The winner of the 2006 RSPB/CIWEM Living Wetlands Award is
The Little Ouse Headwaters Project submitted by the Little Ouse
Headwaters Charity.
The rivers Little Ouse and Waveney have their origins in a shallow
valley which marks the historic boundary between the counties of
Norfolk and Suffolk, the Waveney flowing east and the Little Ouse
flowing west to join the Great Ouse.
In 2002, residents from the Parishes of Redgrave, South Lopham,
Blo' Norton, Hinderclay and Thelnetham established the Little Ouse
Headwaters Project (LOHP) as a Charitable Trust which aims to
enhance the value of the river valley within these parishes. Since
its establishment, the project has taken on responsibility for the
management of six sites within the valley totalling over 36 ha of
land with adjacent sites being managed for conservation by Suffolk
Wildlife Trust.
Their long-term aims are:
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To recreate and maintain a continuous corridor of wildlife habitat
along the headwaters of the Little Ouse by:
- improving the wildlife diversity
- where appropriate, restoring natural river features
- improving water quality
-
To facilitate rural regeneration and land-use diversification
-
To improve recreation, amenity and education value for the
community
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To improve landscape quality and safeguard against flooding
Activities such as removal of agricultural waste, changes in land
use, pollarding, scrub clearance and grazing regimes have been
conducted and are already proving of benefit to UK and local BAP
(Biodiversity Action Plan) priority habitats and the huge range of
species that they support, including BAP (Biodiversity Action Plan)
priority species.
The sites support populations of native mammals including harvest
mouse, water shrew, stoat, and roe deer. Otters use the river and
it is hoped water voles, that have been lost to mink predation,
will recolonise from near-by populations as the current mink
eradication programme becomes effective.
Birds using these sites include breeding populations of several
species of High Conservation Concern (red listed) such as turtle
dove, songthrush, spotted flycatcher, marsh tit, bullfinch, yellow
hammer and reed bunting.
