Native orchids were among the many plants we saw as the group of 17 FNM supporters and friends strolled across Forncett Meadows – the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) bordering the River Tas behind St Peter’s church. It was notified in 1985 as one of only 3 remaining areas of unimproved grassland in the Tas valley. Initially managed by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust, it has been privately owned for about 30 years, lightly grazed by a variety of livestock at different times, currently horses belonging to settled travellers.
Forncett Meadows Photo: Carol Sharp Our guide was Debbie Sutton who has been involved with its care and management for many years. Following the footpath between the church and the school, we came to fields on either side of the path; those on the church side of the Tas are agricultural land, those on the far side form the SSSI. All are under the same ownership and managed in the same way. Areas of grazed meadow, beautiful with the yellow of Buttercups, Creeping Cinquefoil and Bird’s Foot Trefoil and the startling bright green of Crosswort, are interspersed with taller marsh vegetation, alder trees along the river and scrub with mature trees on the higher ground.
Crosswort Photo: Carol Sharp None of us had seen Crosswort anywhere else in Norfolk, although NWT describes it as common. Crossing the Tas on plank bridges, the SSSI has an even greater variety of habitats, a seepage line on the valley side giving some very damp areas where Common Spotted Orchids flourish. Luckily Crosswort and Orchids have spilled out onto the footpath so can be enjoyed by everyone. Pam Merrick, our local botanist, and Adele Greere, who surveyed the plants in St Peter’s Churchyard for the NWT, were both able to identify many of the plants we came across. Debbie also introduced us to a survey of molluscs (snails) carried out in 1998 which showed what a very rich environment it is. The damp, but waterless river bed - the original meandering course of the Tas before it was straightened in 1943, contributes to the mosaic of habitats. Forncett Meadows is vulnerable. Unless levels of grazing are maintained coarser plants smother the more delicate ones and the variety of insects and animals declines. The health of the river Tas, is especially important – one of a small number of chalk streams – and as we know liable to flooding, perhaps especially so since it’s been straightened.
The meadow at Orchard House Photo: Carol Sharp After our own meandering many of us made our way to Orchard House, on the Tas Valley Way, where Rosemary and Christina had laid out a wonderful selection of dishes for our Bring & Share lunch. It made a lovely, sociable break in a fascinating visit. We then had the unexpected delight of a tour of Rosemary’s meadow – the most beautiful array of Ox-Eye daisies and native Orchids (Common Spotted and Pyramidal) that I think I’ve ever seen.
Oxeye Daisies, Yellow Rattle, Common Spotted Orchids- and so many others! Photo: Carol Sharp We had the perfect weather, company and environment to make us feel truly grateful to live in such a place. It was inspiring to see what nature can do given space, thoughtful management and minimal disturbance.
FNM would like to thank the owners of the SSSI for allowing us to share their very special space, not usually open to the public. Debbie was a font of knowledge as was Pam – thank you both. Finally we are grateful to Rosemary for a great venue for lunch and a wonderful tour. In our own small ways we too can each help to create the space nature needs.
NB You can see information about the SSSI and why it is protected here.
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- Written by: Ally Rae
We were delighted with the turnout of 21 children and 12 adults for our recent children's event.
Thank you to all the hardworking organisers and the generous refreshment providers - the vibrant table of food was a very popular repeat filling-station for the children!
Special thanks to Gill Starkie who oversaw many of the activities provided by the steering group. As the children proudly wore their wild masks in the final minutes around a 'campfire', Gill held them spellbound as she encouraged them in their imaginings. Owls, foxes, stag beetles, frogs, oak trees and bees responded by acting out their chosen Wild Life.
Many of the attendees had been notified of the event by the children's grandparents who had read about it in their FNM newsletter, so thank you to them for passing on the message to their young families.
The well-researched resources we devised are going to be shared with similar groups all around our Norfolk network, so it's good to know the format and mask designs along with other info provided for the older children will be reused. 
Photos Jo Marsden
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- Written by: The Steering Group
'Life on the Edge' was a popular subject and a keen audience came along for Dr Pam Merrick's beautifully illustrated talk on 25th April which helped us to identify some of the wildflowers to be seen on a Forncett verge.
