help create an oral history archive documenting the history of

Thetford Forest. The first training sessions are on the 6th June at High Lodge. Later this year the project’s live footage will also focus The project will be led by Vicky Tustian , Forestry on nightjar and hobby. There will also be roaming Commission and Anne Mason, Heritage Consultant. displays in town centres such as Thetford and If you would like to be involved, please get in touch. Brandon. Whether you have memories to share or you’d like to The project team are looking for volunteers to help volunteer for the project, we’d love to hear from you. bring this footage to life by engaging with local people Email: [email protected] and visitors. Anyone interested can get in touch on Telephone: 01223 775102 01842 75732 or [email protected] http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/BEEH-9VNEMT To find out more, including the story behind the name ‘sock cam’, visit: http://www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk/news/all- news/2015-05-13-secret-lives-of-iconic-birds-i Project Focus

Barnham Cross Common Skills for the Future (D8)

Explore this month with a FREE family drop-in event. Wednesday 17th June, 3:30 - 6:00pm. Bring a picnic and join Suffolk Wildlife Trust in bug hunts, trails and more. No booking necessary. Contact 01379 688333 or [email protected]

Barnham Cross Common, is a well-used area of open space on the outskirts of Thetford. It contains the remnants of the rare habitat “ grass heath” , where 13 Breckland plant “specialities” could once be found; that number has now been reduced to 1. Plantlife are leading a conservation management programme to extend the area of rare grass-heath and re-establish plants. As part of the BNG scheme, with the support of Suffolk Wildlife Trust, they are delivering an outreach programme with activities and workshops for local people of all ages. Visit www.breakingnewground.org.uk to find out more.

Promotion, promotion, promotion - new items:  BNG roaming display panels - can be used at events to publicise the scheme.  Eco-friendly pens  Pencil crayons pots

Please contact the office if you’d like to use/have any of these items.

Get your project noticed! Picture of the Month If there is something that you would like included in the next Jet over Brandon Country Park © Nick Dickson newsletter, please send details to the office by 22nd June. [email protected]

Followers: 413

Likes: 53

t: @TheBrecksBNG f: www.facebook.com/ TheBrecksBNG What the Brecks Means to Me...

What does The Brecks mean to me? It means walking across wide open heathlands, under big blue skies, before diving into dense pine forests. It means exploring miles of footpaths, going on invigorating off-road cycle rides, and birdwatching for elusive birds. The Brecks is a wild landscape that I have fallen in love with. I love the way the loose sandy soils support long lines of iconic, twisted, contorted Scots Pines. They frame the landscape, create something quite unique and so very distinctive. I love learning about the subtle variations of the forest, identifying the Scots Pine from the Corsican Pine, meandering through dense avenues of dripping Larch, and coming across magnificent Giant Redwoods. And I love the variety of wildlife; spotting muntjacs just before they scoot off through the woods, hearing woodpeckers, and this spring spotting Goshawks performing a ‘Sky Dance’ above the tree line. The solitude of the Brecks is magical. It’s a tranquillity that is broken by bird song of jays, crows and magpies. And then I simply love the shockingly unexpected boom of jets from Lakenheath airbase, watching the F15’s as they bank just above the tree line. The Brecks is all these things plus more. Having worked in the area for just a very short time, for me it’s also a welcoming community of cheerful greengrocers, friendly neighbours and helpful local businesses. The Brecks is a wild landscape with warm people and I’m so very pleased to be involved in it. David Falk, Manager of Brandon Country Park

Forthcoming Events: Breaking New Ground (Nick and Holly):  Landscape Patterns: 3rd June.  Oral History Research and Interviewing Techniques: 6th June (am) c/o Visitor Centre, Brandon  Oral History Cataloguing and Archiving: 6th June (pm) Country Park, Bury Road,  Macro Masterclass - Breckland Plants: 6th June (fully booked) Brandon, Suffolk, IP27 0SU  Sandlines - Ancient Communities and Rivers: 13th June 01842 815465  Art in the Park: 13th June [email protected]  Discovery Event at Barnham Cross Common: 17th June www.breakingnewground.org.uk Also...  Recent Archaeological Discoveries in Norfolk Conference: 20th June See www.breakingnewground.org.uk for more details.