Holkham National
Nature Reserve

Welcome

Exploring the
National Nature Reserve

Foreshore

Saltmarsh

Dunes

Pinewoods and Scrub

Reclaimed Saltmarsh

Coastal Code

How predator control protects our vulnerable wildlife

Reaching Holkham

 

PERHAPS the most spectacular change in the ebb and flow of Holkham's wildlife has been the increase in birds breeding and overwintering on the grazing marshes.

Marsh marigold

The broad band of level farmland between the pine ridge and the coast road was reclaimed in the 18th and 19th centuries. Until the 1940s this was a sweep of pasture for grazing sheep and cattle, but in the Second World War some areas were ploughed for arable crops. Modern farming methods meant that the water table of the whole marsh was gradually lowered. The old grazing marshes dried out and became much more productive for winter cereals, but were far less attractive for wildlife. However, in recent years things have changed again. In partnership with the Holkham Estate and its tenants a system of dams and water control points has been introduced to raise water levels. This in turn has brought back the wildlife.

Cow power

Cattle-grazing is essential in creating the right conditions for birds on the reclaimed marshes.

Summer grazing keeps the grass the right length, ie 5-10 cms by mid-October. This provides the best grazing for wintering pink-footed geese, brent geese and wigeon.

Regular wildfowl grazing during the winter produces a very short turf by the spring, which is ideal for breeding lapwing and redshank.

Suckler herds and store cattle commence the grazing season around 20th May (the late turn-out is so that birds' nests don't get trampled). The cattle graze throughout the summer and are taken off the marshes around 15th October, although in some years grass and ground conditions are suitable for cattle to stay on until November.

The stocking rate averages about 1 cow per acre throughout the summer.

Cattle are provided by local farmers who are tenants of the Holkham Estate, or who rent the grazing on an annual licence.

Cattle are best but sheep are sometimes used, when there aren't enough cattle.

Bird sights from the hides

Marsh harriers displaying or hunting over grazing marshes

Grey heron hunting along ditch edges

Lapwings and redshank displaying over grazing marshes

Barn owls hunting at dude or daytime after light rainfall

Shoveler and gadwall broods along grazing marsh ditches in June and July

Spoonbills feeding in the scrapes

Cuckoo prospecting for reed warbler nests to parasitise

Teal displaying in late winter and spring

Kestrel hunting over grazing marshes in spring, being chased by lapwings and redshanks

Yellow wagtails feeding around the feet of cattle

Lapwing

The population of many breeding birds like lapwing and snipe has increased dramatically. Avocet, shoveler and marsh harrier have colonised the marshes. Wintering wildfowl have made an astonishing come-back and recent peak counts of 20,000 pink-footed geese, 7,000 brent geese and 13,000 wigeon underline the international importance of Holkham.

To look out from the hides in late evening, over the golden marshes towards Holkham Park, and watch as the geese flight out or a harrier drifts past against the breeze, is a memorable experience.
Pink-footed geese

English Nature

Holkham Estate
The Holkham Estate

Email:
victoria.francis@naturalengland.org.uk