Birds and Bunnies at East Wretham Common

When you arrive at East Wretham Nature Reserve, and walk a short distance from the busy A1075, you will hear waterfowl clanking and splashing on Langmere, songbirds chattering in the gorse, the bleat of sheep and the hiss of the wind whispering through the pine trees. It is difficult to imagine that, during the Second World War, this was a large and bustling military base, with thundering Wellington and Lancaster bombers shattering the peace of the countryside. The Czech Training Unit were also based here, a situation similar to the one depicted in the 2002 film Dark Blue World.

The heath was acquired in 1938 by the Norfolk Naturalists' Trust (now the Norfolk Wildlife Trust), because the sandy scrub contained such a wide variety of plants and animals. Among its treasures are some rare spiders and moths, and unusual butterflies, such as small skipper, brown argus, grayling and Essex. However, nature came second to defence in 1939, and the Trust was obliged to relinquish it to the RAF shortly after. The military remained until 1970, but their concrete airstrips, roads and buildings are slowly being colonised by mosses, lichens and wildflowers such as vipers bugloss, dark mullein and wall pepper, indicating that nature has the upper hand once more.

The heath was the first nature reserve ever established in Breckland. It owes its current form to grazing by sheep and rabbits, which prevent it from becoming scrubland again. The first rabbits were introduced to England just after the Norman Conquest, when their fur and meat were a highly prized commodity. They were farmed in warrens and were rare and expensive - a far cry from their status today! Their sharp teeth prevent the area from being over-colonised by bracken, allowing delicate wildflowers to thrive. These include hair grass, thyme-leaved speedwell, heath bedstraw, harebells and early forget-me-nots.

In the 18th century, a belt of Waterloo pines was planted to shelter the heath from the prevailing winds and to help anchor down the light sandy soil. These days, oaks and birches have joined them, providing a haven for yellowhammers, willow warblers, finches and tree pipets. The old pines have been gnarled and moulded by time and winds, and now form dramatic shapes across the Norfolk skyline.

This unique area is important for all sorts of reasons. It provides a unique habitat for a number of rare or unusual birds, animals, plants and insects. It is also one of the few surviving areas of Breckland that has not been encroached by farms or other human development. For more information on the Brecklands and the conservation programmes that are currently in operation, contact the Norfolk Wildlife Trust.

Where to eat and drink

There is nowhere to stop for refreshment on the route, since the entire walk is on a nature reserve. However, the Dog and Partridge at nearby East Wretham has good food and a wide range of ales. It has a beer garden at the back, which is a pleasant place to rest after your stroll across the common.

While you're there

You can continue walking west along the Drove Road, which is also known as the Hereward Way, to the Devil's Punchbowl, a sinister tree-shrouded pool. The town of Thetford is also worth a visit. It has one of the tallest castle mounds in the country - about 80ft (24m) - dating from before 1086, along with the remains of a once-powerful Cluniac priory.

What to look for

The stone curlew often visits in the summer. You can identify it by its 'coolee' call and, when it is flying, by the white bands on its wings. Look for crossbills among the pines, feeding with their sharp beaks among the pine cones. They are not native to the area, but will come if the pine crops fail in Scandinavia.