Discover the secrets of the sea

Exploring rockpools at low-tide is a great way to enjoy Norfolk’s wildlife. Peering into a rockpool reveals some of the secrets of the sea and offers a fascinating insight into the curious lives of coastal creatures says Isabelle Mudge, Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s Education Officer finds out more.

Many sea animals call rockpools home, including shellfish such as winkles and limpets – the domed pyramids that stick firmly to the rocks. Common prawns and small shore crabs will be seen darting around the pools, with beadlet anemones waving their tentacles about in the hope of a tasty morsel. Varieties of seaweeds, such as serrated wrack, can be found clinging to the rocks or laying along the strandline.

You might spot a velvet swimming crab – identified by its velvety-soft shell. These creatures, along with black squat lobster, long-spined sea scorpion and hermit crab are often found in the furthest rockpools at low tide.

Another lovely find is a starfish, of which there are many species. The common starfish is usually orange in colour and is instantly recognisable from its fivearmed shape.

With jellyfish, blenny fish and a host of other creatures to discover, head to the seaside for an adventure into the fascinating creatures that live along our coastal waters.

How to search a rockpool

• Check under reasonably sized, craggy rocks – a favourite of crabs – replace the rock gently, in the same location.

• Small fish like to hide in submerged pieces of seaweed - try gently moving them aside or brushing along weeds with a net.

• Look at things which are attached to rocks, rather than just in the water, but don’t try to remove them - they can be easily harmed.

• Crabs can hide just below the sand for camouflage - they give themselves away by letting out air bubbles!

Rockpooling events

Norfolk Wildlife Trust run their popular family rockpooling events during spring and summer. For more information visit: www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk/whats-on

The Dartmoor pony is officially recognised as a rare native breed. These moor–bred, hardy, conservation grazing ponies are suitable for thriving on coarse vegetation, and providing a natural way to help manage vital wildlife habitat.

It is not just ponies that play a part in managing and enhancing the natural environment. Cattle play their part in the process too. Again, visitors to the Holkham Nature Reserve cannot have failed to notice and be wowed by the ‘Oreo’ cattle or the Belted Galloway as they are officially known.

Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s top tips for responsible rockpooling

Rockpools are home to some of our most fascinating marine creatures, so it’s important to look after them, and rockpool responsibly.

1 Visit rockpools only on a retreating tide, wearing shoes with a nice strong grip.

2 Try staying in one area and observing the rockpool carefully.

3 Be patient: shadows and splashes can startle animals – most will freeze when disturbed making them much harder to spot.

4 Make sure your bucket has plenty of water, and on warm days replace the water every half hour, so that your catch doesn’t get too hot or run out of oxygen.

5 If you use a net, be really gentle and don’t squash any creatures under it – always put your catch into water straight away to keep it safe.

6 Use your hands to pick up really delicate creatures such as small crabs.

7 If you move a rock or seaweed, don’t forget to gently replace it – it is something’s home!

8 Always put creatures back where you found them.

It is a practice that is essential for the survival of habitats such as health and chalk grassland. Much of the flora and fauna we admire today is the result go hundreds, if not thousands, of years of animal grazing.

If you are wandering around The Brecks, or strolling along the boardwalk between Holme and Thornham or enjoying the views across Holkham Nature Reserve, you may do a double take when you spot a larger than usual creature moving silently among the gorse bushes or long grasses. Rachael Murray, NWT Communications Manager and Sarah Juggins of the North Norfolk Coastal Group explains more.

In December last year, 15 Dartmoor ponies arrived in the county to join the other small herds of native ponies that are doing their bit for conservation in Norfolk.

The ponies play an important part in managing the habitat and the new additions to the Breckland landscape will be responsible in part for helping vulnerable Norfolk wildlife species including grayling butterflies, Breckland speedwell, stone curlew and nightjar.

Over time the grazing cattle will reduce the height and vigour of coarse plant species, and encourage a wide range of marshy plant species including ragged robin, marsh marigold, orchids and cuckoo-flower.

Grazing should also make grassy areas ideal for a range of insects, which should in turn help small mammal numbers and make the site a more suitable hunting ground for barn owls, which are able to detect and catch their prey much more easily in shorter vegetation.

Native breeds such as the Belted Galloway, the iconic Highland cattle and the White Park happily eat tough plants such as sedges and thistles, which more commercial breeds find unpalatable, and help to break up mats of dead vegetation with their hooves. This provides areas of bare ground where wildflower seeds can germinate and habitat niches for many invertebrate species.

It is impossible to talk about cattle without addressing the question of methane emissions. In his recently released book Land Healer, Conservation manager at Holkham, Jake Fiennes, gives his view: ‘Putting cattle onto land, as we have at Holkham – has other, positive, knock-on benefits. The way they graze and affect the soil structure through the variety and density of vegetation and so on, may well be having environmental benefits. And land which is kept as permanent pasture is covered in grasses which grow, regenerate and hold carbon.’ survival of habitats such as health and chalk grassland. Much of the flora and biodiversity and help secure the future of native breeds including Dartmoor ponies, create a rich variety of different heights and

Wildlife Trusts across the UK use grazing by ponies, cattle, and sheep to great effect.

Jonathan Preston of the Norfolk Wildlife Trust says: ‘Using native breeds to graze our land for wildlife is a win win. It’s a great opportunity for us to protect Norfolk’s biodiversity and help secure the future of native breeds including Dartmoor ponies, Bagot goats and British white cows.

‘As selective grazers, native breeds can create a rich variety of different heights and species of vegetation, preventing delicate habitats from becoming dominated and overgrown, and they reach those spots a mower just can’t!

‘These animals fare well on the mixed mire and heath sites of Norfolk as well as thriving on the grass heaths of the Norfolk Brecks, where other livestock have tended to lose condition.

For those of you with a keen eye and an enthusiasm for Norfolk’s mobile mowers, Jonathan adds: “It is important to maintain the animals’ wildness, because if they become too tame, they can become overlyfriendly to the public on our nature reserves rather than carry out important conservation grazing. It’s a real treat to see them at work across the landscape, just be sure to keep your distance if you spot any wild animals grazing when you’re out and about, as they are true free spirits!’

The Lord Nelson is opposite the village green in Burnham Thorpe, which is the birthplace of Admiral Lord Nelson. This charming pub offers excellent home-cooked food and award-winning beer from Norfolk’s very own Woodforde’s Brewery. The pub is just a short distance from the market town of Burnham Market and close to the stunning, sandy beaches at Holkham. It offers a large, enclosed garden, spacious dining room and a cosy, snug bar area complete with log burners for that traditional English pub experience.

WWW.NELSONSLOCAL.COM