FoHS Newsletter 30 May 2013

It must be summer - the swifts are hereDespite persisting low temperatures and recurring unseasonal days, the greening of the countryside and swifts screaming overhead, remind us that summer is just around the corner. Spring was late to start, delayed by cold winds which held back the arrival of migrant birds and distracted many of our wild creatures as they struggled to survive the near-wintry conditions. The natural world has a lot of catching up to do since the warmth of the sun became apparent - nature’s wake-up call to start the annual cycle of growth and reproduction.

Our group, Friends of Horsey Seals, however, is nearing completion of its first annual cycle which will be marked with an Annual General Meeting on Saturday 8th June. All members and seal wardens are invited to attend. The meeting will be in the Memorial Room at the Village Hall, Martham and starts at 2pm. For anyone unable to attend, a report of the AGM will be placed on the website.

Continuing the theme of Things To Do while seals are attending to their summer life-style, we have a few suggestions for your enjoyment during the month of June. So much goes on in the county all through the year, but particularly in what we laughingly call summer, that it’s hard to pick just a few from a vast selection. We hope you like the ones we’ve chosen, but if not, visit any of the local information centres for other alternatives.

First off, a brief report from Hattie, who was out and about at The East Anglian Game and Country Fair, Norfolk Show Ground, at the end of April:

All the fun of the country fair at Norfolk Show GroundOn a very windy, but one of the first days of decent weather this year, I set off for my annual visit to the East Anglian Game and Country Fair. I look forward to it every year and it’s something I really enjoy - it even changed my life. I blame the Game Fair for the fact that I share my home with five rescued ferrets belonging to my daughter. She fell in love with a ferret many years ago and joined the rescue society at the Game Fair. Like all small daughters, her interests have changed since then, and guess who is keeper of the ferrets now!

This year’s Fair had the usual eclectic combination of stalls and events. There was a noticeable increase in the number of stalls selling renewable energy products, but overall I estimated a drop in the total number of stalls.

Once again, this year there was a variety of fascinating events which ranged from people racing behind horses on cross country skate boards, to exhibits about dog training, how to handle a ferret, and lurcher racing.

The conservation and wildlife stalls are always the most interesting bits for me, and I browsed the stalls of all the rescue groups and enjoyed the excellent exhibits from raptor conservation societies. I was so pleased to see a good number of visitors at the Ridlington Seal and Bird Rescue Trust’s stand wanting to find out more about them.

Don’t be put off by the label ’Game’ Fair, it’s not all about hunting shooting and fishing. Remember that habitat created and maintained for these pursuits contributes greatly to the range of wildlife still found in our countryside. The entry price is not cheap, but you can get reductions by booking on-line in advance.

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There’s more than crabs at Cromer

Reefs are defined as ridges of rock, sand, coral, etc., the top of which lies close to the surface of the sea. What, you might ask, has that to do with us in Norfolk? We all know about the Great Barrier Reef, Australia’s famously huge coral structure, but how many of us know about the Norfolk Chalk Reef? It’s a lot closer to home and the centre of it is a stone’s throw from our wonderful seaside town of Cromer. Ok, so it doesn’t compete with the grandeur of the one in the antipodes, but it is wondrous, different and was almost completely unknown until divers confirmed its presence in 2010.

Only 200 metres or so off shore, the reef varies in depth, reaching 20 metres at its deepest point as it follows the coastline from just south of Salthouse, in the north-west, to south of Happisburgh 30 kms to the south-east. There are others in British waters off the Yorkshire coast near Flamborough, and close to Thanet in Kent, but the Norfolk Reef is thought to be the longest chalk reef in Europe and is of major international importance.

Whereas the better known reefs are living structures made of the hardened shells of coral polyps, Norfolk’s reef is composed mainly of chalk, which appears where the softer seabed of rock, sediment, peat and clay has been worn away by tidal action. Chalk is also created from the shells of marine creatures, but from an age 100-90 million years ago. Their remains accumulated on seabeds and have compressed into the rocky form we recognise today.

The waters around the coast of North Norfolk are as much as 5ºC warmer in summer than the surrounding North Sea and marine life flourishes, aided by protection from the reef. They provide food for marine animals and larger fish and, in turn, attract grey and harbour seals to feed along the reef. Harbour porpoises, and occasionally sun-fish and basking sharks, are also known to visit the area. Shoals of fish around the reef contribute to the diet of seabirds including little, common and sandwich terns which all nest nearby.

Since 2010 divers have continued to explore the reef during the summer months when underwater visibility improves. So far, each year has yielded new and exciting discoveries and in 2011 divers found purple sponges growing on the reef. At first thought to be a species from the Mediterranean, they were later confirmed as a species completely new to science.

