Sweetbriar Road Meadows, Norwich
Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
A water-filled dyke bisects the meadow | |
Location | Norfolk |
---|---|
Grid reference | TG208097[1] |
Interest | Biological |
Area | 9.7 hectares (24 acres)[1] |
Notification | 1986[1] |
Location map | Magic Map |
Sweetbriar Road Meadows is a 9.7-hectare (24-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Norwich in Norfolk.[1][2]
Description
Enclosed between Norwich's outer ring road, industrial land and lying in the floodplain of the River Wensum the site acts as a 'green wedge' extending towards the city. The site consists of a series of unimproved wet meadows with permanent water-logging which support many plant species. Three principal grassland communities are present; damp neutral grassland, marshy grassland and areas of tall fen. A number of water-filled dykes bisect the site and attract large numbers of breeding amphibians in the spring months. Large flocks of redpoll and occasionally siskin feed on the alder trees that fringe the meadows. Many other bird species including snipe find the wet fields an ideal breeding habitat. The whole site is managed on traditional lines with light pony grazing without the use of artificial fertilizers and herbicides.
In January 2022 Sweetbriar Road Meadows and the adjacent marshes making up the Sweet Briar Marshes was purchased by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation on behalf of the Norfolk Wildlife Trust.[3]
The Norfolk Wildlife Trust launched an appeal to raise the money to purchase Sweet Briar Marshes from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.
Location
Its western boundary is formed by the A140 outer ring road Sweet Briar Road. Marriott's Way NCR1 lies to the north and the Riverside Walk to the south. Mile Cross Marsh together with the adjacent Sycamore Crescent Wood are known collectively as the Wensum Local Nature Reserve[4] and form the eastern boundary. The site is private land with no public access but can be viewed from public footpaths.
References
- ^ a b c d "Designated Sites View: Sweetbriar Road Meadows, Norwich". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
- ^ "Map of Sweetbriar Road Meadows, Norwich". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
- ^ "Sweet Briar Marshes FAQs - Norfolk Wildlife Trust". www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
- ^ Wensum Local Nature Reserve Retrieved 07 August 2015
52°38′27″N 1°15′46″E / 52.6407°N 1.2628°E / 52.6407; 1.2628
- v
- t
- e
- Alderfen Broad
- Alderford Common
- Ant Broads and Marshes
- Aslacton Parish Land
- Badley Moor
- Barnham Cross Common
- Beeston Cliffs
- Beetley and Hoe Meadows
- Blo' Norton and Thelnetham Fens
- Booton Common
- Boughton Fen
- Breckland Farmland
- Breckland Forest
- Breydon Water
- Bridgham and Brettenham Heaths
- The Brinks, Northwold
- Broad Fen, Dilham
- Bryant's Heath, Felmingham
- Bure Broads and Marshes
- Burgh Common and Muckfleet Marshes
- Buxton Heath
- Calthorpe Broad
- Cantley Marshes
- Castle Acre Common
- Cawston and Marsham Heaths
- Cockthorpe Common, Stiffkey
- Coston Fen, Runhall
- Cranberry Rough, Hockham
- Cranwich Camp
- Crostwick Marsh
- Damgate Marshes, Acle
- Decoy Carr, Acle
- Dereham Rush Meadow
- Dersingham Bog
- Didlington Park Lakes
- Dillington Carr
- Ducan's Marsh
- East Harling Common
- East Ruston Common
- East Walton and Adcock's Common
- East Winch Common
- East Wretham Heath
- Eaton Chalk Pit
- Edgefield Little Wood
- Elm Road Field, Thetford
- Felbrigg Woods
- Field Barn Heaths, Hilborough
- Flordon Common
- Forncett Meadows
- Foulden Common
- Foxley Wood
- Fritton Common, Morningthorpe
- Gawdyhall Big Wood, Harleston
- Geldeston Meadows
- Great Cressingham Fen
- Great Yarmouth North Denes
- Grime's Graves
- Gunton Park Lake
- Hall Farm Fen, Hemsby
- Halvergate Marshes
- Hardley Flood
- Hedenham Wood
- Hilgay Heronry
- Hockering Wood
- Holly Farm Meadow, Wendling
- Holt Lowes
- Honeypot Wood
- Hooks Well Meadows, Great Cressingham
- Horningtoft Wood
- Horse Wood, Mileham
- Hunstanton Cliffs
- Islington Heronry
- Kelling Heath
- Kenninghall and Banham Fens with Quidenham Mere
- Leziate, Sugar and Derby Fens
- Limpenhoe Meadows
- Lower Wood, Ashwellthorpe
- Ludham - Potter Heigham Marshes
- Mattishall Moor
- Middle Harling Fen
- Narborough Railway Embankment
- New Buckenham Common
- North Norfolk Coast
- Old Bodney Camp
- Old Buckenham Fen
- Ouse Washes
- Overstrand Cliffs
- Paston Great Barn
- Poplar Farm Meadows, Langley
- Potter and Scarning Fens, East Dereham
- Potter's Carr, Cranworth
- Priory Meadows, Hickling
- Pulham Market Big Wood
- Redgrave and Lopham Fens
- Ringstead Downs
- River Nar
- River Wensum
- Rosie Curston's Meadow, Mattishall
- Roydon Common
- Scoulton Mere
- Sea Mere, Hingham
- Sexton Wood
- Shallam Dyke Marshes, Thurne
- Shelfanger Meadows
- Sheringham and Beeston Regis Commons
- Shotesham Common
- Shotesham-Woodton Hornbeam Woods
- Sidestrand and Trimingham Cliffs
- Smallburgh Fen
- Snettisham Carstone Quarry
- Southrepps Common
- Stanford Training Area
- Stanley and Alder Carrs, Aldeby
- Stiffkey Valley
- Swangey Fen, Attleborough
- Swannington Upgate Common
- Swanton Novers Woods
- Sweetbriar Road Meadows, Norwich
- Syderstone Common
- Thetford Golf Course and Marsh
- Thompson Water, Carr and Common
- Tindall Wood, Ditchingham
- Trinity Broads
- Upper Thurne Broads and Marshes
- Upton Broad and Marshes
- Warham Camp
- The Wash
- Wayland Wood, Watton
- Weeting Heath
- Wells Chalk Pit
- Westwick Lakes
- Weybourne Cliffs
- Whitwell Common
- Winterton-Horsey Dunes
- Wiveton Downs
- Wretham Park Meres
- Yare Broads and Marshes
- Bawsey
- Beeston Cliffs
- Bilsey Hill
- Blackborough End Pit
- Bramerton Pits
- Breckland Forest
- Briton's Lane Gravel Pit
- Broome Heath Pit
- Caistor St Edmund Chalk Pit
- Catton Grove Chalk Pit
- Cranberry Rough, Hockham
- Dersingham Bog
- East Runton Cliffs
- East Walton and Adcock's Common
- Glandford (Hurdle Lane)
- Glandford (Letheringsett Road)
- Gooderstone Warren
- Grime's Graves
- Grimston Warren Pit
- Happisburgh Cliffs
- Heacham Brick Pit
- Holkham Brick Pit
- Hunstanton Cliffs
- Hunstanton Park Esker
- Leet Hill, Kirby Cane
- Morston Cliff
- Mundesley Cliffs
- North Norfolk Coast
- Overstrand Cliffs
- Setchey
- Sidestrand and Trimingham Cliffs
- St James' Pit
- Stanford Training Area
- Wells Chalk Pit
- West Runton Cliffs
- Weybourne Cliffs
- Weybourne Town Pit
- Wiggenhall St Germans
- Winterton-Horsey Dunes
- Wiveton Downs
- Wretton