Biodiversity in action in the Broads
Rare fungus makes a comeback
A rare fungus not seen in Norfolk for 200 years has been discovered in Whitlingham Woods.
The Coral tooth fungus, Hericium coralloides, was discovered in Whitlingham Country Park in 2010 - the only other record from Norfolk is one from the early part of the 19th century in West Norfolk.
www.broads-authority.gov.uk/Designation of Local Nature Reserve
Fen orchids reach record numbers
Record number of fen orchids, Liparis loeselii, have been recorded following Broads Authority fen restoration work in the Ant Valley. This rare pant is only found in the Broads and one other site in the UK.
Counting is currently in progress (no data currently available) - but anecdotal evidence points to an abundance of these orchids where previously none was found.
More species on the increase in the Broads
- breeding otter - five years ago sightings were rare; now frequent reports (seen at least weekly)
- European crane populations - up to 17 pairs in UK in around five counties, most in the Broads
- osprey staying around for longer in the Broads - none nesting but possibly looking for sites
- increase in number of lakes with holly-leaved Naiad Naias marina (rare water plant only found in the Broads) - in 3 new sites as a result of restoration work over past 10 years
- stoneworts (rare algae) on the increase - in 7 new sites as a result of our restoration work in the past 5 years
- water voles - on the increase after work to manage predators (mink) - see below (Trinity Broads)
- bitterns - previously rarely seen - peak was 70 booming males in the 1950s; in 1997 only 11 booming male bitterns in UK, mainly in Norfolk and Suffolk; now more than 50 booming in UK, around 15 booming males in the Broads
- marsh harrier - anecdotal, no data available
Trinity Broads: clean-up wins award
After 15 years of work to transform part of the Broads, in 2010 the Broads Authority and its partners won a prestigious national environment award.
The Trinity Broads, near Great Yarmouth, won an award in the natural environment category at the Waterways Renaissance Awards 2010.
The Broads Authority, Essex and Suffolk Water, Natural England and the Environment Agency have been in partnership since 1995 to improve water quality and people’s enjoyment of the area by activities including mud-pumping, scrub removal and managing non-native species such as mink.
The majority of the Trinity Broads area, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, a Special Area of Conservation and provides drinking water for Great Yarmouth, now has:
- clear water
- a profusion of water plants
- diverse range of fish
- return of rare wildlife such as the water vole
Water fleas help in the clean-up
An innovative technique was used at Ormesby Broad to encourage water fleas to thrive and clear the water of algae, encouraging aquatic plants to grow and a diverse range of fish to develop. The resulting clear water has now permeated to the other broads in the group.
www.broads-authority.gov.uk/bio-manipulation
Species on the increase after the clean-up
- rare plants such as the holly-leaved naiad and stoneworts
- molluscs such as the Desmoulin’s whorl snail
- bats are now a common sight
- bittern sightings are a weekly occurrence
- otters make an appearance on average once a month
Greater variety of fish being seen
Formerly varieties were limited to roach and bream but now anglers report catching:
- pike
- perch
- tench
- rudd
