Restoration of Norton Heath

Norton Heath is well documented in Graham Smith’s interesting recent account of his walk from Ongar Railway Station to Fyfield and Norton Heath, which was a re-creation of a ramble led by Essex Field Members in 1913. 

The authors of the 1913 account described the surface of the heath as being disturbed by shallow excavations for gravel and that the resulting swampy heath and shallow pools “should prove happy hunting grounds for botanists”. The authors go on to list the array of heathland plants that were found and these included Common Milkwort Polygala vulgaris, Heath Bedstraw Galium saxatile, Heather Calluna vulgaris and Lousewort Pedicularis sylvatica to name but a few.  Sadly as Graham describes in his more recent article, these plants have all gone, and the heath is largely dark and shady woodland that has become established due to the absence of gravel digging, animal grazing and clearance of trees.  No Heather is currently found on the heath and only Wood Sage Teucrium scorodonia and Yellow Pimpernel Lysimachia nemorum remain.

One of Graham’s last remarks in his article is that “money and determination permitting the heath may one day be restored to a condition that bears some resemblance to its prime”.  Well we’re happy to report that his wish may be granted sooner rather than later as Countrycare are initiating a restoration project on the heath to see if any of the former heathland comunity can be restored.  

In February 2007 Countrycare felled 20 oak and birch  trees on the sunnier south-west section of the heath. This was an attempt to let more sunlight onto the ground, which is currently very sparse comprising of brambles, honeysuckle and wood sage. Twenty permanent quadrats (50 x 50 cm) were marked out with wooden stakes on both sections of the heath to monitor the response of the ground flora to management in a scientific manner. 

Monitoring of the response of the flora and fauna to the works has taken place in the summers of 2007, 2008 and 2009. The dense leaf litter and fertile topsoil was scraped off around the quadrats. Although there has been no reapperance of heather other acid heath loving plants have returned within the created woodland glade. There has also been a marked increase in insect life from butterflies through to grasshopers. As the heath has a unique geology and soils conditions it is hoped more plants will continue to recolonise.  

In December 2008 a further 42 trees were felled with an age range of between 10 and 50 years. Approximately 0.25h was thinned representing 7% of the total wooded area of the common. Individual trees were left and will be allowed to grow onto to maturity. It is hoped this area will develop as a woodland glade with a heathland plant community forming the understorey. Small gorse plants are appearing so hopefully the signs are good. With more light and warmth reaching the floor the common will also be more attractive for butterflies, reptiles and amphibians. Monitoring of the regeneration of the heath will take place for the next two summers before any new works are considered.

The long term vision for the Common would be to have trees fringing the entire edge of the common with a more open woodland in the middle where mature trees grow over heathland vegetation.

Countrycare is also working towards a Local Nature Reserve (LNR) designation to reflect its importance as a remnant heath with local and national rarity.

Further Information and links

• Norton Heath Survey 2007
• Norton Heath Survey 2008
• Norton Heath Survey 2009
• Conservationevidence.com Article on restoration at Norton Heath
• Press coverage of the restoration works