Breaking New Ground May 2016 Newsletter by Breaking New Ground

Breaking News Newsletter for Breaking New Ground Landscape Partnership Scheme

May 2016

A newsflash for project partners and participants with news items, project updates, special features and forthcoming events.

Wings over the Brecks Update: Stone Curlews are back!

BNG Legacy

Last month’s Engagement and Legacy Development workshops, held in Brandon and Thetford and facilitated by Big Society Funding We are very excited to hear that the stone curlews CIC were very well attended and successful. The workshops were lively facilitated discussions on are safely back from their long migration from the way forward for legacy and partnership Africa and are now nesting on Norfolk Wildlife development in the Brecks, and lots of exciting Trust’s Weeting Heath. The returning birds ideas came out of them. The full report will be include Pair 2, Cynthia and Hue, who were the available on our website soon, so watch this stars of last years Wings over the Brecks nest space! cameras. As part of the project, NWT now have a new camera with a high quality zoom lens, which enables them (and you!) to get up close and personal to the famous “wailing heath chickens”!

Photo: Big Society CIC

People’s Pot Awards Photo: Norfolk Wildlife Trust

The camera is powered by a solar panel that is mounted on wheels, and to minimise stress for the birds the camera was wheeled out onto the heath prior to the birds’ arrival. When the birds started to nest, they were able to run a camera from the power source to be within 10m of the nest. So if you head down to the visitor centre at Weeting Heath, you’ll be able to see live footage of the birds on their nest! Later in the year we will put some of the best bits up on Youtube for all to see.

The BNG board met recently to review the People’s Pot small grant applications. This year we were looking particularly for projects focusing on preserving or enhancing understanding of Brecks built heritage. We had some fantastic entries and are very pleased to have been able to award some funding to all of the projects who applied. Details are still being finalised but we hope to be able to announce all of them in a special edition of the newsletter next month! www.breakingnewground.org.uk

Project Focus A6: Sandlines We’re delighted that the Sandlines project is carrying on beyond the life of the BNG funded workshops. Last week, participants from the workshops in 2015 got together for a reunion workshop in Santon Downham, with a walk down by the Little Ouse If you’re keen to get creative and try writing poetry, the Sandlines team will be holding two events over the Summer, at Ancient House Museum (£15 incl. museum entry). Email sandlines@pobroadband.co.uk to book. Writing from Dark Spaces: Saturday 4 June 1.30-4 pm Hard Lives: Stories from the Flint Face: Wednesday 27 July 1.30-4 pm

D5: Ice Age Brecks The Ice Age Brecks workshop on April 23rd was fully booked and very successful. If you’re keen to find out more about how the rocks, rivers, hills, sands and soil of the Brecks formed, the third and final workshop, with field trips to Knettishall Heath, Devil’s Punchbowl, Frost’s Common and Hockham Mere will take place on 21st May. More details and to book can be found here. Photo: Tim Holt-WIlson

D8: Barnham Cross Common A very well attended spring plant survey took place with Suffolk Wildlife Trust on the common on Saturday 30th April. Thank you to all who attended! Further surveys will take place on 30th July and Saturday 8th October, when plant experts will again be on hand to help identify the plants you find.

B3: Forest Fest The popular Forest Fest is returning to Brandon Country Park on Friday 3rd June 10:30-15:30 (free) Come and join us for a Forest Adventure! 

Try your hand at archery, geocaching, charcoal making and den-building.

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Get creative with Herbal Superheroes, Woodland Crafting and Wicked Willow.

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Enjoy watching outdoor theatre with Tangram Theatre’s Beastly Brecks show (see our ‘Picture of the Month’).

Project Focus C13: Breaking New Ground in the School Grounds

Photos: Green Light Trust

With the help of the Green Light Trust, students at IES Breckland have planted a new Brecks meadow garden at the front of their school. They used seeds gathered from their trips out to the Brecks as well as some potted native plant species.

Events Coming Up: IBA Watercolour Workshop: Painting a Wildflower: 7th May, Santon Downham Village Hall Landscape Revolution Workshop: 7th May, 9:30-16:30 The Classroom, Santon Downham Wildlife Recorders Introduction Sessions 19th & 21st May Locations TBA Ice Age Brecks 3: 21st May,9:30-17:30 The Carnegie Room, Thetford Landscape Revolution Workshop: 28th May, 9:30-16:30 United Reform Church, Thetford Forest Fest 2016: 3rd June 10:30-15:30 Brandon Country Park Find out more and book at http://www.breakingnewground.org.uk/events

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Picture of the Month Rex and the Brexperts! Beastly Brecks

theatre showâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; coming to Forest Fest (3rd June), local schools and to Latitude Festival! Photo ÂŠ Alex Brenner

What the Brecks Means to Me... The subtlety and confidence of the Brecks natural landscape is both impressive and inspiring. With no need for loud and blousy plants that demand attention, the beauty of the Brecks flora is subtle and is discovered over time. In a childlike in-the-moment state I embark on a journey of discovery and enjoy the delights offered by the Brecks landscape. Mastering the skill of differentiating between Spiked Speedwell, Spring Speedwell, Breckland Speedwell and Fingered Speedwell and the joy of discovering Spanish Catchfly seedlings on the heath tells the story of my long fascination of the micro perspective when exploring the landscape. Still, every now and again I look up and take in the awesomeness of the great sky and admire the age of the trees standing tall and proud and I am then reminded of nature’s superiority over man and its impressive ability to adjust to the ever changing natural, social and cultural conditions. Mia Witham, ‘BNG in the School Grounds’ Project Lead, Green Light Trust

Congratulations to our partners Euston Estate, winners of Suffolk’s Creating the Greenest County, Greenest Farming Business Award! Euston Farms is a mixed farming business in the Brecks growing root and cereal crops, with cattle and sheep grazing the parkland and river meadows. A range of innovative environmental and conservation activities (including our Pinelines project!) have been undertaken to improve efficiency and provide invaluable habitat for a number of species. www.eustonhall.co.uk

“Just back from Steven Falk's bee course at Mundford. Despite searching in hail, rain and wind today, we still found bees. Steven is a great teacher and has a seemingly infinite wealth of knowledge to share. Was really well attended and a great weekend.” - Andy G, participant, BNG/NBIS Spring Bee Workshop Don’t forget NBIS is organising another bee workshop with Steven Falk in July!

Get your project noticed!: If there is something that you would like included in the next newsletter, please send details to Amy and Martina by 27th May: BNG.Admin@suffolk.gov.uk Breaking New Ground c/o Visitor Centre, Brandon Country Park, Bury Road, Brandon, Suffolk, IP27 0SU 01842 815465 e: bng.admin@suffolk.gov.uk t: @TheBrecksBNG f: TheBrecksBNG. w: www.breakingnewground.org.uk