Buxton Heath
Buxton Heath SSSI is a rare heath-with-fen site north of Norwich close to the village of Hevingham covering 67 ha (170 acres) TG175218
Site
The site supports valley mire surrounded by wet heath, this changes to dry acid heath as you progress up the valley sides. The site supports plenty of rare species such the silver studded blue butterfly, the marsh gentian and a variety of orchids. Reptiles including adder, grass snake, slow-worm and lizards are regularly seen in the summer. Other regular wildlife visitors include red deer, roe deer and muntjac, barn owls are regularly seen hunting over the site and other bird species of interest include crossbills, jack snipe and turtle dove.
Management
The heath is owned by the Hevingham Fuel Allotment Charity, but managed by Norfolk Wildlife Trust along with the volunteers of Buxton Heath Wildlife Group. This group was founded by Colin Penny in May 1992. Since Colin's move to Hungary the group has continued under the guidance of new voluntary warden one time UEA student Phil Davison (now working for CEFAS). Students from UEA's Conservation and Wildlife Society (founded by Catriona Corfield and Christine Croton) provide additional man-power. As of, 2014, Davison is also supported by knowledgeable long term members Colin Thompson and lepidoptera expert David Ruthven, and occasionally by ex-student and local ecologist Susie Dickinson of Wild Frontier Ecology[1] Members of the group are known as 'Heathlings'. More information about the site and conservation work is available on the Buxton Heath Wildlife Group website[2]
In order to maintain the habitat much work is required. Currently, Norfolk Wildlife Trust are overseeing a restoration project of woodland and scrub clearance. Although areas of the site now look very bare where they have been stripped it is hoped that these bare areas and short regenerating vegetation will be ideal for the rare silver studded blue butterfly.[3] The wildlife group cannot realise such big projects without vital continued clearance of gorse and birch from the heath and mire. This is cut and burnt on site. They also monitor the wildlife and have recently had a yearly pond digging exercise to encourage further diversity.
Access
The site is open to the public and is accessible from the B1149 and A140 roads.
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References
Coordinates: 52°44′59″N 1°13′12″E / 52.7496°N 1.2201°E