WILDLIFE IN COMMON County Wildlife Site Survey Form (Ref. No.334) Site Name: Whin Common Parish: Denver Grid reference: TF 617 012 Area: 10.5ha District: King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Survey date: 18/09/18 Registered Commons Number: CL 243 Site overview: Whin Common is a registered common (CL243) and a County Wildlife Site (CWS 334) consisting of a mosaic of habitats, including dry acid grassland, scrub, old hedgerow, mature trees, and some damper patches of acid / marshy grassland. The busy A10 road lies immediately to the east. Faden’s map of Norfolk, c.1797, shows the common as following a similar footprint to the present day. The 19th century OS maps show the common as being pasture in the north, with gorse and heather in the south, and a small pond in the south-west by the boundary, and a widened ditch/pond in the north linked to an historic moated site beyond the common’s boundaries. An area described as ‘post medieval water meadows’ (NHER 42816) is recorded to the west of the common by Norfolk Heritage Explorer: “Flooded meadows where small dykes enabled the land to be flooded in late autumn so that the water would freeze allowing early grass to come with the spring thaw. First mentioned in 1777 but may be a century older, judging by estimated age of hedges and a plaque of 1725 on a nearby house. Became an orchard around 1900; now a nature reserve.” These old meadows now lie under the trees of Bates Wood Nature Reserve, just beyond the west boundary, but presumably the wet ditch that crosses the common under the road reflects a past link. The 1910 Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists Society report on Norfolk’s Commons by W.G. Clarke simply records Whin Common as ‘Pasture and furze’. Today the common is quiet, despite the nearby road, being well-used by locals for walking and recreation. Sheep grazing on the common by David Kennedy 1 WILDLIFE IN COMMON Annotated habitat map: 2 WILDLIFE IN COMMON Habitat map 3 WILDLIFE IN COMMON Habitat description A large common with a mix of habitats, with open areas of dry acid grassland, bordered in many places by gorse (Ulex europaeus) and bramble (Rubus fruticosus agg.) scrub with scattered trees. The acid grassland across the common supports occasional heath bedstraw (Galium saxatile), Lady’s bedstraw (Galium verum), cat’s ear (Hypochaeris radicata), creeping cinquefoil (Potentilla reptans), common birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare), knapweed (Centaurea nigra), lesser stitchwort (Stellaria graminea), selfheal (Prunella vulgaris), silverweed (Potentilla anserine), sheep’s sorrel (Rumex acetosella), germander speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys), tormentil (Potentilla erecta) and yarrow (Achillea millefolium). The north grassland area is well-grazed by sheep and ponies, down to a tight sward. Several large anthills were recorded here in 2018-19. There are some recently planted oaks in the open north grassland. The southern grassland appeared to have been unmanaged for a few years and is becoming coarser in places. The boundaries of the common support gorse and bramble scrub, with an old hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) hedgerow and some mature oaks in the east along the A10. There are occasional areas of birch (Betula pendula), and some willow (Salix sp.). Some ornamental tree species occur by houses along the western boundary. Stands of birch occur around the boundaries, particularly in the southern part of the common. A boundary belt of dry oak (Quercus robur)-dominated woodland with hazel (Corylus avellana), gorse and bramble in the northeast of the common. This area supports little shrub layer or ground flora, and is well used for shelter by the sheep. The northern end of the common is kept in part as amenity grassland by the houses, and there is a small area of planted trees and coppiced hazel nearby. A small area of alder (Alnus glutinosa)-dominated woodland lies at the north of the common, with running wet ditches acting as a border and forming a triangular area of fenced woodland. Under the trees is coarse growth of nettle (Urtica dioica) and bramble with various garden escapees/plantings such as variegated archangel (Lamiastrum galeobdolon ssp. Argentatum), ground elder (Aegopodium podagraria), snowdrops (Galanthus sp.) and pendulous sedge (Carex pendula). This area can only be reached by crossing the small flowing stream/ditch, and therefore is almost inaccessible. To the south of this small triangular woodland is a wooded area with wet ditches which supports increasing Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera), nettle and a patch of common reed (Phragmites australis). The far south of the common has an area of acid grassland, amongst gorse and bramble scrub, is a patch of harebells (Campanula rotundfolia). The number of harebells has decreased over the past few years. A few damper grassy areas occur on the common, supporting marshy grassland species. A small area towards the southern boundary (near the harebells) is damp and becoming scrubby, supporting marsh thistle (Cirsium palustre), tufted hairgrass (Deschampsia cespitosa), soft rush (Juncus effuses), lesser stitchwort, and increasing bramble. 