News

Norfolk's Earth Heritage provides a concise yet readable introduction to Norfolk's geodiversity and why it is an important resource for life today. It explains the county's heritage of geology and geomorphology (landforms and physical processes), soil and water features, and their contribution to our diverse landscapes. It shows how Norfolk geology is at the forefront of research into the evidence for successive Ice Ages and the earliest human settlement in Britain.

 

Biodiversity and geodiversity are the two fundamental elements of the natural world; nature conservation means the conservation of geology and landforms as well as fauna and flora. Almost a quarter of the county's Sites of Special Scientific Interest are designated primarily for their geodiversity. However, geoconservation has lagged behind bioconservation in public understanding and action. Norfolk's Earth Heritage moves to redress that imbalance, explaining the business of geoconservation and promoting a Geodiversity Action Plan (GAP) for the county; it calls for a partnership of like-minded organisations and individuals to join together and take the GAP forward.

 

Norfolk's Earth Heritage meets a need for readily accessible information for non-geologists. It presents a range of useful reference resources, including books and weblinks; it has a glossary; it includes advice for planners and a list of designated geodiversity sites. It should prove to be a source of information and inspiration for years to come.

 

The publication is available in printed version at £12 + £2 p&p from jennygladstone@aol.com. Please see flyer here.

The full PDF version can also be downloaded free-of-charge by clicking here.

Or Alternatively you can download part of the document as a PDF:

Pages 1-17
Pages 18-42
Pages 43-74

(See contents page to choose which part to download by clicking here)

 

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Can you help us find these fungi? (17/10/10)

 

Fungi are fascinating organisms, vital for recycling nutrients from leaves, trees and animals. Much of this activity takes place out of sight, but in autumn, the fruiting bodies or toadstools emerge for all to see, enabling us to discover more about their distribution.

 

NBIS is asking for your help with recording three species of fungi in Norfolk (see below for species). We don’t have many recent records of these species. The information you provide will help us to understand changes in their distribution, and will contribute to our overall knowledge of Norfolk’s natural heritage.

 

Please download the Fungi Survey leaflet here...........

 

Please download the press release here......

 

CLICK HERE TO USE OUR ONLINE RECORDING FORM

  

Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria)

 

Description:

A distinctive and widespread fungus up to 15cm across with a red cap with white spots. The Fly Agaric is poisonous and can be fatal if eaten. Like many of the large toadstools its mycelium associates with tree roots, supplying the tree with fertilizing minerals and receiving sugars in exchange.

                                                                                                                          

Where to look:                                                                                                                         

Heaths and woodland; usually near birch. September to November.

 

Only record Fly Agaric if it has all of these features:

Bright red cap; White spots (membrane fragments); ring on the stem.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hoof Fungus (Fomes fomentarius)

 

Description:

A tough bracket fungus, common in the north, the Hoof Fungus is scarce in central Britain. However, it has been found at several sites in Norfolk recently. Annual layers build up to produce a large, grey, hoof-shaped structure up to 20cm across and about 15cm deep. This fungus attacks and kills birch trees.

 

Where to look:

Heaths. Present all year round.

 

Only record Hoof Fungus if it has all of these features:

Growing on birch; hard like wood; grey on top (may have a powdery coating).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Red-lead Roundhead (Stropharia aurantiaca)

 

Description:

A distinctive toadstool with a deep orange (vermillion) cap 1.5 – 6cm across (sticky in wet weather). Often growing in clusters. An alien species which may have been introduced. Also referred to in some guide books as Leratiomyces ceres.

 

Where to look:

Mostly on woodchips. September to November

 

Only record Red-lead Roundhead if it has all of these features:

Deep orange cap; Grey-brown gills; Slender white stem.

 

 

 

 

Fungus notes

• Best time of year to see fungi is in autumn, after rain
• Fungi are often associated with woodlands, although unimproved grasslands can be good habitats to investigate
• All of the species featured in the NBIS survey are inedible.

NEVER eat fungi unless you are 100% certain you have identified an edible species.

 

The NBIS fungus survey, which was designed with help from the Norfolk County Recorder for fungi – Tony Leech – will run from October to November 2010.