Pam Merrick introducing Cuckcoo Pint. Photo: Carol Sharp Pam outlined the features that help to make road verges particularly diverse in plant life, which in turn provides food and habitat for insect, birds and small mammals. Road verges are important corridors for nature, helping to prevent small populations become isolated and in-bred. Factors which damage verges such as herbicide drift from adjoining fields and being driven over when passing places are not used, helped us to appreciate the fragility of these often overlooked environments. The array of examples of wayside plants which Pam provided gave us a wonderful insight into the finer features of many species. Pam has written an article giving the flavour of her presentation which you can read here, published in the Forncett Flyer. Such was the interest in the subject that several people volunteered to do their own surveys. To make this a community effort is the ideal way to gather valuable information and we welcome any of you to have a go. Please contact us via our
Pam has also surveyed St Edmunds Chuchyard and part of Common Road, whilst members of the FNM Steering Group have carried out surveys of Overwood Lane, part of Cheyney’s Lane and the ditches around Jubilee Green at Forncett Village Hall. Norfolk Wildlife Trust have undertaken a comprehensive Survey of St Peter’s Churchyard. Three other areas are being surveyed this year.
FNM is working closely with Norfolk County Council's Greenspaces initiative to survey and nominate some of Forncett's verges for special protection as Roadside Nature Reserves, which will be wonderful for our pollinating insects. The more data we have, the better. In June 2025 parts of Valley Farm Lane (Forncett) and Hurn Lane (Tacolneston) were designated as Roadside Nature Reserves.
If you missed Pam's talk or would like to pursue the subject further, the best place for information is the award winning information available through Plantlife.
This meeting is an essential one for everyone wanting to learn more about our main vision of creating Green Corridors throughout Forncett. Having mapped the many properties where people have pledged to care for their outdoor space with wildlife in mind, we can now see real potential for linking these valuable habitats via our verges. Our main speaker, botanist Pam Merrick, will give an illustrated talk, telling us how we can best care for 'Life on the Edge', to create pollinator pathways throughout the village - our very own B-Line.
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- Written by: Christina Wakeford & Ally Rae
A mud-brown, snaking channel leads to a much larger and deeper scrape in the low-lying land in a green field beside the River Tas. This is the start of habitat enhancing work being carried out by Forncett Nature Matters supporters Justin, Steve and Mark. Members of the FNM Steering Group were delighted with an invitation to visit in November. Justin, Steve and Mark purchased 3.2 acres of land in Forncett about a year ago and are really interested in developing its wildlife potential. The land lies to the right of the River Tas on the downstream side just beyond the hump-back bridge on Long Stratton Road – you may have noticed a digger in action. The new owners have been busy working with the Environment Agency and other bodies, as well as making contact with neighbouring landowners, to take their plans forward.
FNM Steering Group with Steve & Justin on their land. Photo: A RaeThe large scrape, partially following a previous course of the Tas, aims to provide additional flood capacity in the water meadow. This will both alleviate flooding downstream and, it is hoped, hold water for part of the season, creating wetland habitat for wading birds and other wildlife. Justin and Steve will be eagerly awaiting the first snipe.
There are now several owners of small acreages alongside the Tas with a keen interest in nature – wonderful news in creating the connected habitats animals, insects and plants need. Owners of larger acreages, especially along the Tas Valley Way, have also maintained rich areas of rough pasture and hedgerows, including a Site of Special Scientific Interest, making the Tas Valley one of our best Green Corridors or B(iodiversity) Lines.
Following our invitation to Nathan Walker, Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group, to talk to FNM in October 2024, Nathan has shared with us news of an initiative for landowners along the Tas – one of Norfolks chalk streams.
“Water Resources East (WRE) has commissioned Norfolk FWAG to support farmers and landowners in the Tas Catchment to understand opportunities for Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and the funding available. The benefits of NbS could result in reduced pressure from abstraction, improved chalk stream habitat, natural flood management, increased biodiversity, improvements to green infrastructure and improved water quality/nutrient neutrality measures… To understand if you are eligible to receive free support, with a view to scheduling your walkover visit, please contact Henry Walker at Norfolk FWAG:
Email:
You can find out more about the project here
Thanks to Steve, Justin and Mark for a fascinating visit and to everyone who is doing their bit for nature.
Ally Rae
January 2025
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- Written by: Ally Rae