WILDLIFE IN COMMON County Wildlife Site Survey Form (Ref. No. 1429) Site Name: Howards Common Parish: Belton/Fritton & St Olaves Grid reference: TG472024 Area: 18ha (whole CWS) District: Great Yarmouth Survey date: Various dates in 2018 and 2019 Please note: This was part re-survey of the County Wildlife Site, see maps below for area surveyed. Map showing County Wildlife Site Boundary Map showing area surveyed during Wildlife in Common project 1 WILDLIFE IN COMMON Habitat description: An historic common and County Wildlife Site (CWS 1429), Howard’s Common is an area of sandy soils supporting acid grassland, stands of scrub, bracken (Pteridium aquilinum), and areas of wet and dry woodland. A wet ditch lies at the bottom of the wooded slope, linking the site to the marshes in the west. A footpath following the line of the old Great Eastern Railway makes up the east boundary of the site. Fadens Map of Norfolk, c.1797, shows present-day Howards Common to be part of the much larger, historic Belton Common extending to the north, south and east. The first Ordnance Survey maps, c.1884, show the old Howards Common following the present boundaries but also extending to the north (now the Wild Duck Caravan Site) and consisting of heather (Calluna vulgaris), rough pasture and gorse (Ulex europaeus) throughout. The map shows a couple of trees occur on the west boundary by the wet ditch. The Great Eastern Railway Line dominates, running north-east to south west along the present-day east boundary footpath. By the 1906 OS map, marsh is shown to the west of the wet ditch; by the mid-1920s, this marsh is dominated by trees, but Howards Common itself consists of mainly dry, heath habitat. At this point, gorse is no longer shown on the site. The 1946 aerial map is missing for this area, but the site of a World War Two searchlight battery (NHER 43359) was recorded. According to Norfolk Heritage Explorer, the area contains earthwork emplacements and military structures, a pillbox and slit trenches. This site is located within a wider area of World War Two training features on Belton Common to the east. (Details of the remaining earthworks on Howards Common are given below). By 1988, the aerial map shows the woodland to established in the west of the common, and to be roughly the same size and shape as in 2019. The present-day dry acid grassland and remnant heath includes patches of scrub and trees. Species here include gorse, bramble (Rubus fruticosus agg.), sand sedge (Carex arenaria), early hair grass (Aira praecox), perforate St John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum), birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), and creeping cinquefoil (Potentilla reptans). There are scattered poplar (Populus sp.) trees on the boundary and coarser acid-neutral grassland in the north- east corner by the entrance gate. A low bank supporting heather (Calluna vulgaris) and bell heather (Erica cinerea) marks the border into an area of tall, dense bracken. Within this area is a man-made pond with few marginal or aquatic species, backed by hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) dominated scrub. The scrub soon grades into densely planted young trees and older woodland to the west. The small, quite recently created pond is shaded and supports little aquatic or marginal vegetation, apart from Nuttal’s waterweed (Elodea nuttallii). The pond supports wildlife including damselfly sp., great water boatmen (Corixa punctata), diving beetle (Dytiscus marginalis), pond skater (Gerridae sp.) and dwarf pond snail (Galba truncatula). An oak (Quercus robur) and silver birch (Betula pendula) dominated woodland in the west has honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum), hawthorn and holly (Ilex aquifolium) in the shrub layer. The woodland becomes wetter with alder (Alnus glutinosa) and willow (Salix sp.) as the land slopes down to the west. A wet ditch makes up the west boundary, with species including soft rush (Juncus effuses), flag iris (Iris pseudacorus), common reed (Phragmites australis). 2 WILDLIFE IN COMMON Target note reference map: 4 2 5 3 1 Target notes (see reference map above): 1. Acid grassland and bracken – Supporting some nice dry, acidic grassland species such as early hair grass, sheep’s fescue (Festuca ovina agg.), heath bedstraw (Galium saxatile), cat’s ear (Hypochoeris radicata), sheep’s sorrel (Rumex acetosella), mouse ear hawkweed (Pilosella officinarum), creeping cinquefoil, field woodrush (Luzula campestris), haresfoot clover (Trifolium arvense), mossy stonecrop (Crassula tillaea) and sand sedge. The grassland has been affected by reduced management over the past few years, with bracken dominating at the expense of these smaller species. A low bank, acting as a border between the grassland and track, supports heather and bell heather – both species are rare on the common. Gorse occurs amongst the bracken, with a large, dense bank of gorse to the north-west of this area.. The railway line path is bordered to the east by a row of Lombardy poplars (Populus nigra) with sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa), bramble and gorse. The grassland by the entrance gate in the north-east is coarser and backed by bramble scrub. 