Breaking News Newsletter for Breaking New Ground Landscape Partnership Scheme
Oct 2017
A newsflash for project partners and participants with news items, project updates, special features and forthcoming events. Save the Date for our FINAL BNG Conference!
Flint Panels get a new home in Brandon
Sat 18th November, Carnegie Rooms, Thetford
Great news for the William Carter Flint panels which we rescued from the old library in Brandon: They’ve been held in the Suffolk Archaeology store but are now, thanks to local Councillor Viktor Lukaniuk and Heritage Centre manager Darren Norton, are on display at their new home in Brandon Heritage Centre. View them at the centre every weekend, 10am to 4pm, until the end of October. Funding has now been secured for a new permanent display at the centre, to be unveiled next year.
10am-4pm As the project draws to a close, we’re holding a oneday conference to celebrate the results of the numerous conservation projects which have been undertaken as part of the scheme. The day will also look at how best to carry forward the momentum built up during the project. Details of the speakers will be made available in next month’s newsletter
Photo: Nick Ford
The conference is FREE, a buffet lunch is provided, and tea and coffee will be served throughout the day. BOOK YOUR FREE TICKETS NOW! http://bit.ly/2xLcSlP Sad news... We were very sad to learn that Brecks photographer Nick Ford passed away a couple of weeks ago. Nick was a great supporter of BNG, and took many of the wonderful photos we have used throughout the project, including in this newsletter. His dramatic landscapes and dazzling still life images capture the spirit and Call for Papers for the Journal of Breckland essence of the Brecks so beautifully. He will be missed Studies Volume 2 by us all. Following the success of the first edition, published His family have asked for donations to be made to the earlier this year, the Breckland Society and the Woodland Trust in his name. Breaking New Ground Landscape Partnership are delighted to announce a call for papers for inclusion in the second Journal of Breckland Studies (JBS). Each paper can be of up to 2,500 words in length, to include illustrations, and addressing a particular theme or subject relating to the Brecks.
Potential contributors are invited to submit an outline summary of up to 200 words Outline summaries should be emailed to bng.admin@suffolk.gov.uk no later than Tuesday 31 October 2017. The final report will be published in spring 2018, both as hard copy and online.
Photo: Nick Ford
To discuss your ideas, or for further information, please contact James Parry of The Breckland Society on jbs@brecsoc.org.uk .
Project Focus D7: Brecks Uncovered Norfolk and Suffolk Wildlife Trusts worked in partnership to deliver this project for primary schools in the Brecks. Every child in each of the 10 primary schools in the project was involved in learning about the local natural environment, biodiversity and heritage. Starting with school assemblies this project reached over 2000 pupils. Each school also made a field trip to either Grimes Graves, Knettishall Heath or Lackford Lakes. In year 1, the team visited each of the schools and began to engage students through whole school assemblies and workshops within the school grounds. This introduction was particularly useful as a primer for the field trips to classic Brecks sites in years 2 and 3. At Grimes Graves, KS2 pupils explored the excavated mine shaft and surveyed the Brecks flora on the site. Students then went on to produce artwork based on their visit which was displayed at their schools. The trips to Lackford Lakes and Knettishall Heath explored the biodiversity, history, geology, archaeology and culture, with pupils collecting leaves, identifying plants, spotting bugs and taking bark rubbings. These trips were supported by volunteers, some from the wildlife trusts and some parents of the visiting children. To embed learning about the Brecks into the learning resources for the schools, 32 teachers were trained during twilight sessions as part of their Professional development (CPD). Teachers found the training very useful and remarked that they will continue to use the outdoors in the Brecks to cover aspects of their curriculum. It was originally envisaged that school governors would also be trained but there was little interest generated. More teachers were trained in lieu of the governors which it was felt will be more beneficial in the long run for local school children.
“ I think I've seen my class in a whole new light being part of today. Children who were perhaps quiet in the classroom have been more vocal. I've learnt a lot and I hope to take my class out a lot more often.� Teresa Massawe - Year 5 Teacher,Bishops C of E Primary School, Thetford
Brecks Events
BNG Events Vernacular Building with Earth 27th Oct 10-4 Get your hands (and boots) dirty as you explore the historic use of earth as a building material. Demonstrations and practical sessions in making and using daub and clay lump. Bring your own wellingtons for a fun and informative day out. Tickets are free but booking is essential. Book your ticket on Eventbrite here: EARTH: https://buildingwithearth.eventbrite.co.uk
BNG Final Conference 10-4pm Saturday 18th November, Thetford Carnegie Rooms
Book here: http://bit.ly/2xLcSlP
Partners’ Events Fungi Foray, 15th October , Brandon Country Park Join us on a day exploring the fascinating, magical and colourful world of fungi. Collect, identify and learn about the amazing variety of species found around the country park. Suitable for 8 years and over. Tickets: £25.00, including hot drinks throughout the day, lunch in the Copper Beech Tearoom and car parking. Pre-booking is essential - you can book in person in the visitor centre or over the phone by credit/debit card, simply call us on 01842 810185.
Woodland Wonders, 24th Oct 10:30-12:30 Suffolk Wildlife Trust Lackford Lakes Family morning at Lackford Lakes for all ages. All children must be accompanied. Woodland crafts, fire skills and shelter building for all ages! Under 3's are free but we still need them to be booked in. £4/adult, £2/child Book by calling 01473 890089
NBIS/Natural England/UEA Bug Sorting Marathons 1st, 2nd, 8th,15th and 22nd November, 2nd, 3rd, 16th, 17th December Come along and learn about invertebrate families and help sort specimens into those families - by doing so you will help really important UEA research into management for important invertebrates in the Brecks Sign Up here: http://bit.ly/2fJPy1M
Orchards East – Norfolk Launch Saturday 4th November, 10.00am – 3.00pm The Green Britain Centre, Swaffham, Norfolk, PE37 7HT
Followers: 1615 Likes: 583 Instagram: 138
Orchards East is an exciting new environmental and cultural project covering six counties in the East of England – Bedfordshire Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.
t: @TheBrecksBNG
To book and find out more: www.orchardseast.org.uk
i: TheBrecksBNG
f: www.facebook/TheBrecksBNG
If you’d like to see your event here, please send us details at bng.admin@suffolk.gov.uk
News from Shifting Sands In the last few weeks we’ve been getting ready to survey rabbits on four grass heath SSSIs in the Brecks. This will involve counting and mapping the number of active rabbit warrens on these nature reserves. While rabbits may be treated as a pest on nearby farms and golf courses, on the remaining heaths in the Brecks rabbits play a central role in maintaining the open conditions required by so many rare and declining heathland species, including birds like the stone curlew and plants like spring speedwell. These surveys will provide important baseline measures for our rabbit enhancement experiments:, data shows that rabbits have been declining rapidly since the 1990s and we want to help reverse this trend, for the benefit of the heathland habitat and its wildlife. We’re designing a range of experimental treatments to aid rabbit colonisation and breeding such as providing brash piles for cover, and sand banks for burrowing. Without good quality habitat, dominant female rabbits will purposely limit the breeding activities of younger females, which likely lowers the number of young they can produce. We’re also installing motion sensor cameras at some sites – look out for a few shots of the furry critters in the forthcoming newsletter editions! Zosia Ladds Zosia.Ladds@naturalengland.org.uk Keystone Species Officer – HLF Back from the Brink Norfolk and Suffolk Area Team Natural England Tel: 02080252871 Mob: 07584338982
Get your Brecks Events/News noticed! If there is something that you would like included in the next newsletter, please send details to Amy : 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