The management plan that is in place is to maintain the landscape of the common and adjacent lands currently held by the Trust. Within this structure, there are fundamental issues in relation to conservation and farming; each being carefully considered, within the overall plan, both now and in the future.
The basis of the plan is structured around various agreements with governmental bodies, and departments. The Trust has undertaken management work together with the Broads Authority, Natural England and others; our professional dealings are administered by Brown & Co who, advise and control specific projects and remedial work as needed. With the management structure in place, each year the Trust has regular meeting to ascertain existing project status and proposed future needs.
As we have outlined the management is complex with many aspects are considered, Grazing, Arable Farming, Hydrology and Water level management, Ecology and general husbandry. It is our intention to publish each year our plans for the common, this will placed on this site as applicable.
Over the last 4 years, the trustees have worked closely with the Broads Authority and Natural England to re-establish the managed habitat mosaic traditionally found across the broads. Grazing with traditional breed cattle, cyclical cutting of reed and sedge as well as the ongoing battle to maintain optimal levels of scrub encroachment are all part of acting as custodians for this landscape.
Burgh Common is a very special and ecologically valuable site. This is reflected by the national and international designations placed over it;
National Park – ‘The Broads’ covering 303km2, the broads are the UK’s largest protected wetland.
RAMSAR – Internationally designated Wetland Site, ‘Broadland’ which Burgh common lies under was designated in September 1994 due to the historic and current management activities creating a diverse matrix of habitats. Further information regarding the designation can be found here:
https://rsis.ramsar.org/RISapp/files/RISrep/GB68RIS.pdf
SPA – ‘Broadland’ Special Protection Area is of international importance for a variety of wintering and breeding raptors and water birds associated with extensive lowland marshes. Further information regarding the designation can be found here:
http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-2022-theme=default
SAC – ‘The Broads’ Special Area of Conservation covers is a European designation and covers 5,889 ha. It was designated for boasting 6 habitats and 3 species of primary significance. Further information regarding the SAC designation can be found here:
http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/protectedsites/sacselection/sac.asp?eucode=UK0013577
SSSI – Site of Special Scientific Interest ‘Burgh Common and Muckfleet Marshes’ again designated for the wide range of habitats present as well as the rare plants and animals that have been spotted here.
It has been the intention of Natural England, in their capacity as Higher Level Stewardship Advisors and SSSI officers to encourage grazing across the entire site. Grazing helps to create a varied sward, which provides a wider variety of habitats than if the site was abandoned. A wide variety of habitats will by virtue support a higher number of species.
In spring 2017 the decision was made (in line with the SSSI officer and the HLS advisor) to engage the Broad’s Authority to undertake management of a number of the grazing parcels with the fen harvester. While the result of the harvester is not as beneficial as the effects of grazing, this created habitat diversity in parcels otherwise dominated with mature vegetation and scrub encroachment. The cutting had the subsequent benefit of facilitating paths through the dense vegetation to encourage cattle deeper into the parcels. Following the good work of the harvester, all of the parcels on the common are now managed in part by seasonal grazing and or cutting.
In order to facilitate this grazing in the face of extreme climatic changes such as the 2018 summer drought, it has been necessary to install infrastructure such as fencing and gates. While these features may not be aesthetically pleasing, they are vital for livestock safety and ensuring the continued management of the site.
2018 / 2019
The trustees continue to work alongside the Broad’s Authority, Natural England and Brown & Co to ensure that the site is managed in line with all of the national and international designations, HLS scheme prescriptions and in the face of varying climatic conditions.