Breckland
Breckland in
The area of Breckland has been substantially reduced in the twentieth century by the impact of modern farming and the creation in 1914 of
During the Prehistoric period Breckland was mined for
. The word 'Breck' is medieval and was defined as being an area of heathland broken up for cultivation before being allowed to retreat back into wilderness. Up until 200 years ago, much of it consisted of open heathland. The Brecks today are a tourist attraction as well as an area of scientific and geographical interest.The Breckland landscape region has given its name to
The Great Eastern Pingo Trail is 8 miles of tracks and paths exploring the eastern edge of the Breckland area. The trail takes in the
Wildlife
Although the Brecks has experienced extraordinary change and loss of wildlife species and habitats in the last 50 years, the varied habitats of the area continue to provide a refuge for many threatened species. 43% of the Brecks is protected at a national or international level for its wildlife or geological interest.[9]
Over 12,845 species live in the Brecklands.
The Brecklands are home to over 120 nationally rare and threatened plant species, many of which grow nowhere else in Britain. With all this diversity, Breckland has received international recognition as an Important Plant Area (IPA). Many of the flora and fauna that are unique to the area have a special protection status, or are part of conservation and
Fauna that are being monitored in Breckland habitats include the
86% of Breckland heathland was lost between 1934 and 1980. Huge areas have been planted with
A
Breckland is one of the few areas in England where the rare and shy (but non-indigenous) golden pheasant may be seen in the wild.
Gallery
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Breckland thyme(thymus serpyllum)
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Brandon Park Heath
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Scots pines in Thetford Forest
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Open breckland meets dense forest
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Breck heath at Weeting
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Pingo in open grassland
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Typical breckland landscape
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Breckland soil excavation
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Gorsebush
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Gateway to the Brecks at Elveden
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Grey Carpet moth
References
- ^ "Designated Sites View: Breckland". Special Protection Area. Natural England. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
- ^ "Special Protection Areas under the EC Birds Directive. Breckland" (PDF). Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
- ^ "Breckland". Special Areas of Conservation. Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
- ^ "Designated Sites View: Breckland". Special Area of Conservation. Natural England. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
- ^ "Ponds and pingos". Norfolk Wildlife Trust. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
- ^ Kelly, Tony (28 September 1997). "Take a walk on the Wildlife side..." Independent on Sunday. Retrieved 27 June 2009.
- ^ "Great Eastern Pingo Trail". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Archived from the original on 4 August 2013. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
- ^ "Map of Great Eastern Pingo Trail". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
- ^ "Wildlife in the Brecks". The Brecks.
- ^ "Securing a future for The Brecks". SHIFTING SANDS - Back From The Brink.
- ^ "Biodiversity decline in the brecks". Shifting Sands.
- ^ "Securing Biodiversity in Breckland" (PDF). Norfolk Biodiversity.
- ^ "Conservation Projects - Breckland, East Anglia". Plantlife.
- ^ "Frog with Norfolk accent returns". 11 August 2005. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
External links
- The Brecks
- www.countrysideaccess.norfolk.gov.uk
- The Breckland Society
- Dyckhoff, Tom (8 February 2003). "Let's move to... The Breckland, Norfolk". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 June 2009.
- Schoon, Nicholas (13 March 1993). "Unique wilderness that faces a fight to survive: Farmers in East Anglia are being paid to help recreate a sandy heathland". The Independent. Retrieved 27 June 2009.
- Bailey, Mark (1989). A marginal economy?: East Anglian Breckland in the later Middle Ages (PDF) (Illustrated ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 350. ISBN 0-521-36501-5.