 Please tell us if you find one of these fungi. Records should contain information about: What you saw; When you saw it; Where you saw it (grid reference); and Who you are.

You can record on-line by clicking on the link below. Or you can send us an email at nbis@norfolk.gov.uk or get in touch by phone 01603 224458 or post at NBIS, Room 301, County Hall, Norwich, NR1 2SG.

 

CLICK HERE TO USE OUR ONLINE RECORDING FORM

 

Photo credit (Red-lead roundhead): Keith Fox; (Fly Agaric and Hoof Fungus) Tony Leech;

 

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 More about glow-worms:

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JOIN IN NORFOLK WILDLIFE TRUST'S BIG BIODIVERSITY WATCH 5th AND 6th JUNE (03/06/10)
 

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HOT OFF THE PRESS...New Winter 2010 newsletter now available (26/02/10) 

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Bats and Roadside Mammals Survey (02/12/09)

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Local wildlife enthusiasts rewarded with sighting of new Pyramidal Orchid variant (07/10/09)

  Local wildlife enthusiasts who care for a Norfolk churchyard were rewarded with the sight of over 200 orchid blooms this spring. Wymondham Nature Group (WYNG) has been caring for the meadow at Hethel Churchyard for over a decade and has seen the population of Pyramidal Orchids grow spectacularly over this period – only a handful were recorded in the early 1990s. The group also noticed a new variant with pink sepals and white petals (below middle).

Simon and Anne Harrap, authors of Orchids of Britain and Ireland: A Field and Site Guide, comment: "Pyramidal Orchid (above left) usually varies rather little in colouration. Plants with pure white flowers (above right) have been named var. albiflora (also var. nivea), but are rather rare. There are also pale pink variants with lip a little paler than the upper petals and sepals, but we have certainly never seen a plant with pale pinkish-lilac sepals and contrastingly white petals (including a white lip), and it may be unique as well as very attractive. This is the sort of plant that get the orchid buffs going, and if it appears again in 2009, we would love to know!"

NWT launches Countryside Wildlife Survey. Have you seen any of these species in Norfolk? (07/10/09)

• Brown hare
• Grey partridge
• barn owl
• harvest mouse

Our countryside is not only an important area for food production, but also an important home for some of Norfolk’s most charismatic wildlife. Marshes and meadows provide hunting grounds for barn owls; arable fields, cover for young hares and coveys of grey partridges; hedgerows and field margins, feeding sites for tiny harvest mice – Norfolk has some amazing and very special wildlife.
Norfolk Wildlife Trust and Norfolk Biodiversity Information Service are asking for your help in recording these four species. Join in the survey, learn more about Norfolk’s wildlife and help us secure a future for these animals.

 Did you know?

• In the early twentieth century it is estimated there were more than 4 million hares in Britain. Today the population is thought to be around 800,000.
• The harvest mouse is Europe’s smallest mammal.
• Local names for the barn owl include Billy Wix, Hushwing and White Owl.
• The grey partridge is a red-listed species (one of the birds of highest conservation concern) because it has declined by more than 80% since the 1970s.

  Make your sightings count...

 When you have spotted one of the four animals above in Norfolk, please visit:
www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk/naturalconnections
and add your sighting online. 

 Alternatively use this leaflet to send us one or more of your observations – every wildlife record counts:
NWT Countryside Wildlife Survey leaflet (PDF).

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New report highlights the impacts of invasive plants in Norfolk (06/10/09)

The report focuses on six invasive plant species that have been identified as particularly high priorities by stakeholders: giant hogweed; Japanese knotweed; floating pennywort; Himalayan balsam; Australian swamp stonecrop; and parrot’s feather. More information about these species can be found on the Initiative’s webpage.

  Along with the status report, the Initiative has released a detailed action plan, outlining the measures that need to be taken over the next four years to reduce the impact and spread of these invasive species.

