Home | Green space conservation

Green space conservation allows a piece of land to grow naturally without any cultivation or maintenance, returning it to the earth and allowing grasses, flowers and other fauna to thrive. This process helps to increase biodiversity and increases local wildlife, bees and other insects.

Green space conservation at the Council offices

Cultivated wild flower areas

The wildflower areas were first trialled in 2021, when we moved from the regular mowing of specific sites to a managed regrowth, including the Council offices in Cromer.

The idea is to bring back pollinators, such as bees, to the small pockets of land where an increase in native wildflowers can provide a range of benefits for the community, the climate and the local wildlife.

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It isn’t a cost-saving exercise for us. It is a renewal of our commitment to our natural spaces and environment. Increased biodiversity and richer natural habitats are essential in creating a sustainable future here in North Norfolk – not just for ourselves but for the wildlife we share our district with.

Cllr. Nigel Lloyd, portfolio holder for Environmental Services, Climate Change and the Environment

Green space conservation in action

Miyawaki Forest Project in North Norfolk

A Miyawaki Forest is a planting technique that can quickly establish an urban forest ecosystem.

North Norfolk District Council has planted Miyawaki Forests at three sites in North Norfolk:

Warren Avenue in Fakenham
Acorn Road playing field in North Walsham
Cooper Road play area in Sheringham
Beeston School

The planting took place in the winter and early spring of 2022.

We also have an imminent new site at Warren Woods playing field, Cromer.

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Green space conservation areas in north Norfolk

Cromer at Fearns Field on Station Road

Cromer at The Meadow on Meadow Road

Cromer on Fulcher Avenue

Cromer at Cadogan Road car park

Fakenham at Valley Way

Mundesley, Sea front gardens on Beach Road

Overstrand at Clifton Way clifftop

Sheringham at Cromer Road playing field

Wells at Home Piece Road and Ashburton Close

Edgefield at Rectory Road

Areas to be cultivated

Itteringham at Wolterton Road

Northrepps at Christophers Close

Sheringham at St Nicholas Place roundabout

Mundesley Sea Front Gardens

Wells at Northfield Crescent

Overview

North Norfolk District Council have committed to taking action on climate change and has declared a climate emergency. Our efforts include giving pieces of land back to the 'wild'. Linking in with the National Pollinator Strategy, the Council is delivering a Pollinator Action Plan to raise awareness of the plight of pollinators and to ensure the Council and its residents, businesses and landowners are provided with information to help us all protect and increase our pollinator populations.

The project is aimed at the pollinators' needs and is to be included across the breadth of Council work, raising awareness of pollinators across our local community.

Benefits

It provides several benefits in areas where this method is used:

The growth of pollen-rich flowers encourages pollinating insects such as bees. Our pollinators are crucial to the UK economy, with an estimated value of £400 million annually (post 2010). Without pollinators, we would struggle to grow many vegetables and fruits, including apples, pears, strawberries, beans and peas.
It creates wildlife habitats for mammals such as hedgehogs and an array of spring and summer flowering, giving sensory benefits to the area.
It reduces carbon emissions, helping the Council reduce its carbon footprint by reducing maintenance and subsequent fuel use.

Our vision

Our local environment will be rich in flower-rich habitats, helping support sustainable pollinator populations and making places more attractive for people to live and work in.

National Pollinator Strategy for England

The Government's National Pollinator Strategy for England sets out a 10-year plan to help pollinating insects survive and thrive across England. The strategy outlines actions to support and protect the many pollinating insects which contribute to our food production and the diversity of our environment. It is a shared action plan which looks to everyone to work together and to ensure we address pollinators' as an integral part of land and habitat management.

Our approach has seen several trial sites across the district left to grow wild. The aim of these trials has been to:

See what variety of wildflowers is beneath our feet once allowed to flourish. North Norfolk is home to many native perennial wildflowers, such as the Bee Orchid. However, the growth of these is rare due to the constant maintenance of green spaces.
Assess how the areas left to grow wild withstood specific environments and allow us to understand how to improve areas, so wildflowers can thrive.

Green space conservation