Read more about the reef, the divers, and the species found there, and see stunning underwater photography of the project and the reef at www.seasearcheast.org.uk

A chance to visit Heigham Holmes: National Nature Reserve with a touch of mysteryClose to Horsey, but probably unknown to many of us and certainly unvisited by most, lies a secluded Broadland island with a wealth of natural history and an historical enigma. This 500 acre patch, bounded on one side by the River Thurne and moated by a network of drainage ditches is Heigham Holmes, a National Nature Reserve run by the National Trust. The reserve is farmed and NT’s work in recent years is aimed at returning the land from grassland to more traditional Broads landscape of wet meadows, scrapes and reedbeds to encourage the increase of native plants and wildlife.

Its isolation makes it an ideal place for wildlife and many species of birds are found, including the shy European crane. In winter big flocks of geese and wildfowl use the reserve to feed and rest. Marsh harriers and other rap-tors are often seen, and barn owls are a common sight.

Access is via a floating pontoon, reached by a narrow road about one mile north-west of Martham, and is avail-able by arrangement only, for guided walks for parties of more than 10 people between April and October on some Wednesdays and Sundays (check the website for available dates). Charges apply to all visitors, including NT members.

Unconfirmed rumours that Heigham Holmes featured in secret WWll activities were rife when all traces of operational structures were removed at the end of the war. Perhaps your guide will tell you more if you manage to book on the once a year Heigham Holmes Open Day, which this year is on 19th June. This event is entitled ‘Planes, Drains and Wildlife’. it starts at 10.00am and costs £6.00 per person. Meeting place is at the riverbank: from the centre of Martham, follow Black Street, passing the church on your right. Where it forms a T-Junction with Staithe Road, turn left and continue through a right-hand bend into Ferrygate Lane which leads to the River Thurne and the floating pontoon crossing.All bookings can be made online at: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/heigham-holmes, or by calling 01263 740241.

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Things to do in JuneIn early summer, birds are wearing their finest plumage in readiness for nesting and breeding. Learn more with the experts on one of Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s (NWT) series of 2 hour Walks with the Warden at NWT Cley Marshes on Wednesday mornings in June (extending into July and August). Meet at Cley Visitor Centre at 10.30am. Cost £5 adults, NWT members and children £3. Birds for Beginners at Cley runs on Thursdays 6th and 20th June, and Tuesdays, 11th and 25th June, all starting at 10.30am. Please call the Visitor Centre to book 01263 740008.

A Moth Evening on Friday 7th June 8.30 - late, is offered by NWT’s Broadland Local Group at Hickling Broad, Free of charge, but donations welcome.

An Evening Stroll and Barbecue at NWT Cley Marshes on Tuesday 18th June sounds nice. It starts at 6.30pm and costs £12. Booking essential: 01263 740008.

On Saturday 22nd June, Hilary Beynon is leading Summer Butterfly, Dragonfly and Plant Walks at Hickling in the morning and Winterton Dunes in the afternoon. The event is free for NWT members but a small charge will be made for non-members, and starts at Hickling Broad Visitor Centre at 10.30am.

Monday 24th June Wildlife and Archeaology, a talk by wildlife illustrator and artist, Julie Curl, is at the Memorial Hall at Hempton, cost is £2.50 and it’s put on by NWT Fakenham Local Group.

For details of these events and many more, visit NWT website: www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk.

Open Gardens

We hear a lot about habitat loss and the resulting decrease in animals birds and insects. Many of us love gardening and visiting gardens and appreciate how important they have become in providing alternative habitat for some of our displaced wildlife. Gardeners like to seek new ideas for their own plots by looking at other people’s, and a visit to any of the lovely gardens in our neighbourhood is an enjoyable way to do it - unless you are already overstimulated by May’s Chelsea Flower Show.

However, two gardens in Ludham, both in Staithe Road and backing on to Womack Water, are bound to wow you, and both of them are opening to the public in June through the National Gardens Scheme (NGS). NGS lists many wonderful gardens across the county and proceeds from the opening days benefit a number of national charities.

June 16th 2-5pm: the Dutch House has a romantic 2.5 acre garden originally planted by Edward Seago. Wheel-chair access is limited to the main part of the garden.

June 30th 1.30-5.30pm: The Mowle. 2.5 acres of garden runs down to a boardwalked marsh. The Mowle has a National Collection of Gunnera (RHS 2008), and is planted with many unusual plants set among interesting sculptures.

Views expressed in this newsletter are those of the writer and might differ from the views held by Natural England or the committee of Friends of Horsey Seals