2. Wet woodland with wet ditch – The ground slopes down to the west, from the drier woodland above, becoming increasingly alder-dominated as it reaches a wet ditch which acts as the west boundary. This wetter ground supports soft rush, flag iris, reed and reedmace (Typha latifolia). 3. Pond - Created c.1994 by the UEA for natterjack toads (Epidalea calamita). This small, concrete-lined pond is 9.35m in diameter, with shallow sides. It is backed by scrub and trees, some of which has become dense over time, whilst some hawthorns have been etiolated. Aquatic and marginal vegetation is sparse, with Nuttal’s waterweed recorded by the Norfolk Flora Group in 2018. 4. Dry birch and oak woodland – Occurring on high ground above the drop down to the wet ditch on the west boundary. Oak and birch dominate with some rowan (Sorbus aucuparia), and a patchy shrub layer of hawthorn and holly. The trees support honeysuckle which is a vital food plant for the caterpillars of the white admiral butterfly (Limenitis camilla), which was recorded in the woodland during the 2018-9 survey. The woodland also supports hazel (Corylus avellana), blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), bramble and broad buckler fern (Dryopteris dilatata). 3 WILDLIFE IN COMMON Slow worm (Anguis fragilis) with young were recorded here during the survey. The site of the World War Two searchlight battery was rediscovered beneath the trees (more information given below). The site had been disturbed as part of a modern encampment (2018). Notes on traces of the World War Two Searchlight Battery* on Howards Common: * “A site in which one or more searchlights were positioned to locate enemy aircraft or surface vessels for the benefit of ground mounted guns (batteries) and night fighter aircraft” (Information from Norfolk Heritage Explorer). 5. Area of boundary alterations – An area of altered boundaries towards the north of the site. During the survey this area was fenced and made into a horse paddock. Other notable species: White admiral - Limenitis camilla Norfolk hawker - Aeshna isoceles Slow worm - Anguis fragilis The Forrester Moth - Adscita statices – UK Bap Priority Species For fall fauna list see table below. Adjacent habitats/potential buffer zones & linkage to other sites: 4 WILDLIFE IN COMMON Caravan/camp site to north; Golf course to east; Grazing marsh to west; Woodland, marshes and agricultural land. Is the site in positive conservation management? In 2019 Great Yarmouth Green Gym – a practical conservation group – carried out work to reduce the bracken, control the gorse and sow heather seeds. Brief management proposals: In 2019, through the Wildlife in Common project, a management suggestions document was produced for part of the County Wildlife Site. Has a site condition assessment form been completed for this site? Yes. If not how would you rate the overall site condition? Compartment Favourable/ no Favourable/ Recovering Unfavourable Unfavourable Neglected Part Destroyed number issues. some issues Score 3 – no change - declining Score 6 destroyed/ Score 8 Score 1 Score 2 Score 4 Score 5 (no Score 7 (poor management management Overall Condition PLANT LIST County Wildlife Site name & reference number: Howards Common – part of CWS 2191 Date of survey: Various dates in 2018 and 2019 Surveyors: Joyce Burtenshaw, Gwendoline Slater and Sue Rowe with support from Gemma Walker & Lucy Seely(NWT) and Park Ranger Mike Wells. 11/07/19 Dave Weaver Scientific name Common name Comments/Location Acer pseudoplatanus Sycamore Achillea millefolium Yarrow Aira praecox Early hair grass TG472022 Alnus glutinosa Alder NW damp woodland Anthoxanthemm Sweet vernal grass odoratum Aphanes arvensis Parsley piert Betula pendula Silver birch Calluna vulgaris Ling heather Rare Carex arenaria Sand sedge TG472022 Castanea sativa Sweet chestnut Chaerophyllum Rough chervil temulentum Cirsium arvense Creeping thistle Cirsium palustre Marsh thistle Cirsium vulgare Spear thistle Claytonia perfoliata Spring beauty TG471021 Convolvulus arvensis Field bindweed 5 WILDLIFE IN COMMON Scientific name Common name Comments/Location Conyza sumatrensis Guernsey fleabane TG473023 Corylus avellana Hazel Crassula tillaea Mossy stonecrop TG472022 Crepis capillaris Smooth hawksbeard Cytisus scoparius Broom Dryopteris dilatata Broad buckler fern Daucus carota Wild carrot Elodea nuttallii Nuttall’s waterweed UEA pond, TG471022 Erica cinerea Bell heather Rare Erodium cicutarium Common storksbill Equisetum arvense Field horsetail Festuca ovina agg. Sheep’s fescue TG471022 Fragaria vesca Wild strawberry Galium aparine Cleavers Galium saxatile Heath bedstraw Geranium dissectum Cut-leaved cranesbill Geranium molle Dovesfoot cranesbill Geranium robertianum Herb robert Geum urbanum Herb bennett Glechoma hederacea Ground ivy Holcus lanatus Yorkshire fog Hypericum perforatum Perforate St John’s wort Hypochoeris radicata Cat’s ear Ilex aquifolium Holly Iris pseudacorus Flag iris By northwest boundary ditch Juncus effusus Soft rush In NW damp woodland Lamium purpureum Red dead nettle Lemna sp.