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N&NNS Hedgehog Survey (16/07/09)

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Recent species sightings in Norfolk (29/05/09)

 Bombus hypnorum

  This tiny, yellow flowered lily has been known at just one site in Norfolk, at Wayland Wood, just outside Watton for over 60 years. The first known record being from 1943 when a Mrs G.M.Newton discovered it (the date of 1941 in the 1999 Flora is an error). Since that time, and in spite of recent problems with deer grazing, it is still doing well. The fact that some years have passed without a record, is probably largely because it is not at all easy to find unless it is visited at just the right moment in the season. Once its flowers are over it takes a practiced eye to spot it as its leaves, without close examination, are remarkably like those of the bluebells amongst which it grows. Across the whole of the country, it is not as rare as once thought, particularly in the north of England, less so in the west and scarcest in the east where the drier climate is not so suitable for a plant needing moist soils and shade.
In 1883, the first Norfolk record was made nearer to Lynn and was re-found in 1902 by Dr J.Lowe, but since then this colony was not been re-found and was considered lost. In early spring 2009, however, when two visiting botanists were in the area, they discovered a few, non-flowering plants still growing at the same site. The fact that it can survive over a century without being seen gives hope that it might still be found elsewhere in the county! It was a great find.

(Gillian Beckett)

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NWT Launches coastal survey (17/04/09) ***SURVEY NOW CLOSED***

 Norfolk Wildlife Trust  launches a survey of Norfolk’s coastal wildlife and is appealing for help to discover the distribution of key species.

  Norfolk Wildlife Trust education manager, David North explains: “Our coast is home to some amazing plants and animals, five of which Norfolk Wildlife Trust wants to map the distribution. These are sea-holly, grayling butterfly, harbour porpoise and yellow horned-poppy with its beautiful yellow flowers. All are believed to be declining in the county.  The fifth species in our survey is the slipper limpet, a non-native that is spreading into Norfolk waters. We are appealing to local people and tourists to keep their eyes peeled and contact us with any sightings.”

  NWT is working in partnership with Norfolk Biodiversity Information Service and the sightings submitted will be used to map each species’ distribution in Norfolk.

  Director of Norfolk Wildlife Trust Brendan Joyce commented: “If you are at the coast this summer, whether on holiday or just enjoying Norfolk’s beautiful countryside, keep an eye out for these five species and get involved in coastal wildlife conservation. The survey is really simple to take part in and every record really does count. For help with identification and to learn more about coastal wildlife, come along to one of our special marine events this summer, or visit the NWT website.”

  The survey ran until the end of September and tied in to a season of coastal events. From exploring the life in rock pools and building fossils to walks to Blakeney Point and discovering the nocturnal world of dunes.

  The Natural Connections project received grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund and European Social Fund to support the involvement of local communities in wildlife surveys and conservation projects.

  The five species in the survey are:

•   Grayling butterfly

When a grayling butterfly lands, it often tilts its wings sideways to avoid casting a shadow. Look for its silver-grey underside with a lighter gray zigzag mark.

•   Harbour porpoise

The smallest and probably the commonest cetaceans found in the UK, only reaching a maximum of two metres in length.

•   Yellow horned-poppy

The crinkled grey-green leaves are often visible all year and the extraordinary long, thin, usually curved seedpods up to 25cm long are unique to this plant. All parts of this plant are poisonous.

•   Slipper limpet

Oval shell of white, yellow, cream or pink. They live on top of each other forming curved chains of up to 12 individuals.

•   Sea holly

Sea holly roots were once sold as an aphrodisiac. Look for the very prickly holly-shaped leaves and attractive metallic-purple-blue flowers.

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Joint recorder event (10/04/09)

 
The Abbey Conference Centre was the venue for a successful event for Recorders held jointly in March by NBIS and the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists’ Society (NNNS).
The evening gathering was well attended and allowed Recorders and NBIS staff to network. Martin Horlock, Biodiversity Information Officer at NBIS gave a presentation showing the breadth of services now offered by NBIS, emphasising how essential the work of the County Recorders is to the Service.

The meeting also heard from Stephen Livermore, Chair of the NNNS, about a new initiative to produce a Red Data Book for Norfolk, through a web-based on-line collaborative effort.

Over 90% of participants reported that they had found the event useful. Further meetings are planned with a special demonstration session focusing on Geographical Information System (GIS) mapping coming soon.
The event will be open to all those interested in biological recording in Norfolk—please get in touch if you would like to find out more: nbis@norfolk.gov.uk

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New era for Records Centre (16/12/08)

We are launching a new service which will deliver high-quality information on Norfolk’s biodiversity.

