Working Together to Improve Norfolk's Wildlife
East Beckham Common
The path through the Common is a glory to behold in the spring, lined with native Bluebells (April-June), Greater Stitchwort (March-June) and Red Campion (April-October).
In spring and summer, the hedgerows and undergrowth are full of the song of Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat and Yellowhammer, while Swifts and Swallows swoop overhead.
In the sunny glades, several species of butterfly make the most of the floral display, including Small White (July-August), Red Admiral (June-September), Speckled Wood (April-September), Holly Blue (April-May and August) and Meadow Brown (July-August).
The western edge of the common is a raised bank supporting Field Maple, Hawthorn, Polpody fern, Bramble – a popular source of nectar for butterflies and bees – and Holly; a few of the Hollies are impressive coppices. Towards the south, the west boundary bank has a gappy Hawthorn hedge including Birch and Sweet Chestnut. The bank on the eastern boundary features an old Hawthorn hedge which also includes some Blackthorn and Field Maple, as well as pollarded and coppiced Oaks. The site is also home to Whitebeam, Holm Oak and Wild Cherry trees.
If you are very lucky you may even catch a glimpse of a Red Deer wandering through.
For a full list of the flora and fauna spotted at our sites, see our Species Lists