4 WILDLIFE IN COMMON A wet ditch crosses under the road (about halfway down the common) and supports marshy grassland species such as greater birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus pedunculatus), gypsywort (Lycopus europaeus), ivy-leaved crowfoot (Ranunculus hederaceus), marsh woundwort (Stachys palustris), meadow vetchling (Lathyrus pratensis), ragged robin (Silene flos-cuculi), watercress (Nasturtium officinale), water figwort (Scrophularia auriculata), water pepper (Persicaria hydropiper) and flag iris (Iris pseudacorus). Other notable species: Include non-plant species eg turtle dove/barn owl/dingy skipper White letter hairstreak (Satyrium w-album) Purple hairstreak (Neozephyrus quercus) Common lizard (Zootoca vivipara) For other fauna recorded during the survey please see the end of this document. Adjacent habitats/potential buffer zones & linkage to other sites: Is the site next to another CWS/SSSI? Is there similar habitat adjacent or is the site surrounded by agricultural land? The main A10 London road is immediately to the east of the common. Agricultural land lies to the west and south. To the north is the village of Denver. To the west of the common, within the boundary of Denver can be found Sluice Common, this too is a County Wildlife Site, that is linked to Whin through a network of wide grass verges, which are also registered common land. Is the site in positive conservation management? Yes/no/partly/non-intervention. (Please give details if necessary). The north common is grazed by sheep and ponies. The southern area of the common is not currently grazed. Brief management proposals: Increased frequency of cutting and/or grazing the southern part of the grassland could help reduce coarser species, and encourage finer species such as harebell. Bramble reduction to prevent it encroaching further into the grassland. Through the Wildlife in Common project a document listing some management suggestions was produced in 2020. Has a site condition assessment form been completed for this site? Yes 5 WILDLIFE IN COMMON PLANT LIST County Wildlife Site name & reference number: Whin Common, 334 Date of survey: 26/06/18, 4/08/18, 7/08/18, 18/09/18, 4/06/19, 6/08/19 & 3/09/19 Surveyor: Sue Matchett, David Kennedy, Richard Warden, Bill Seager Please note: Norfolk Flora Group visited the site on 11/06/19 Scientific name Common name Comments/Location Achillea millefolium Yarrow Aegopodium podagraria Ground elder Anthriscus sylvestris Cow parsley Arctium minus Burdock - lesser Armoracia rusticana Horseradish On verges Artemesia vulgaris Mugwort Arum maculatum Lords and Ladies Ballota nigra Black horehound Bellis perennis Daisy Bryonia dioica Bryony - white Calystegia sepium Bindweed - hedge Campanula rotundifolia Harebell Good sized patch in 2018, but depleted in 2019 Capsella bursa-pastoris Shepherd’s purse Centaurea nigra Knapweed - Common Ceratocapnos claviculata Climbing corydalis Esp wooded area by A10 Chamerion angustifolia Rosebay willowherb Chaerophyllum temulum Rough chervil Cirsium arvense Thistle - creeping Cirsium palustre Thistle - marsh Cirsium vulgare Thistle - spear Conium maculatum Hemlock Convolvulus arvensis Bindweed - field Conyza canadensis Canadian fleabane Crepis capillaris Hawksbeard (smooth) Cymbalaria muralis Ivy-leaved toadflax Dipsacus fullonum Teasel Epilobium hirsutum Willowherb - greater Equisetum arvense Horsetail Erophila verna Common whitlow grass Euphorbia peplus Petty spurge Lamiastrum galeobdolon ssp. Archangel, variegated argentatum Lamium album Dead nettle - white Lamium purpureum Dead nettle - red Leucanthemum vulgare Oxeye daisy Lotus corniculatus Bird’s foot trefoil Ficaria verna Lesser celandine Galanthus sp. Snowdrop Galeopsis tetrahit Common hemp nettle Galium album Bedstraw - hedge Galium aparine Cleavers Galium saxatile Bedstraw - heath Galium verum Bedstraw – Lady’s Geranium dissectum Cranesbill – Cut leaved 6 WILDLIFE IN COMMON Scientific name Common name Comments/Location Geranium molle Cranesbill – Dovesfoot Geranium robertianum Herb Robert Geum urbanum Wood avens Glechoma hederacea Ground ivy Gnaphalium uliginosum Marsh cudweed Hedera helix Ivy Heracleum sphondylium Hogweed Hieracium umbellatum Hawkweed Humulus lupulus Hop One plant only noted Hypochaeris radicata Cat’s ear Impatiens glandulifera Himalayan balsam Invasive non-native species Iris pseudacorus Yellow flag iris Lapsana communis Nipplewort Lathyrus