Building on the successes of the Gressenhall-based Norfolk Biological Records Centre (NBRC), the Norfolk Biodiversity Information Service (NBIS) will work to make data available – often in electronic map-based format - on Norfolk’s habitats, sites and species. NBIS is set to operate through a partnership of organisations and is hosted by Norfolk County Council (NCC). Rural Environment Manager at NCC, John Jones, said “The service brings together the energies of professionals and volunteers, and will fulfil a growing need for biodiversity information across all sectors. It will strengthen existing systems, build on existing networks and provide easier access to information.” NBIS was launched following a review of the NBRC, which involved input from many partners. NBIS builds upon the sound records base historically provided by the NBRC, expanding and modernising the services with access to electronic mapping and a larger staff complement. Data from the network of skilled Norfolk recording specialists, primarily the County Recorders who undertake much field work, mostly on a voluntary basis, continues to be essential. Norfolk Biological Records Officer, Pat Lorber said, “Our new mapping capabilities mean that we will be able to use our substantial records data more proactively with huge benefits for Norfolk.

NBIS has a crucial role to play in the development and implementation of the Norfolk Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) – the county’s plan to maintain and enhance biodiversity - delivered through the Norfolk Biodiversity Partnership. It will help local authorities and other public bodies as they fulfil their obligations under the NERC Act of 2006 to conserve biodiversity, and will strengthen Norfolk’s County Wildlife Sites System run by Norfolk Wildlife Trust. NBIS will also integrate with the National Biodiversity Network (NBN) “Gateway” – the portal to national biodiversity data www.nbn.org.uk. A new NBIS website www.nbis.org.uk, which is set to go live early in 2009, will provide a great way to find out more. With regular updates on projects, partners and news from the recorder network, the website also gives details of the rejuvenated enquiry service.

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Audit of BAP species (16/12/08)

This summer, staff at NBIS checked nearly a million records on the NBIS
database to find out how many nationally important plants and animals occur in Norfolk. This audit provided a wealth of information, which should benefit planners, naturalists, researchers and environmental managers.

Some 850,000 records held on the NBIS database were queried to establish how many of the species included in the national Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species list can be found (or occurred historically) in. Results were refined by looking through other published literature such as The Birds of Norfolk, A Flora
of Norfolk and reports by the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists’ Society in addition to seeking specialist input from the recording community.

Findings show just how important Norfolk is for the conservation of biodiversity: there are 419 BAP species occurring in Norfolk, representing 36% of the national list. Some 88% of bird species and 59% of moth species on the national list have been recorded in Norfolk demonstrating the importance of the county for these groups. The data revealed that 72 BAP species are now extinct in the county
– this figure consists primarily of beetle species and vascular plants.

The audit highlighted several areas to address to make the datasets even more useful. These include the need for modern records (ie those less than 10 years old), and records for key groups which are under-represented such as molluscs, dragonflies, invertebrates, lower plants, marine species and even common species hitherto not deemed worthy of recording, such as sparrows and starlings. NBIS hopes to be able to address these gaps working with local recorders, and initiating new targeted surveys.

Copies of the draft report can be downloaded from the Norfolk Biodiversity website. Alternatively and for further information please contact us.

Photo credit: Silver studded blue (Graham cresswell)

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New Records for Norfolk (16/12/08)

Norfolk is very fortunate to have an energetic and expert community of voluntary recorders and specialists known as the County Recorder Network. NBIS is
greatly indebted to this fine group of naturalists who generously share their specialist knowledge. Latest records include:

Two new macro moths - the tree-lichen beauty and the cloaked pug which were recorded this summer (at Weybourne and Sheringham respectively) by the Norfolk Moths Survey (www.norfolkmoths.org.uk)
Sightings of the first black lark in Norfolk at Winterton Dunes this April. Easterly winds probably accounted for sightings of this species which has only been seen twice previously in the UK.
New sightings at Earlham Cemetery in Norwich of a bee, Andrena hattorfiana, previously recorded in the distant past in Norfolk

 
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Cuckoo bumblebee in Norfolk (16/12/08)

Norfolk’s Biological Records Officer at NBIS, Pat Lorber, was delighted when
news came in this summer of a scarce bumblebee, last seen in Norfolk only rarely in recent times. Senior Reserve Manager, Ash Murray, of Natural England, spotted the red-tailed cuckoo bumblebee (Bombus rupestris) amongst
a colony of more common red-tailed bumblebees at Dersingham Bog National Nature Reserve this summer. The queen cuckoo bumblebee kills the queen of the host bumblebee nest, depositing her own eggs there instead which are tended by the host worker bees. Although abundant in Victorian times, like many other bumblebee species, pressures from intensive agriculture have led to wholesale declines over the past 70 years. Habitat restoration at Dersingham involving input from many volunteers has restored large areas of flower-rich heathland habitat which is good news for all bumblebees.

Pat has received a number of unusual records over the last few years, particularly for invertebrates, and stressed the importance of logging such finds with NBIS.

(Photo credit: Cuckoo bumblebee (Ted Benton))

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NBIS funded through Natural England to update the wetland habitat inventories (16/12/08)

NBIS will receive funds from Natural England to help update the regional wetland habitat inventories. The work is set for completion in 2008/9 and will focus on three wetland habitats: Coastal and Floodplain Grazing Marsh (CFGM), Reedbeds and Fens. The output will include new Geographical Information System (GIS) layers conforming to national habitat inventory standards, plus recommendations for any further improvements. The information will be extremely useful to the Biodiversity Partnership amongst others as it will give a much better understanding of the status of wetlands in the region. NBIS will draft the final report for the project on behalf of the partnership of six local Record Centres in the Region.

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GAPs workshop (16/12/08)

NBIS hosted a meeting this November to identify priorities for work planned to fill gaps in the datasets held by the service. Over 20 people from conservation organisations across Norfolk were involved in a workshop with NBIS staff at Gressenhall to help clarify the way forward.

The objectives of the workshop were:

To present recent work to identify gaps in the data holdings of NBIS
To outline current work
To identify external drivers for the NBIS work programme
To prioritise future work
NBIS Biodiversity information Officer Martin Horlock explains, “We want NBIS to provide a first rate, modern service to all users - from planners and developers to conservation organisations and Recorders. We need to be sure to direct our efforts to plug gaps in our knowledge towards those areas that will add greatest value to our service.”

One of the pressing needs is for improved access to digitised habitat mapping which is becoming increasingly significant as many users seek information on BAP habitats. Workshop discussions recommended shifts in habitat mapping priority for ponds (to high priority), hedgerows (to high or medium) and mosaic habitat which covers brownfield sites (to high priority).

Although there are nearly one million species records on the main database, other needs reflect gaps in records for particular species (including amphibians and reptiles, molluscs, dragonflies, fish and all marine species) or within specific areas of the country (west Norfolk and The Wash were identified). Other priorities are species that were previously common but are now included on the latest BAP list, such as house sparrows and hedgehog. Further records to support the Norfolk Non-Native Species Initiative (NNNI) are also needed.

Through round table discussions at the meeting, the agencies identified a variety of potential habitat and species information which will be made available to NBIS to help fill some of the gaps over the coming months.

Working with local recorders and initiating new targeted surveys will help NBIS to address other information needs.

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Norfolk Non-Native Species Initiative (16/12/08)

The Norfolk Biodiversity Partnership has recently launched a major new initiative to promote the prevention, control and eradication of invasive non-native species in the county.

The Norfolk Non-Native Species Initiative (NNNSI), which is generously supported by Norfolk County Council, the Water Management Alliance, Natural England, the Environment Agency and the Broads Authority, aims to improve our understanding of these species which have such significant economic, environmental and social impacts. Good recording is essential to enable
effective management and the initiative will work closely with NBIS to collect records focussing initially on 6 invasive aquatic and river-side plants: Australian swamp stonecrop, Japanese knotweed, Giant hogweed, Floating pennywort, Himalayan balsam, Parrot’s feather.
NNNSI project co-ordinator, Mike Sutton-Croft said, “We are keen for the public to send in their sightings of these species. From Spring 2009, the Natural Connections project run by Norfolk Wildlife trust will be collecting records of non-native species - please get involved!” More details can be found at :

http://www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk/naturalconnections/surveys/.

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